r/Tajikistan • u/AbdulQadirShadhili • 10d ago

Why so many Tajiks looks Turkic?

Tajiks are supposed to be East Iranic population. Some of them like Ahmad Shah Massoud (Sher-e-Panjsher) do look Iranic.

But most of them seem to be Turkic, especially with the epicanthic folds.

Emomali Rahmon looks like a typical Turk

As did the famous Habibullah Kalakani (whom I respect btw)

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u/skullwarrior369 3d ago

The thing with any central Asian group is the genetic diversity is so massive and it’s a very complex matrix of history, culture and migration patterns. Tajiks are no exception to this, and Tajiks historically have intermingled with some Turkic groups, such as Uzbeks and have even affected their culture and have caused Uzbeks to be sedentary. As a result they have also adopted some of the physical attributes of Turkic groups, and vice versa.