In Tashkurgan, a border city, the local population management system operates through the establishment of border guard posts. This forces most indigenous adults to abandon their traditional herding lifestyle and serve long-term duty at the borders.Since Sare’s parents left for the snow capped border last year Guli has often pressed her face against the window watching the people come and go She wears a cherished Tajik hat a gift from her father brought back from the bazaar last year.