Region
Central Asia
The Barriers to China-Iran Military Diplomacy
By Masoud Rezaei
An Iranian perspective on how far China and Iran can take their defense ties.
Kyrgyzstan Wiretapped Activists, Lawyers, MPs
By Catherine Putz
The Interior Ministry justified the wiretaps as part of investigations into the October 2020 unrest.
Don’t Underestimate Tajikistan in the Afghanistan Crisis
By Ivan U. Klyszcz
By virtue of geography, Dushanbe is a critical actor in the international community’s ongoing engagement with Afghanistan.
Japan and Kazakhstan: Partners in Nuclear Disarmament
By Marin Ekstrom
Tokyo and Nur-Sultan share a commitment to nuclear non-proliferation rooted in their first-hand experiences with the trauma of nuclear weapons.
Uzbekistan and Tajikistan Hedge on Afghan Refugees
By Catherine Putz
Both countries have been willing to take some Afghan refugees in, but only temporarily.
Inflation Amid the COVID-19 Pandemic Fuels Labor Unrest in Kazakhstan
By Elvira Kalmurzaeva
In the first half of 2021, there were more strikes in Kazakhstan than in the entire 2018 to 2020 period.
SOS Taldykol: Art and Activism in in Kazakhstan
By Colleen Wood
Activists in Nur-Sultan are working to protect a reservoir from destruction, but can they be successful?
Will Kyrgyzstan’s ‘False Information’ Law Threaten Free Speech?
By Catherine Putz
Japarov signed the bill passed by the parliament last month, but many questions remain about how it will be implemented.
Tajikistan Won’t Recognize a Taliban-Only Afghan Government
By Catherine Putz
After talks with Pakistan’s foreign minister, Tajik President Emomali Rahmon stressed the need for an inclusive Afghan government, particularly including ethnic Tajiks.
Russia Fearmongering About Afghan Refugees
By Catherine Putz
Putin is warning of “militants under the guise of refugees” in an effort to dissuade Central Asian states from cooperating with U.S. evacuation efforts.
Why Haven’t Kazakh Xinjiang Protests Gained Traction?
By Dariga Sanayeva
The plight of Kazakhs detained in Xinjiang’s “re-education” camps has not gained widespread public support among ethnic Kazakhs in Kazakhstan.
Afghan Forces Flee, Fly, to Central Asia
By Catherine Putz
How will Central Asian states handle Afghan government forces that have fled as the Taliban take control in Kabul?