[1] The region of Badakhshan, which spills over northeastern Afghanistan, eastern Tajikistan and North Pakistan, is the only part of the world where Ismailis make up the majority of the population.

[2] Under Soviet rule, the religion was discouraged, but since 1991 has increased its public prominence, and the Personal Representative of the Ismaili imamate has been granted full diplomatic status.

[1] Following extensive development work for Ismaili people in Tajikistan, the Centre was inaugurated on 12 October 2009 by the Aga Khan and the Tajikistani president, Emomali Rahmon[4] (though as of 2013 not all of its planned functionality had been implemented).

[10][9] The site of the Centre is located on Ismoili Somoni Avenue, named in honour of Tajikistan’s national hero and founder of the early 10th century Samanid dynasty.

[5] The sandstone baked brick has been combined with woodcarvings, plaster work and visually prominent clay tiles accented in blue and turquoise glaze as an homage to the vernaculars of the 10th century mausoleum of the Samanids as well as the grand courtyards of Samarkand, Bukhara and Khiva.