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Post of the Month: Dushanbe: mountain highs and valley lows Click on any of the pictures to see a larger size with captions. his embassy is in the capital of Tajikistan, a Central Asian nation closed until recently to most of the world and the scene of a civil war from 1992 to 1993, the remnants of which continue to linger in parts of the country. Home to some of the world’s highest mountains, the country is nestled between Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan to the north and west, Afghanistan to the south and China to the east. Dushanbe lies in a sheltered valley below the Hissar Mountains. The post reports that the city’s light traffic, broad streets, pleasant weather and friendly people make Dushanbe a delightful city for bicycling. Tajikstan has about 5.5 million people, nearly three-quarters of whom live and work in rural areas. Tajiks comprise about 67 percent of the population, Uzbeks, 23 percent, with Russians, Tatars and other minorities comprising the rest. Tajik and Russian are the major languages. Islam is the principal religion. Having emerged from the Soviet era, Tajikstan now calls itself a democratic, secular republic with executive power invested in the president, prime minister, council of ministers and executive committees in every region, city and district. Since the civil war, commerce and industry have been depressed. Production has declined and public debt increased. Cotton is the country’s major cash crop. Aluminum production is the largest industry. There are a few private companies and a small but growing number of joint ventures with foreign firms. The end of the Soviet era left the arts and education without direction or money. However, Dushanbe still boasts two live theaters, an opera house and dance companies. Poets are beloved, and their statues have replaced those of Lenin in the city. Foreign Service staffers and their families there are featured as part of our continuing series. HomePage