As a Hazara, I feel like we don’t fully “belong” anywhere in Central Asia, does anyone else see it this way?
I’ve been thinking about this for a while and I’m curious how people from different backgrounds here see it.
As a Hazara, it often feels like we’re stuck in this weird in-between position where we’re connected to multiple groups, but not fully accepted by any of them.
On the Iranic side, culturally we’re very clearly part of that world. We speak Persian, we grow up with Hafez, Saadi, Rumi, it’s not something superficial, it’s literally how we think, joke, talk, everything. A lot of us feel genuine pride in that whole Persianate civilization. And genetically too, it’s not like we’re “outsiders” to it, Hazara DNA isn’t just Mongolic or Turkic, it’s a mix, and there’s a very real Iranic component in there.
But still, despite all that, there’s often this feeling that we’re not fully seen as part of the Iranic family. And let’s be honest, a lot of that comes down to how we look. So you end up in this situation where culturally and even partially genetically you’re aligned, but socially there’s still a barrier.
So then naturally, you look the other way toward the Turkic/Mongolic
side and think maybe that’s where the stronger connection is.
And this is where it gets even more confusing.
Because if we’re being real, Hazaras and Uzbeks (especially in Afghanistan) are extremely close. Not just historically, but genetically too. Pretty much every genetic breakdown I’ve seen puts Uzbeks among the closest groups to Hazaras in that region.
On top of that, there’s shared history: in the 90s civil war, Hazara and Uzbek groups literally fought side by side. That kind of thing sticks. It’s not just politics, it becomes part of how people see each other.
That’s why a lot of Hazaras genuinely feel a kind of brotherhood with Uzbeks. Like, we even have a specific word for them (Bola) meaning “cousin” and we don’t really use that for other groups.
But then you go online, and suddenly it feels like the opposite.
I’ve seen so many cases where Uzbeks go out of their way to distance themselves from Hazaras, like really emphasize “we’re not related,” “we’re completely different,” etc. And it’s weird, because it feels one-sided sometimes. From a Hazara perspective, there’s this sense of closeness (genetic + historical), but from the Uzbek side online, there’s often a push to separate.
And what’s even stranger is that this feels like an online thing. In real life, at least for me (grew up mostly around Tajiks and Pashtuns in Kabul), I didn’t even have enough interaction with Uzbeks to see that kind of strong rejection. So I don’t know if this is nationalism, internet identity politics, or just a loud minority.
At the same time, the group I’ve personally felt the most natural connection with has been Tajiks, especially from Takhar and Badakhshan.
Like, no overthinking, no identity debates, you just click. Same humor, same way of talking, same vibe. My closest friend in high school was a Takhari Tajik and it never even felt like we were from “different groups.” I’ve had that same experience with other Tajiks from the northeast.
What’s interesting is that this doesn’t even line up cleanly with religion. You’d think Hazaras (mostly Shia) would feel closest to Herati Tajiks (also Shia), but honestly, the connection with Sunni Tajiks from Takhar/Badakhshan often feels more natural. So clearly it’s not just about sect, it’s something deeper in shared everyday culture.
And then there’s Kazakhs, which is the most random part of this whole thing.
Most Hazaras don’t really have real-life interaction with Kazakhs. There’s no big shared history, no daily contact. But online? Completely different story. Almost every time I’ve interacted with Kazakhs, it’s been weirdly positive and open. No immediate “you’re not one of us,” no strong distancing, just curiosity and friendliness.
It’s honestly funny how that works.
So it makes me wonder if the whole “Iranic vs Turkic” way of dividing people in Central Asia is just too simple, especially for groups like Hazaras.
Anyway, I’m genuinely curious what others think:
Where do you personally place Hazaras, closer to Iranic, Turkic, Mongolian, mixed, or something else entirely?
Uzbeks here, why do you think there’s often this push to distance, especially online?
Tajiks, do you also feel that everyday similarity, or is that just my experience?
Kazakhs, why do you think interactions tend to feel more open?
Not trying to argue, just trying to understand how people see this from their side.
