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Air Quality

Air Quality Report Shows Central Asia’s Air Getting Rapidly Worse

Tajikistan ranked as the world’s third most polluted country in 2025, according to the latest World Air Quality Report by IQAir. The report analyzed PM2.5 concentrations across 9,446 cities in 143 countries and territories. PM2.5, fine particulate matter measured in micrograms per cubic meter, is widely used as a key indicator of air pollution. The five most polluted countries in 2025 were Pakistan (67.3 µg/m³), Bangladesh (66.1 µg/m³), Tajikistan (57.3 µg/m³), Chad (53.6 µg/m³), and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (50.2 µg/m³). Only 13 countries and territories met the World Health Organization annual PM2.5 guideline of 5 µg/m³, including Australia, Iceland, and Estonia. Overall, 130 out of 143 countries exceeded the guideline. Kazakhstan records the cleanest air in Central Asia, but still had the 29th worst air globally in 2025, a very significant decline from 71st in 2024. Uzbekistan has the region's dirtiest air, and the 10th worst worldwide, while Kyrgyzstan is only slightly better, in 19th. Like Kazakhstan, both countries have fallen down the rankings since they were last put together in 2024. Kyrgyzstan had been in 41st place, while Uzbekistan has fallen from 19th. Turkmenistan, which was also among the 30 most polluted countries in 2024, was not included in the 2025 report due to a lack of available data. Karaganda in Kazakhstan is Central Asia's most polluted city, ranking 26th globally in 2025. The city recorded an annual PM2.5 level of 72.6 µg/m³, more than ten times the WHO guideline. Other heavily polluted cities in the region included Fergana (30th, 68.8 µg/m³), Dushanbe (51st, 57.3 µg/m³), Guliston (100th), and Tashkent (225th, 39 µg/m³). The report also noted that the world’s 25 most polluted cities in 2025 were all located in India, Pakistan, and China, with India accounting for three of the top four.

Kyrgyz-Tajik Border

Kyrgyzstan Develops Territories Received from Tajikistan

The Kyrgyz authorities have adopted a resolution that transfers into state ownership land and real estate received from Tajikistan under the agreement on the delimitation and demarcation of the state border. According to the decision of the Cabinet of Ministers, the State Agency for State Property Management must register the transferred assets on its balance sheet, after which they will be handed over to local administrations in the Batken and Leylek districts of Batken region. District authorities are expected to distribute the property among citizens who lost their homes and assets as a result of the border agreement, as well as those whose properties were demolished during the construction of border infrastructure. The government has also instructed the State Agency for Land Resources, Cadastre, Geodesy, and Cartography to conduct an inventory of land plots in the region, while the Ministry of Construction will develop master plans for settlements in the transferred territories. The resolution notes that the list of real estate assets may be revised as the border line is refined during the demarcation process. The border agreement was reached following negotiations between the two countries' presidents, Sadyr Japarov and Emomali Rahmon, and was subsequently ratified by the parliaments of both countries. Under its terms, the sides exchanged territories, including previously disputed areas. Following the agreement, Kyrgyzstan began constructing barriers along the new border line. Authorities in both countries expect that completing the demarcation process will help stabilize the situation and prevent further conflict.

Education

Kyrgyz School in Tajikistan Closes Due to Lack of Students

The only Kyrgyz-language school in the Tajik town of Kanibadam has been reorganized following a sharp decline in student enrollment. By the time it closed, only one student and one teacher remained. According to an order from the mayor of Kanibadam, School No. 28 in the village of Sanjizor was converted into a branch of School No. 41, located in the neighboring village of Jahonzeb. Authorities attributed the decision to the low number of students. Firuza Abduvokhidzoda, head of the town's education department, said the sole student and teacher were transferred to Boarding School No. 40. Previously, the school had just one third-grade student, taught by a single teacher who also served as principal. Regional authorities attribute the situation to population outflow. Gulsara Mirzozoda, head of the Sughd Region Education Department, said the number of students and teachers has significantly decreased in recent years due to migration to Kyrgyzstan. Despite the lack of students, the school’s support staff continued to work. The building has a capacity of 208 students. School No. 28 was founded in 1932. At various times, up to 500 students attended, and the curriculum included instruction in the Kyrgyz language alongside standard subjects. As recently as last year, the school had three students, but a further decline in enrollment made it impossible to continue operating in its previous format. Local authorities have also linked the situation to broader regional developments, including border tensions and security concerns. The town previously gained notoriety following a series of violent incidents. As previously reported by The Times of Central Asia, between March and December 2024, 23 people from seven families were killed in a wave of violence in the area. The killings began on the night of March 28-29, when five members of a single family were found dead in their home.

Solar Power

Chinese Company Plans to Build Solar Power Plant in Tajikistan

Authorities in Tajikistan’s Khatlon region are in talks with a Chinese company over the construction of a 500-megawatt solar power plant, a project that could significantly reshape the region’s energy landscape. The proposal was discussed at a meeting between Khatlon regional head Davlatali Said and representatives of the Chinese company SETS. For a region where power outages remain a persistent issue, the project could mark an important step forward. With population growth and rising energy demand placing increasing strain on the existing grid, authorities are turning to alternative energy sources. Regional officials expect the plant to help reduce electricity shortages and improve environmental conditions. The Chinese side has expressed readiness to invest in the project and introduce modern technologies. The company reportedly has experience implementing similar energy projects, including in Central Asia. Although the project remains at the discussion stage, the parties are already considering key aspects of implementation, including construction timelines and personnel training. If agreements are finalized, the solar power plant in Khatlon could become one of the largest renewable energy projects in Tajikistan.

Climate Change

Melting Glaciers Becoming an Increasing Threat to Central Asia’s Resources

Glacier melt in Central Asia is becoming increasingly critical, posing risks to water resources, economic stability, and regional security. In response, countries in the region are strengthening coordination and launching new scientific and policy initiatives. According to the UN, glaciers in the world’s mountainous regions are shrinking at an unprecedented rate. Rising temperatures are leading to a longer warm season and a shorter winter, accelerating the process of degradation. Glaciers remain a key element of the global water system: they account for about 70% of freshwater reserves, and nearly two billion people depend directly on these resources. In addition, they perform an important climatic function by reflecting solar radiation and limiting the warming of the Earth’s surface. Central Asia is already facing the consequences of climate change. The region is under increasing pressure from rising temperatures, droughts, and dust storms. Tajikistan remains particularly vulnerable. According to President Emomali Rahmon, of the approximately 14,000 glaciers that the country once had, more than 1,000 have already disappeared, and their total volume has shrunk by nearly a third. Yet it is these glaciers that account for over 60% of the region’s water resources. In Kyrgyzstan, the area of glaciers has decreased by approximately 16% over the past 50-70 years. President Sadyr Japarov previously warned that, if current trends continue, a significant portion of them could disappear by the end of the 21st century, posing a threat to millions of residents in the region. In response to the growing crisis, at Tajikistan’s initiative, the UN General Assembly declared 2025 the International Year of Glacier Conservation. The official launch took place on March 21 in New York and coincided with the first World Glacier Day. At an international conference in Dushanbe, the Dushanbe Declaration was adopted, expressing concern over the accelerated loss of glaciers, snow cover, and permafrost. The document highlights the potentially “irreversible consequences” for ecosystems and the economy. The five countries of Central Asia are also developing joint adaptation mechanisms. Key measures include monitoring the condition of glaciers, creating a unified regional registry, and coordinating water policy.

Security

Global Terrorism Index: Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan Show Zero Risk of Terrorism

The countries of Central Asia are among those least affected by terrorism globally, according to the newly published Global Terrorism Index 2026 report. However, the report suggests that the region’s stability is increasingly influenced by external factors, particularly its proximity to Afghanistan. Country scores are a composite measure made up of four indicators: incidents, fatalities, injuries and hostages. To measure the impact of terrorism, a five-year weighted average is applied. The main concentrations of terrorist activity remain in Africa and South Asia. The overall level of terrorism worldwide declined in 2025, although the nature of the threats became more complex and less predictable. The report indicates that no terrorist incidents were recorded in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, or Turkmenistan, who all scored 0 for terrorism risk, placing them all joint 163rd out of the 163 nations researched. Uzbekistan (95th) remains in the minimal-risk category. Tajikistan is the only country in the region with a higher threat level, ranking 41st globally. Central Asia’s relative stability is attributed to several factors, including robust security measures, the absence of active armed conflicts, and the limited presence of international terrorist organisations. Despite relative internal stability, risks to Central Asia are increasingly emerging from outside the region. The report highlights growing activity by extremist groups in Afghanistan and Pakistan, as well as worsening relations between the two countries, which could potentially escalate into open conflict by 2026. Particular concern is focused on the Tajik-Afghan border, where structural vulnerabilities persist. In addition to external pressures, experts are drawing attention to internal dynamics. The report notes an acceleration of radicalisation, particularly among young people, with digital platforms and online content playing a significant role.