Traveling with an Amex - will I be able to use it widely in Tajikistanor should I carry a backup Visa/Mastercard?
Amex acceptance is very limited - basically restricted to a few international chain hotels in Dushanbe. I tried using mine at a coworking cafe and they couldn’t process it; Visa went through just fine. Even some ATMs only work with Mastercard or Visa. If you're traveling in Tajikistan, stick to a backup Visa or Mastercard, and don’t expect Amex to get you far.
Tried to pay hotel and restaurant bills in the Pamirs with Amex - no go. Even if a place says they take card, they usually only have POS machines wired for Visa or Mastercard. I had one success at a fancy hotel in Dushanbe, but that was the exception. Moral: leave Amex behind or pack it only as a backup, and rely on Visa/Mastercard for everything else.
Your Amex is basically useless outside luxury hotels in Tajikistan. I attempted to use it at a craft shop in Khujand and the terminal flat-out refused it. Mastercard got the green light. Even ATMs don’t support Amex. If you're heading here, use Amex only as emergency backup and carry a Visa or Mastercard for day-to-day spending.
I tried using my Amex at a few places in Dushanbe - cafes in Rudaki Avenue, a small boutique, even a mid-range hotel - and got rejected every time. Visa and Mastercard worked fine, but Amex just doesn’t get accepted here. So if you’re asking “Amex acceptance in Tajikistan”, the answer is no. Definitely bring a Visa or Mastercard as your primary card.