The fact that it coincided with the end of Ramadan provided an opportunity this year to reflect on the national festival as a “bridge between different eras”, linking back to the origins of the Iranian-Turanian civilisation. In the face of hostility from Salafi preachers who regard it as a pagan ritual, Dushanbe recalls that the Arab caliphs themselves rediscovered the value of local traditions.
Tajikistan’s five-year plan for its agricultural sector identifies 50 key issues to be resolved: from logistics to quality certification, from diversifying market outlets to financing schemes for businesses. The aim is to establish an “internationally recognised Tajik brand”.
Tajikistan, a country with close ties to Tehran due to shared ethnic origins, views the conflict in the Middle East with concern. Local experts believe it will not be resolved by bombs and missiles, but will drag on for a long time on the ground.
In a country where women still face deeply rooted patriarchal traditions, we hear the stories of a singer who mixes languages to convey a message of peace and freedom, a lawyer at the forefront of defending human rights, and a poet who denounces the “spiritual void” of a society that publicly glorifies men in power.
Following agreements on border demarcation between the two countries, the first intergovernmental council held in Bishkek outlined new objectives for commercial and economic cooperation. Joint tourism projects and centres for combating drug trafficking and crime are also on the horizon.
Dushanbe is also gearing up to promote the widespread use of AI systems. To demonstrate its benefits, the Minister of Industry cites the answers provided on the Avesta, the collection of sacred texts of the Zoroastrians written in a language known today only to a few scholars around the world.
