The people of Tajikistan's semi-autonomous region of Gorno-Badakhshan have their own distinct culture, language and identity, and they have resisted the authority of the Chinese, British, and Russians in the past.
The government in Dushanbe faces the same problem, after demonstrations for better infrastructure and jobs in September brought the army and a crackdown on dissent.
Analysts have said that President Emomali Rahmon is aware of the risks, but critics worry that unrest may again be coming to the region the makes up nearly half Tajikistan's geographical size.
Al Jazeera's Charles Stratford reports from Khorog where the army was sent in after protests earlier this year.
