Eurasianet

It is not clear at present who is going to provide funding for the railroad or how much it will cost.

One senior security services officer is said to have been killed in a clash with alleged smugglers.

Engagement with the Islamist regime in Afghanistan is in line with a region-wide trend.

Uzbekistan is working to introduce penalties for wasting water.

Elections that don’t matter, Russia sows paranoia, and trouble upstream for Turkmen farmers: Our weekly Turkmenistan briefing.

The embassy in Dushanbe, which is still run by the anti-Taliban opposition, is said to be considering its position.

Spring is when unmarked uranium tailings are most vulnerable.

The canal across northern Afghanistan will divert water from the dying Amu Darya river.

Afghanistan receives about half its imports on a single track from Uzbekistan.

Moscow curries favor, neighbors seek more gas, and Turkmenistan’s colossal methane pollution could power Afghanistan at little cost many times over. Our weekly Turkmenistan briefing.

In response, Beijing urged its nationals to leave Afghanistan. Then a Chinese firm signed a big new oil deal in the country’s north.

Russia is proposing a major reconfiguration of the Central Asian gas market. Our weekly Turkmenistan briefing.

The ruling tandem is evidently frustrated it cannot will a functioning economy into existence by diktat.

Turkmenistan is risking a reputation as a sanctions-buster. Our weekly briefing.

Regional officials have been coming under growing scrutiny from the national leadership.

Turkmenistan has traditionally fostered its closest security relationship with Russia. But it has found room to develop military ties with the U.S. and China. Our weekly briefing.

The multimodal network will shave weeks off a typical journey.

Islamic State in Afghanistan is increasing its focus on China.

The UNHCR says the deportations are putting people's lives at risk.

Food subsidies to end, Russia seeks closer ties, and energy news. This and more in our weekly Turkmenistan briefing.

Sympathizers are expanding their social media efforts in the Uzbek language.

For some Afghans trying to make a new life abroad, Tajikistan feels like a step backwards.

Both have long-duration electricity supply agreements signed before the Taliban returned to power.

Ashgabat wants Afghanistan to become part of the global economy. It’s not so keen to bankroll integration, however.

The Taliban have begun a PR blitz against the Islamic State, which has challenged the new Afghan government’s promise to bring peace to the country and its borders.