Turkmenistan: Money, money, money Despite Ashgabat’s fervent diplomacy, one ingredient is missing from its dream project across Afghanistan. Our weekly briefing. Akhal-Teke: A Turkmenistan Bulletin Dec 21, 2021
Taliban accidentally wires money to Tajikistan-based opposition The embassy says it refuses to give back the cash. Kamila Ibragimova Dec 20, 2021
Memoir | Where is Central Asia, anyway? A former top U.S. diplomat reflects on Central Asia’s identity crisis. Richard Boucher Dec 17, 2021
Kyrgyzstan: A stranded village on Tajik border struggles for survival Efforts to stop border trade are causing ethnic Kyrgyz to abandon a remote southern region. Peter Leonard Dec 9, 2021
Tajikistan press-gangs an army to defend long Afghan border The conscripts, generally Tajikistan’s poorest young men, are brutalized into service. And they are the country’s first line of defense. Kamila Ibragimova Dec 2, 2021
Turkmenistan: Door to Hell slammed shut As hopes for an Afghanistan gas pipeline fade again, there is more upbeat news to the west. Akhal-Teke: A Turkmenistan Bulletin Nov 30, 2021
The great paywall of Turkmenistan Letters from Washington, cybersecurity cooperation with China, and negotiating with a bankrupt Taliban. This and more in our weekly briefing. Akhal-Teke: A Turkmenistan Bulletin Nov 23, 2021
Tajikistan: Teachers leaving for Russia and not looking back Salaries were always horribly low but living costs have soared since the pandemic began. Nov 10, 2021
‘Expect less water next year,’ Kyrgyzstan warns downstream neighbors Relations between upstream and downstream Central Asian countries can be tense. This won’t help. Ayzirek Imanaliyeva Nov 5, 2021
Tajik labor migration to Russia hits historic high, officially More than a fifth of Tajikistan’s total population has entered Russia so far this year. Kamila Ibragimova Nov 2, 2021
Turkmenistan: Situation normal all trucked up Arbitrary collective punishment, breadlines before dawn, and a resurgence of diplomacy. This and more in our weekly Turkmenistan briefing. Akhal-Teke: A Turkmenistan Bulletin Nov 2, 2021
Kyrgyzstan fortifies border as negotiations with Tajikistan drag on Bishkek is buying armed drones while pressing Dushanbe to finalize border talks. Ayzirek Imanaliyeva Oct 26, 2021
Tajikistan accepts $125m from China for road, less than expected China is subsidizing reconstruction of a road to China. Tajik officials won’t say what they’re offering in return. Kamila Ibragimova Oct 22, 2021
Uzbek border city becomes hub for Afghan aid The UN began transferring aid supplies through Termez this month. Oct 14, 2021
Uzbekistan foreign minister jets into Afghanistan for talks If the Taliban fail at creating a viable state, Uzbekistan has much to lose. Oct 7, 2021