Afghanistan and Tajikistan, separated by the Amu River, share a unique bond despite strained political relations. The ties between their people transcend geographical boundaries and remain strong.
Recent research by Tarz Press found that most marriages between Tajik and Afghan citizens occur in the provinces of Takhar, Badakhshan, and Kunduz. Eleven Afghan men have married Tajik women in these provinces, with only three willing to share their experiences with Tarz Press.
One such individual is Khalid Rahimi (a pseudonym), a former representative of Takhar in the provincial council. Khalid fell in love with Mahera during a trip to Dushanbe, Tajikistan, in 2011, and they married a month later. However, Khalid, who already had a wife and children in Afghanistan, kept this marriage a secret and traveled to Dushanbe to see his Tajik wife occasionally. Since the fall of the republic and the political tensions between Dushanbe and Kabul, along with the closure of the Tajik embassy in Kabul, Khalid has been unable to visit Tajikistan to see his family. He described his relationship: "We chose each other willingly, and this relationship is going well. I have two children with my Tajik wife. I miss my children very much. Unfortunately, there is a visa issue, they are on that side, and I am on this side. I miss my children and wife a lot."
The proximity of borders and cultural and religious commonalities are significant reasons for marriages between Tajik and Afghan citizens. Mohammadjan from the Shukai district of Badakhshan, Afghanistan, and Hilal Bibi from the Patkunav village of Badakhshan, Tajikistan, are another couple who have strengthened the bond between Afghanistan and Tajikistan through their love. They now live in the Shukai district of Badakhshan, Afghanistan, while their two older children study in Dushanbe. They feel fortunate to have started a shared life despite being from different sides of the Amu River. Mohammadjan said in his local dialect: "Everyone knows that love knows no boundaries. Religion, nationality, black and white, literate and illiterate, these things don't matter. What matters is the heart. We are happy to have lived peacefully for thirty years. We go to Tajikistan, our Tajik relatives come here, and there is no problem."
However, not all stories are as happy. An Afghan teenager and a Tajik girl from the two sides of the Amu River married, but their relationship did not last long. Habib Maroofi (a pseudonym) used to have joint business ventures in Afghanistan and Tajikistan. His love story involved investing and residing in Dushanbe, where he met and married Shaira, a medical student from Tajikistan. Their marriage did not last more than six years due to economic hardship, which forced Habib to leave Tajikistan. He requested his wife to move to Afghanistan to continue their life together, but she insisted on staying in Tajikistan. This disagreement led to their separation, with Habib returning to Kunduz, Afghanistan, and Shaira remaining in Dushanbe, Tajikistan. Habib said, "Our separation was due to necessity. Shaira was a kind woman. I tried hard to avoid this separation, but God wanted it this way. When I lost my investment, I couldn't stay in Tajikistan. I tried to convince her to come to Afghanistan and build a life with me, but she refused."
Tarz Press can only confirm the identities of eleven Afghans who married Tajik women, but this data is insufficient to provide an accurate statistic on marriages between Afghan and Tajik citizens. The actual number is likely higher. Tarz Press tried to obtain specific statistics from the Taliban courts but was denied information. An email was also sent to the responsible authorities in Tajikistan requesting official statistics on marriages between Afghan and Tajik women, but no response was received within a week.
Historically and culturally, Dushanbe and Kabul share many commonalities that have brought their people closer together. Currently, citizens of both countries have joint markets in some border areas where they purchase each other's products. These shared spaces serve as a testament to the enduring bonds between the people of Afghanistan and Tajikistan, highlighting their mutual respect and cultural ties. Despite political tensions, the connection between the people remains strong, underscoring a long history of friendship and cooperation.
