Eurasianet

Letters from Washington, cybersecurity cooperation with China, and negotiating with a bankrupt Taliban. This and more in our weekly briefing.

Salaries were always horribly low but living costs have soared since the pandemic began.

That sets them apart from Afghanistan’s other post-Soviet neighbor, Tajikistan.

In our weekly briefing: doing business with Afghanistan and Uzbekistan. Plus, it’s reprimand season.

While clumsy on COVID-19, Turkmenistan is being more sure-footed, or consistent at least, on the Afghanistan front. Plus, unsustainable agriculture. Our weekly briefing.

The government signals it is taking COVID a bit more seriously, without admitting the virus is running rampant. And Ashgabat gets down to business with the Taliban. This and more in our weekly briefing.

Iran and Georgia considered as alternatives.

That Central Asia's presidents seemed to enjoy themselves together was itself a breakthrough. This and more in our weekly Turkmenistan briefing.

Tajik officials no longer speak about the militants with complete disdain.

China has delivered 300,000 doses of vaccine, but will the public want them?

The government appears to be taking active measures to cover up the new outbreak.

Despite the COVID crunch, Uzbekistan’s borrowing has blossomed. Tajikistan appears headed for trouble.

Authorities have not made any attempt to explain the abnormally high number of deaths last year.

Dushanbe is desperate to resume flights to Russian cities.

Mayor Emomali says city hall spent $1.14 million on bus stops.