Turkmenistan
Iran to open new railway routes to Central Asia
Iran will open new railway routes to Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, as well as Afghanistan and Turkey.
EXPLAINER: The high stakes behind the Zangezur Corridor
Proposed corridor linking Azerbaijan’s main territory with its Nakhchivan exclave across Armenia could slash transit times from Asia to Europe along the Middle Corridor but faces fierce opposition from Yerevan.
Breakthrough moment for Trans-Afghan Railway project hailed by Uzbekistan, Afghanistan and Pakistan
Three countries agree to prepare feasibility study. Russia too would benefit from infrastructure linking Central Asia to Arabian Sea coast.
Fleet-cannibalised Russian aviation can only look on as Central Asia carriers take over regional market segments
Moscow has even considered asking Kazakhstan to run some of its domestic flight connections.
Central Asia wary Russia will turn on ruble “printing press” to cope with cooling economy, say experts
If Russian economy slips into recession a consequent fall in migrant remittances would particularly hit Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan.
Cities across Central Asia bearing brunt of climate crisis
Road expansion, mass parking turn Tashkent into a “real frying pan”. Liveability under threat.
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Trio of Turkmen opposition activists face deportation from Turkey as Ankara “indulges” Ashgabat
Erdogan builds Turkic ties, loses patience with Turkmen critics.
Russia’s relegation in Central Asia trade complete as China takes Tajikistan export-import crown
Moscow now playing second fiddle to Beijing across the ex-Soviet space.
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Russian aid agency seeking to fill USAID gaps in former Soviet Union
Imperial attitudes undermine ambitions for expanded influence.
COMMENT: In recognising Taliban, Moscow had one eye on rise in Afghanistan of terrorist ISIS-K
Concerns that the jihadist group is operating near borders with Central Asia “helped shift Russia’s strategic calculus”.
China reportedly operating Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan, as economic ties deepen
China is now operating the former United States military facility at Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan, The Telegraph reports citing anonymous officials and satellite imagery analyses.
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United States and Russia angling for influence in Turkmenistan
Kremlin seems to be worried its grip on Ashgabat is slipping.
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.
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After decades of neglect, Central Asia awakening to trade possibilities with Mongolia
Ulaanbaatar welcomes two Central Asian leaders in June.
Turkmenistan stood in way of US nationals wanting to flee Iran, diplomatic cable reveals
Trump administration lately banned most Turkmen from entering America, souring relations.
Central Asia has become “like a girl whose house is full of suitors”, analyst says
Powers including China, Russia, the US and the EU “all promise something to the bride” in scramble for resources such as critical minerals.
Xi signs treaty to elevate China's ties with Central Asia at Astana summit
Document refers to "permanent good-neighbourliness and friendly cooperation". Chinese leader takes jab at US, saying trade and tariff wars "produce no winners".
PANNIER: Central Asia’s space race
A satellite in orbit offers a nation prestige, essential data in handling natural disasters and, controversially, a blanket “kill switch” for the internet during unrest.
Airlines scrap week’s worth of Turkey flights to Iran, Iraq and Jordan as Israel keeps up its bombing of Iranians
To avoid danger zone, aircraft diverted to airports in locations including Istanbul, Baku and Cyprus.
Central Asia’s agricultural sector facing heat this coming growing season
Dry and warm conditions expected to heighten irrigation needs.