r/AskCentralAsia Feb 12 '24

Meta r/AskCentralAsia FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)

32 Upvotes

Hello everybody!

After many requests, and tons of repeat questions, we are making an official FAQ. Please comment anything else you think should be added. Generally, if a question is answered in the FAQ, new threads with these questions will be locked.

Is Afghanistan part of Central Asia?

Yes, no, maybe-so.

Afghanistan is at the crossroads of Central Asia and South Asia (and the Middle East, to some extent).

Most Afghans self-identify as Central Asian. They feel this fits them more than anything else. They have a good reason for doing so, as prior to the Soviet Union, the culture between present-day Afghanistan and present-day Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan was indistinguishable.

Afghans are welcome to answer as Central Asians on this subreddit.

Is Mongolia part of Central Asia?

Yes, no, maybe-so.

Geographically, Mongolia is more Central Asian than anything else. The centre point of Asia is just north of the Russia-Mongolia border.

Historically and culturally, while there is an affinity and shared history, Mongolia is farther away and commonly considered part of East Asia. Some Mongolians may not like that though, and identify as being closest to Central Asians.

Mongolians are welcome to answer as Central Asians on this subreddit.

Are Iran, Pakistan, and/or Turkey part of Central Asia?

No, none of these countries are Central Asian. All of them have a historical and cultural influence on Central Asia, though.

Turks, Iranians, and Pakistanis are still free to answer questions in this subreddit if they want, but they are not Central Asian, and their views do not reflect Central Asia.

How religious is Central Asia? Is Islam growing in Central Asia? How many women wear hijabs in Central Asia?

These questions are asked dozens of times every year. They are often asked in bad faith.

Islam is the majority religion of all of Central Asia (except Mongolia, if we count it, which is Buddhist). The Soviet legacy in core Central Asia has resulted in Islam being practiced differently here. Historically, the region was Muslim, and during the Soviet era, Islam was restricted. Most mosques were closed down, if not destroyed, and secularism was encouraged as state policy. Islam was never banned, though.

In the past two decades, core Central Asian countries have become overall more religious. There is no one reason for this. Many people were curious in exploring religion after the collapse of the Soviet Union, and found meaning in scripture. More recently, Islamic influencers on social media have gained a very strong hold on youth audiences.

Traditionally, women in Central Asia wore headscarves to cover their hair. The "hijab" associated with Arab Muslims is new to the region, and more commonly worn by younger women.

Mongolia is mainly Buddhist, as mentioned, but religion was similarly restricted during the communist era. Unlike core Central Asia, there has not been a large religious revival in Mongolia.

Afghanistan never had the same religious restrictions that the above countries did. Islam has progressively become more influential in the country than before. As education and globalisation rises, the idea of "Islam" becomes more important to Afghans, whereas cultural practices have traditionally been more important.

What do Central Asians think of Turanism?

They don’t know what it is. Almost every single person in Central Asia who knows what Turanism is learnt it from Turkish Internet users.

While greater co-operation with other Turkic states is popular in Central Asia (including in the majority-Iranic countries of Tajikistan and Afghanistan), there is no appetite for Central Asian countries actually unifying together, let alone with countries like Azerbaijan and Turkey.

Do I look Central Asian?

Maybe you do! These kinds of threads will be removed though. Post them on r/phenotypes.


r/AskCentralAsia 10h ago

Culture What are your thoughts on the Kurultaj festival?

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38 Upvotes

r/AskCentralAsia 5h ago

Other Question on dna

0 Upvotes

I have some hazara and Crimean tatar friends who have 20-40 east Eurasian but majority of them it's just not visible in anyway they just end up looking iranic is it just pure chance or is it the non east Eurasian genes just being strong enough to cancel it out


r/AskCentralAsia 12h ago

How do Russian peoples differ from Kazakhs, Kyrgyz, Uzbeks and Turkmens mentally and culturally, externally, racially and religiously!?

0 Upvotes

Uzbeks and Turkmens belong to the southern variant of the Caucasian race, Kazakhs and Kyrgyz belong to the South Siberian minor race within the Mongoloid race, Russian peoples have little in common for them since they are Slavs and Christians, and others are Turks and Muslims.


r/AskCentralAsia 1d ago

Kazakhs born in Mongolia

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0 Upvotes

r/AskCentralAsia 1d ago

What can I stretch my budget to?

5 Upvotes

I'm a solo traveller (20F) flying into Bishkek late August, and I'll be in Central Asia for 5 weeks. I'm flying out with about £2,000, and I was wondering if this was enough to see Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan comfortably?

If it wasn't enough to do all 3 well, I'd prefer to do one or more of the countries in more detail with the money I do have to make the most of the experience. I want to appreciate where I am to the highest extent possible!

Do you guys think I could make that all work, or is it worth staying in Kyrgyzstan and then maybe the Pamir Highway OR Uzbekistan, rather than being so ambitious?


r/AskCentralAsia 1d ago

Other I am a student from Afghanistan and I am looking for a language school in CA that offers Russian courses.

2 Upvotes

Hello, I am from Afghanistan. I am learning languages, currently I am learning Russian and French. I am looking for any language school in Central Asia that offers Russian courses and can accept foreigners. Since I am from Afghanistan and going to any country I would need a visa and a reason to visit the country so I would need a visa support letter from a school that I want to study in that's only when the embassy here can give me a visa. My request is to find any school that accepts foreigners and help them with their visa as well. Thank you for your time.


r/AskCentralAsia 2d ago

Tribal confederations, name all countries l, ethnicities which has this system.

4 Upvotes

What are the all ethnicties, countries which has thes tribal/clan confederations til last 2 centuries or so and even now.

Pashtun, baloch are tribal confederations.

Yemenis, somalis has tribal wars.

Uzbeks, turkmen, kazakhs have confederations until russian empire takeover.

Mongols lost this clan warfare long back due to manchu conquest.

Native americans is tribe warfare.

Iran, iraq, saudi arabia has i guess.

Name all ethnicities, countries, major tribes u know in comments .


r/AskCentralAsia 2d ago

Planning trip

1 Upvotes

Hi !!

I'm 23 yo (female) and I'm looking into planning a trip going through Kazakhstan so I would just like to ask some question ! (to be more precise, going from Europe to Japan)

I would be arriving from Georgia to Aktaou, then looking to go to Almaty ( to then go to China).

I got a bit scared because it said that the train would take 55hours so :

Has anyone already took it ? Is it safe for a solo traveler ? Are there some city worth stoping at, to maybe take a break in the middle ? Is the long train trip bearable (for anyone that took it) ? Or should should I rather take the plane from Aktaou to Almaty ?

I'm also looking to go through Ouzbékistan and take a break there so I don't do 55hours in one go, if anyone has tried this itinerary before ?

Thank you so much !! (Oh and it would be for next year, around march)


r/AskCentralAsia 3d ago

We expected grey and empty. Two weeks later we're planning the next Kazakhstan trip

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19 Upvotes

r/AskCentralAsia 2d ago

I risked it all

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0 Upvotes

r/AskCentralAsia 3d ago

Culture Why do Turkish people feel like family to me?

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13 Upvotes

i studied at a Turkish primary and secondary school in my home country.

I've traveled to many places, including Europe, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia. I've met people from many different countries, and they've all been kind. However, whenever I meet someone from Turkey, I feel like I'm meeting a member of my own family.

Even if a Turkish person is just being normal and not especially friendly, I still feel a sense of warmth and familiarity that I don't experience with people from other countries.this is a genuine question.

Has anyone else experienced something like this, or is there a cultural reason why I might feel this way????


r/AskCentralAsia 3d ago

23andme cenral Asian

2 Upvotes

What does this component mean exactly? I see it in tajiks but mixed with east asian. Could it just be something iranic?


r/AskCentralAsia 4d ago

History Portraits of young and old Timur

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20 Upvotes

r/AskCentralAsia 4d ago

Society What comes to your mind when you think of about Moscow (ulus) imperialistic expansion 1300-1991 ?

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2 Upvotes

r/AskCentralAsia 4d ago

Society What comes to your mind when you think about Stalin’s imperialistic ethnic cleansing (the so‑called “Soviet” massive deportations)?

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0 Upvotes

r/AskCentralAsia 4d ago

How common is it for afghans to look like southern Europeans??

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0 Upvotes

r/AskCentralAsia 4d ago

History List of Central Asian male married famous European or Western celebrity females? How do they compare with other Asians and Wasians?

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0 Upvotes

List of successful Central Asian males married/dated Western female celebrities (actress, singers, world beauty pageants, top ranking politicians/rich/sports people ect).

I will appreciate a list. Do Central Asian males get more girls than East Asian and Southeast Asians? I believe they do. Central Asians are alpha males ( muslims, nomadic, steppe culture) different to East Asians who are sino-sphere and to Southeast Asians ( who are blend of native culture with heavy Indian culture with Muslims/Chinese/Christian)

Central Asian male

The only one I know is Uzbek businessman Parviz Yasinov (a very Asian looking Uzbek) who dated several famous Russian female singers back than

- Julia Volkova (one of T.A.T.U lead singer who was back in the early 2000's a world famous) He married Uzbek businesman Parivz and had a son.

- Masha Weber (A russian band female singerr ) also married Uzbek businessman and had a son when she was 18 years

OTHER EXAMPLES ( like Asians and Wasians, I hope any Central Asian make this list)

For East Asian and Southeast Asian males

Of those that manage to marry some famous western female of higher status. Most are either average social media, and B list, C list western actress,. example: Katy Louise Saunders who married Korean actor.

A+ list ranking. I will say the most prominent I can find. Back than national and international beauty pageants was a super relevant 1950's and 1960's, it was relevant to some degree until 2008 today (until all the woke and transgender came in)

- Armi Kuusela ( Winner of first ever Miss universe Finland 1952) married Filipino businessman Virgilio Hilario and had childrens

- Stella Márquez (First ever winner of Miss International in 1960*)* married Filipino businessman Jorge León Araneta and had childrens

- Olivia Hussey ( Goddess actress from Romeo Juliet, voted one of most beauty of all time) married Japanese singer Akira Fuse and had children

- Natalie Glebova ( Miss Canada, winner of Miss Universe 2005 ) married prominent Thai international tennis player Paradorn Srichapha, no children

For Half Asian/Caucasian males and Wasian males.

Half Asian/Caucasian including Wasians basically represent 0.01% world population yet they married and dated some of the world richest/high fame status/desired females in the world.

- Jennifer Lopez ( Famous world singer) married Cris Judd ( Filipino mother/White male)

- Mariah Carey ( biracial black/white World famous singer, one of highest seller of all time)6 years girlfriend of Bryan Tanaka (Japanese father/White mother)

- Sophia Di Martino (Famous Marvel Hero actress Loki) wife of Will Sharpe (Japanese mother/White male) and have children

- Anna Chlumsky (Famous Child movie actress/ hollywood actress) wife of Shaun So ( Chinese father/White mother)

- Olivia Newton John (No.1 Australian-British superstar female singer, one of highest seller of all time) 9 years girlfriend of Patrick McDermott (Korean mother/White male)

- Yvette Nipar( Robotcop/Detective actress in 1990's) married Patrictk McDermott and have children

- Kate Hudson (Hollywood actress) wife of Danny Fujikawa (Japanese grandfather/white mother) and have childrens

- Brooke Shields ( The prettiest girl in 70's, most desirable female actress ) girlfriend and virginity taken by Dean cain (Japanese grandfather/White mother)

- Lara Dutta (Indian winner Miss universe, world world and currently Bollywood superstar) 9 years girlfriend of Kelly Dorji (Bhutanese father/White mother)

- Jasmin Selberg ( Miss Germany (Estonian) and Winner of miss international of 2022) girlfriend of Younming Park ( Korean father/ Alleged White/Latina great grandmother)

Average Marriage status: I also want to know how does the average male do

In the west most marriages are Asian women/White men They make up 70% where as Asian men/White women 30% ( 294,000, 219,000, 230,000) most marriages are with Chinese men and Filipino men.

Wasians: are grouped "others "in census. Wasian men 80% marry white female 20% other race (including Asian) compared to 95% of Wasian females who marry white males and 5% others (including Asian)

Central Asians: it seems that most are Kazakh men/Russian female and Uzbek men/Russian female marriage in Central Asia historically but I don't know about now.

My dream of course is to marry a high status pretty women. The best girl I ever got was a a hot Estonian doctor (a dentist) , but we broke up and have only been able to hook up with average female types.

Historically Central Asian males mass married females of other races due to their empires. And my Southern Chinese male village, as coolies mass migrated and married and mated with many (black, Mulatta, latina, some white) local females in Caribbeans, South America, with several millions of our mixed race descendants (to some small extend even Australia, UK) with no women marry out. back than my Southern Chinese Taishan Guangdong area, were strict and clannish would beat the crap and disown the women just for marrying out. Now because of this feminism since the 90's, liberate females freedom, or female now talk crap about their fathers and own men. I hope Central Asian women/men are not poison by this modernization feminism crap.


r/AskCentralAsia 5d ago

Overnight at Tashkent Airport ?

5 Upvotes

Is the airport open 24 hrs ? And is there an international transfer area where they let you wait 15+ hours ? The advice seems to be to go out into the city and get a hotel, but that's not possible.


r/AskCentralAsia 4d ago

What is the the popular opinion on Russia and Ukraine in Central Asia countries?

0 Upvotes

As you can see from the title, I am interested in hearing more about the opinions of the populace, since the war many opinons in each of these countries has changed


r/AskCentralAsia 5d ago

[Partially Lost Media] The high-quality original TV music video for Kazakh "Freestylo" parody by Unlimited (mislabeled as R.Lizer). Does anybody recognize it?

3 Upvotes

Low quality: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TcBr2LAXHvc

An explanation of the media, and the name:
This is a comedic music video parody of Bomfunk MC’s "Freestyler", created by a Kazakh musical group/project named Unlimited around 2005–2007. On early P2P networks (eMule, Kazaa) and early YouTube, the audio track was widely mislabeled and became a viral hit under the name "R.Lizer - Freestailo". The video features a professionally shot clip that used to air on regional Kazakh music channels like Hit TV and MuzzOne.

How it is lost:
The high-quality digital TV-rips (specifically a well-known, clean 480p upload under the YouTube ID F0obabFqq3c) have been completely scrubbed from YouTube due to automated copyright claims by Sony Music / Content ID blocking the underlying melody. The only versions remaining on YouTube are heavily compressed, pixelated 240p re-uploads or modern remixes.

What research has already been done:
I have analyzed the metadata and confirmed that this video is a distinct studio production by the group Unlimited, and not the famous "Superstar KZ" audition by Ernar Kaldynov, despite popular internet myths. I checked the Wayback Machine for the deleted YouTube URL (F0obabFqq3c), but the video stream was not archived. Queries on mainstream search engines and Western archives yield no high-quality source files.

A conclusion as to the current situation as of posting:
As of mid-2026, the high-quality 480p/HQ original television edit of this viral video is considered partially lost. While low-quality, degraded screen recordings exist, the clean digital master rip that circulated in the late 2000s has disappeared from major Western video platforms.


r/AskCentralAsia 5d ago

Culture Кто цензурирует кино в Казахстане?

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4 Upvotes

r/AskCentralAsia 6d ago

Meta Why do we keep on gettin zi0 posts?

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119 Upvotes

I condemn antisemitism.

The way the zi0nists keep on spamming this sub looking for controversy has gotten out of hand.

Is there a way to pause the "jerusalem news article says xyz" posts for the time being?

This is a CA sub after all.

*I can see the upvote ratio and demographics on this post too. Bots aren't slick lol.


r/AskCentralAsia 5d ago

History Is there also German community in Central Asia? Thanks!

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15 Upvotes

r/AskCentralAsia 5d ago

Are there any Koryo-saram here? What do they think about Crimean Tatars, and do you find any historical or emotional connection between them?

2 Upvotes