How does the religious tradition of Mountain Tajiks differ from that of many lowland Tajiks?

The vast majority of Tajiks, who are traditionally sedentary and reside primarily in lowland areas, are Sunni Muslims, typically following the Ḥanafī school of jurisprudence.12

In contrast, the Mountain Tajiks—also known as Pamiris—who inhabit the Pamir mountain region, are predominantly Ismāʿīlī Shīʿī Muslims. While these groups share the use of Tajik as a lingua franca, this distinction in religious tradition remains a primary cultural difference between the lowland populations and the Pamiri people.12