Former participants of the Soviet-Afghan War (1979-1989) played a significant role in political developments in Tajikistan in the perestroika period yet they did so in markedly different ways. While some aligned themselves with established power, supporting propaganda drives and presenting themselves as loyal soldiers of the Soviet regime, others became active participants in the movement for cultural and linguistic revival, even to the point of founding and joining opposition groups. The paper argues that far from dealing a shock to the political system in Tajikistan, the Afghan War had both conservative and subversive effects on political discussions in this period.