Central Asian leaders are engaged in a balancing act, showing they are content to live with the Taliban’s ascendancy in Afghanistan while signaling they will deal firmly with any trouble that might spill over.
From Azerbaijan’s perspective, there are perils to either the reelection of the incumbent prime minister or the return to power of his main rival, former president Robert Kocharyan.
Yerevan said there was no point in discussing new transportation routes with Azerbaijan while there was so much tension along their border. Baku’s response was curiously muted. Post-War Report.
A border commission, including Russian mediation, is in the works. And given the sensitivity over issues of land and territorial concessions, it’s going to have its work cut out. Post-War Report.
Azerbaijani forces advanced more than three kilometers and crossed Armenia’s border, Yerevan said. Now everyone is looking to Moscow for a reaction. Post-War Report.
Baku has said it intends to restore the church to its “original” form. They haven’t said what that is, though, and Armenians haven’t been consulted. Our weekly Post-War Report.