Arab traders had virtual control of the region — especially the coast — for a thousand years, while trading in spices and slaves. (fieryfoodscentral.com)
Why do you assume that the dictators who are in control of the region today are adherents of Islam? (religion.blogs.cnn.com)
After Russia was gone, the Iranian backed Tajiks and the Pakistan backed Taliban started another conflict for control of the region. (politics.stackexchange.com)