On the 75th anniversary of the People’s Republic of China, President Xi Jinping awarded Bayika Kalidibek, a 72-year-old veteran border guard, the national honorary title of “People’s Guard.” Bayika, an ethnic Tajik from the Pamir Plateau in Xinjiang, has spent 37 years patrolling China’s remote borders with Tajikistan’s Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region and Afghanistan’s Wakhan Corridor. His recognition by Xi has raised questions about whether the award signals a broader message of solidarity to the Pamiri peoples living in Tajikistan and Afghanistan, who have faced significant repression and human rights violations in recent years.
A Lifelong Guardian of China’s Border
Bayika Kalidibek hails from Tashkurgan Tajik Autonomous County, a high-altitude region in southern Xinjiang, China, bordering both Tajikistan and Afghanistan. This region, part of the larger Pamir Plateau, is home to China’s ethnic Tajik population, who are primarily Ismaili Muslims. Known as the “Roof of the World” for its extreme elevation and rugged landscape, the Pamir Plateau is one of the most remote areas in China.
For nearly four decades, Bayika has worked tirelessly to patrol this inhospitable and mountainous region, securing the border from illegal crossings and ensuring the safety of China’s westernmost frontier. The area where he patrols is geographically significant, sitting at the crossroads of the Pamir mountain range and the Wakhan Corridor of Afghanistan. This thin strip of land connects China to Afghanistan, Tajikistan, and Pakistan, making it a critical point of surveillance for China.
Bayika’s work in this region is part of a multi-generational tradition. His father also patrolled these borders, and Bayika later passed the torch to his son, Razini, who tragically lost his life while heroically saving a child. Bayika’s family legacy of service stretches back over 70 years, with each generation dedicating their lives to protecting China’s borders in one of the world’s most isolated regions.
Xi’s Award and Its Broader Implications
The ceremony in which Bayika was honored by President Xi has deeper significance beyond national recognition for loyal service. The timing and context of the award suggest a potential symbolic message to the Pamiri peoples of Afghanistan and Tajikistan, whose lives have been marked by oppression and persecution in recent years. By publicly awarding Bayika, a Pamiri ethnic Tajik, Xi may be extending a gesture of recognition and solidarity to the Pamiri peoples living across the border.
The Pamiris of Afghanistan, particularly those living in the Wakhan Corridor, have been under threat from both the Taliban and ISIS-Khorasan, groups known for their hostility toward the Ismaili sect of Islam. Meanwhile, Pamiris in Tajikistan’s Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region (GBAO) have faced severe repression from the Tajik government, which has cracked down on dissent and restricted civil liberties in the region. By honoring a Pamiri with roots in this historically significant and oppressed region, China could be signaling a subtle message of support or acknowledgement to these marginalized groups.
The Pamiri Peoples of China: Ethnic Tajiks and Ismaili Muslims
In China, the Pamiri people, often referred to as “ethnic Tajiks,” are concentrated in the Tashkurgan Tajik Autonomous County in southern Xinjiang. The Chinese government officially recognizes them as part of the Tajik ethnic group, though they have distinct cultural, religious, and linguistic differences from the Tajiks of Tajikistan.
The Pamiris in China primarily speak Wakhi and Sarikoli, two Eastern Iranian languages that are not mutually intelligible with Tajik. These languages are spoken in GBAO in Tajikistan as well, linking the Chinese Pamiris to their cross-border kin. The Wakhi people originally migrated to the Tashkurgan area from Afghanistan’s Wakhan Corridor in the early 20th century, fleeing persecution and instability. Today, they maintain strong cultural and familial ties to the Pamiri communities in Tajikistan, Afghanistan, and northern Pakistan.
Religiously, the Pamiri people are Ismaili Muslims, a branch of Shia Islam led by the Aga Khan. This religious affiliation sets them apart from the majority Sunni Muslim populations in both China and neighboring countries. The Ismaili faith emphasizes pluralism, education, and charity, and has historically played a significant role in shaping the cultural identity of the Pamiri peoples.
The Chinese government’s policy toward the Ismaili Pamiris has been less confrontational than its policies toward Uyghur Muslims in Xinjiang, who have faced widespread repression, including mass detentions and forced assimilation. The Pamiris, while officially categorized as Tajiks by the Chinese government, have largely maintained their distinct identity, although they too have experienced increased state surveillance and pressure to assimilate into broader Chinese society. Mandarin has replaced Wakhi and Sarikoli as the primary language in schools, and many young Pamiris now leave Tashkurgan to pursue higher education in Kashgar, Urumqi, or elsewhere in China.
Economic Development and Modernization in Tashkurgan
The Chinese government has invested heavily in developing infrastructure in Tashkurgan and the surrounding region. One notable example is the Tashkurgan Khunjerab Airport, which opened in 2022 as part of China’s poverty alleviation and economic development plans. The airport aims to boost tourism in the Pamir Plateau, making the remote region more accessible to domestic travelers. Currently, the airport only services flights to Urumqi, the capital of Xinjiang, but future routes are planned to further integrate the area into China’s broader economic network.
Despite these developments, questions remain about the forced relocation of Pamiri villagers from isolated mountain areas to newly built housing in more centralized locations. While national media portray these relocations as beneficial, providing modern amenities and improved living conditions, there is evidence to suggest that villagers were not consulted and that many felt coerced into leaving their ancestral homes.
Tashkurgan itself has a long history as a major stop on the ancient Silk Road, with caravan routes converging from Kashgar, Gorno-Badakhshan, and Hunza. This strategic location has made the region significant not only for trade but also for security, which is why Bayika Kalidibek’s role as a border guard has been so crucial. His patrols over the years have helped secure the borders that were once vital to the flow of goods and ideas along the Silk Road.
Xi’s Potential Message to the Pamiris
By awarding Bayika Kalidibek with the national honorary title of “People’s Guard,” Xi Jinping may be sending a message not only to China’s border guards but also to the Pamiri peoples across the region. The Pamiris in Tajikistan and Afghanistan have long struggled with marginalization and persecution, and Xi’s public recognition of a Pamiri ethnic Tajik with deep roots in the Pamir Plateau may be interpreted as a gesture of goodwill.
While China’s relations with Afghanistan and Tajikistan are complex, especially with regard to security in the Wakhan Corridor and GBAO, this award may signal China’s willingness to acknowledge the shared heritage and challenges of the Pamiri peoples. It could also be a subtle diplomatic gesture, suggesting that China is paying attention to the plight of the Pamiris in neighboring countries, even as it seeks to maintain stable relations with both the Taliban-led government in Afghanistan and the authoritarian regime in Tajikistan.
In conclusion, while Bayika Kalidibek’s award is, on the surface, a recognition of decades of dedicated service to China’s border security, it carries deeper symbolic weight. For the Pamiri peoples of Tajikistan and Afghanistan, who continue to face repression and human rights abuses, Xi’s public recognition of a Pamiri Tajik border guard may offer a rare glimmer of hope for international solidarity and acknowledgement of their struggles.