Why Tajikistan holds the key to future resistance against Taliban

Panjshir, and more importantly the Tajiks, have always wanted to hold on to their own in Afghanistan. The Tajiks have always had a larger part to play across crucial events of Afghan history.

Panjshir was the last Afghan bastion to fall to the Taliban. However, the resistance forces still maintain that this is not the case. The impressive resistance put forth by Panjshir and the fighters is not something that has come about in recent times. Panjshir, and more importantly the Tajiks, have always wanted to hold on to their own in Afghanistan. Despite being a minority, the Tajiks have always had a larger part to play across crucial events marking the history of Afghanistan.

Tajikistan is the natural homeland of Tajiks and the Tajiks of Afghanistan always have an invisible umbilical cord connecting them to Tajikistan. The Taliban’s takeover has once again put the spotlight on central Asian countries, no more so than on Tajikistan. Given the close history the two countries share, it will be very interesting to see Tajikistan’s approach towards Afghanistan in the aftermath of US/NATO troops pullout.