thousand Kyrgyz families previously living in the Karakurum and Kerulen regions of Mongolia had come to the Karategin region in the 16th century. Background On January 12, 1636, a group of twelve Kyrgyz pagan members of the Karategin biy tribe tried to settle in Balkh, in north Afghanistan. Shortly after, they attempted to return to their lands because the city was shaped deeply Islamic. The Khan of the Khanate of Bukhara, Nadr Muhammad Khan, sent the governor of Fergana (Haji Atalik) to the region to seize Karategin. In this way, Karategin became an integral part of the Bukhara Khanate and the Kyrgyz pilgrims were allowed to settle. These Kyrgyz later accepted Islam as their faith. Later on, the Kyrgyz tribal members attacked the city of Kulob. During that time Dormon Uzbeks lived in the city, but they lost the war and fled to Balkh, Afghanistan. The Kyrgyzs have expanded their territory far into the northern boundaries of Afghanistan. References Valleys of Tajikistan Pamir Mountains