Central Asia

Nations around the Caspian Sea are boosting their navies. With Russia and the West involved as well, it’s getting complicated.

Concerns over the Russia-backed reactor are misplaced. If Iran wants a nuclear weapon it will develop one away from prying eyes.

The Tehran Stock Exchange is defying gravity. Could Ahmadinejad have a political stake in keeping share prices artificially high?

Is the chance of Israel unilaterally bombing Iran more than 50-50? Steve Clemons argues that no, cooler heads will prevail.

Ultra conservative criticism of Ahmadinejad is growing and Khamenei’s fatwa looks desperate. Will regime in-fighting boil over?

There’s plenty to dislike about Iran’s regime. But the time hasn’t come for an attack on its nuclear facilities.

Iran is getting tired of relying on its neighbours’ deep-water ports. Doing so compromises both its trade and its security.

The former head of the CIA’s bin Laden unit says the US-led coalition has already lost the war in Afghanistan. A shake-up in military leadership won’t change that.

For decades Iran has tried to be an Islamic world leader. With Turkey stealing its thunder, is a clash looming between them?

The violence in Kyrgyzstan has revealed a worrying security vacuum in Central Asia. Is Russia biding its time to step in?

The problem of narcotics flowing from Afghanistan to Europe is well-known. But the issue also has China and the SCO worried.

The Afghan peace jirga has broken up with no breakthrough. But should Karzai even be trying to reach out to the Taliban?