How could the Tocharians have survived?

I've become fascinated by the Tocharians, one of the easternmost branches of the Indo-European lineage. What would have to change for them to survive and become a stable people in East Asia? In particular, what impact would that have on Sino-Indian relations with a people of the same linguistic family as the Indians in the Han domain?
 
We have started a thread on this on May 28th. Your contribution would be much appreciated: the title is "Mummies of the Tarim Basin".:)
 
I've become fascinated by the Tocharians, one of the easternmost branches of the Indo-European lineage. What would have to change for them to survive and become a stable people in East Asia? In particular, what impact would that have on Sino-Indian relations with a people of the same linguistic family as the Indians in the Han domain?

The major problem IMHO is the drying out of the Lake Tarim turning into Tarim Desert.
As the Tarim is situated in the middle of Central Asia changeing this would probably require too great changes in weather or a major river having its bed changed so as to fill the basin/keep the waterlevel up. That would probably be ASB'ish.

The alternative IMO would be an organized exodus to some more hospitable territory which would generate warfare in the process.
As we do not know what caused the Tocharians to stay to the bitter end and then get soaked up within the Uigurs - well some kind of visionary leader or changes of religion or countering of tradition "it is okay to move on" could be needed. :)
 
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