Controversy on the blog

Posted by Tania Kindersley.

I am not well today so I am officially taking the day off, but just before I go, there is something we need to sort out.

One of the dear readers has told me I am quite wrong about the Wakhi people of the Wakhan Corridor.

Here is the comment:

'I'm sorry to tell you , that you have you ethnic info of the Wakhan, all Wrong - The Wakhi people are a sub group of the Tadjik = who are in fact Persians ! Where as kirkiz are a turkish people !'

This is of course very disturbing, since I like to get my facts right, and we all know how treacherous the misinforming waves of the internets can be.

As far as I can see, the Wakhi are ethnically Tajik, but they do live in the Wakhan in Afghanistan. They also live in China, Pakistan, and Tajikstan. The Kyrgyz are indeed a Turkic people, but a small nomadic group of them also inhabit the Wakhan.

It seems to me that there may be a cross purpose going on. I did not in fact talk of ethnic groups in the original post, merely geography. It would be slightly like saying the Poles are of Polish origin and therefore may not be found living in Britain. On the other hand, what if the internet has misled me, and in fact the Wakhan has no Wakhi at all? I did look at quite a lot of sites, but they may be all wrong. Maybe they all got their information from Wikipedia.

Some of you will know what the correct thing is. Do let me know. Meanwhile, I am going crossly to my bed.

More information here, and here.

A lovely picture taken from the Xik-Wakhi blog.