Afghanistan
A perfect storm as Israel’s war on Iran pushes the Taliban towards total collapse
The convergence of Israel’s military strikes on Tehran has created a catastrophic domino effect of potential regime collapse in Afghanistan, not Iran.
Iran orders deportation of undocumented Afghans
Iran has issued orders for all "unauthorised foreign nationals" to leave the country as part of new policies communicated to the national police commander, according to official statements targeting Afghans.
COMMENT: Competing Trans-Afghan transport routes could split Central Asia
Central Asia is bottled up by an unstable Afghanistan. It would dearly love to open a southern corridor that leads to the huge and lucrative markets of Southeast Asia that could transform the economy of the region.
Taliban ban women under 40 from entering Uzbekistan border trade hub
Termez market suffers sharp decline in footfall. Move a blow to efforts at building up economic relations with Afghanistan.
Central Asia’s agricultural sector facing heat this coming growing season
Dry and warm conditions expected to heighten irrigation needs.
Taliban: Making an investment pitch
A lot may have changed, but the Taliban can’t escape recent history.
CITIES IN PERIL: Cities confront the rising tide of climate change
Fast and chaotic urban population growth combined with climate challenges on multiple fronts are putting cities at risk around the world.
Water will one day be more valuable than oil in Central Asia, warns Tajik analyst
Melting of glaciers in Tajikistan’s mountains a grave threat to region’s water security.
China filling void left by USAID’s dismantling
Small and Beautiful marks next phase of Belt & Road Initiative.
Kazakhstan joins Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan in warning Taliban canal could hit water security
Knock-on effects could leave country facing crisis, Astana conference hears.
Afghanistan: Grappling with fall-out of dwindling foreign aid
Almost all US assistance terminated.
MOSCOW BLOG: A muted V-day parade on Red Square
I have just been watching the Victory Day parade on Red Square. A few observations.
COMMENT: Embracing “Greater Central Asia” has become a strategic imperative for US
Wider region increasingly seen as arena in which major powers’ interests, such as in sourcing critical minerals, collide and converge.
URUS-ClearPic: The Big Four of US, China, Russia and Europe vie for investment in Central Asia
Historically, it is the ultimate crossroads between Europe, the Middle East, South Asia and East Asia – and the central component for most of the Silk Road. Now the Central Asian countries find themselves caught between the Big Four.
Russia removes Taliban from terrorist list, acknowledging it as legitimate leadership of Afghanistan
Russia has formally removed the Taliban from its list of designated terrorist organisations, officially recognising it as the legitimate government of Afghanistan on April 17.