The Times Of Central Asia | Eurasian Publication & News Online

For much of its recent history, Kazakhstan’s image has been shaped by the discourse of natural resource extraction — oil, gas, metals, the infrastructure to transport them, and the political influence they provide. But, a quiet transformation of its public and private spaces is underway, one not measured in barrels,...

Caspian Sea

The Caspian Sea Hits Historic Low

Labor migrants

Fatherless Tajik Children: The Social Consequences of Labor Migration

Labor migration has become a daily reality in Tajikistan, and a vital means of survival for many families. It is estimated that between 800,000 and 1 million citizens (up to 20% of the labor force) work abroad. Remittances make up a significant share of GDP, estimated between 27 % and nearly...

Banking

Halyk Bank Buys 49% Stake in Uzbekistan’s Click in Landmark Fintech Deal

Almaty - Kazakhstan’s Halyk Bank has announced it will acquire a 49% stake in Uzbek digital payments company Click for $176.4 million, marking one of the largest cross-border banking investments in Central Asia to date. The deal values Click at approximately $360 million, highlighting the growing importance of digital finance...

Sunkar Podcast

Astana International Forum 2025: Rethinking Global Dialogue

00:00 / 00:00

Opinions

Opinion: A Sea of Discord? Intensifying Military Drills Threaten Stability in the Caspian Region

Andrei Matveev

Kazakhstan in Afghanistan: From Rhetoric to Infrastructure

Aidar Borangaziyev

Opinion: As Kazakhstan-China Trade Booms, Tokayev and XI Strengthen Relations

Javier M. Piedra

Opinion: The U.S. Dollar Loses Its Luster as the Uzbek Som Shines

Arindam Banik

Opinion: From Xi’an to Astana – Elevating China–Central Asia Cooperation to a New Height

Anna Ge

Opinion: The Engine of Turkic Integration – Why TURKPA Is No Longer “Just Talk”

Andrei Matveev

Opinion: Strengthening the Silk Bonds — India’s Renewed Push Towards Central Asia

Mohammad Suhail & A.X. Ravshanov

Opinion: What Uzbekistan’s FIFA World Cup Breakthrough Tells Us About State-Building

Khusanboy Kotibjonov

Opinion – The Quiet Competition: How the U.S. Is Losing Ground to China in Central Asia

Arman Amini

Opinion: The Ukraine-Russia Peace Talks Need Multiple Platforms for Negotiations

Times of Central Asia

Slippery Slope: How Falling Oil Prices Threaten Kazakhstan’s Energy Giant

Andrei Matveev

Victory Day Diplomacy: Central Asia’s Balancing Act and Putin’s Diminished Spotlight

Stephen M. Bland

Business & Economy

Rare Earth Metals

Tajikistan Uncovers Major Rare Earth Deposits in Rasht Valley

Newly discovered deposits of the rare earth metals tantalum and niobium in Tajikistan could reshape the country's mining sector and economic future, according to the Tajik Geological Survey. Strategic Discoveries in the Rasht Valley Ilkhom Oymukhammadzoda, head of the Geological Administration, announced the discovery of substantial niobium and tantalum concentrations in the Rasht Valley, based on the analysis of 125 samples collected from the Nazaraylok and Yosuman areas. Tantalum is critical to electronics manufacturing, while niobium is used in high-strength alloys for the aerospace and construction industries both metals are of growing strategic importance. Oymukhammadzoda also confirmed the identification of...

Electricity

Kyrgyzstan Sets New Summer Electricity Consumption Record

Industry

Turkish Safi Holding Eyes Sugar Factory Investment in Kazakhstan

Oil

New Russian Regulations Halt Kazakhstan’s Black Sea Oil Exports

Economic Growth

EDB Analysts Predict Record Economic Growth for Tajikistan

Geology

Kazakhstan to Launch First International Full-Cycle Geo-Laboratory in Almaty

Kazakhstan is establishing GeoLab Eurasia, the first internationally certified full-cycle geological laboratory in Central Asia. Located in Almaty, the facility will provide high-precision analysis of ore composition and quality in accordance with internationally recognized standards, including NI 43-101, JORC, and ISO/IEC 17025. The creation of this domestic laboratory marks a strategic move to improve the accuracy and credibility of Kazakhstan’s mineral reserve assessments, enhance investor confidence, and reduce reliance on foreign laboratories. GeoLab Eurasia is expected to streamline the mineral certification process and boost the country’s competitiveness in global geological markets. International Collaboration and Scientific Sovereignty The project is being...

Construction

Kyrgyzstan Tops EAEU in Construction Growth Despite Labor Woes

Kyrgyzstan recorded the highest growth in construction activity among member states of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) during the first half of 2025, according to data published by the Eurasian Economic Commission (EEC). Infrastructure Boom Drives Expansion Between January and May 2025, construction volumes in Kyrgyzstan nearly doubled compared to the same period in 2024. Last year, the sector had already grown by 38% year-on-year. Armenia followed with a growth rate of 29%, while Kazakhstan, Belarus, and Russia posted more modest increases of 15.4%, 12.3%, and 5.5% respectively. Across the EAEU, construction grew by an average of 6.8%. The primary...

Driverless Cargo

Kazakhstan and China Pilot Driverless Cargo Transport Project

Kazakhstan and China have launched a pioneering pilot project called “Smart Customs,” which will enable the use of driverless vehicles to transport cargo across their shared border. The program is currently being tested at the Bakhty (Kazakhstan) and Pokitu (China) border checkpoints. Its main goal is to streamline customs procedures using high-tech solutions, with autonomous trucks as the project’s central feature. These unmanned vehicles are designed to cross the border automatically, removing the need for human drivers. The initiative was formalized during a working meeting between Zhandos Duisembiev, Chairman of Kazakhstan’s State Revenue Committee, and Zhixianwei, Party Secretary of the...

Entrepreneurship

Kyrgyzstan Launches Registry of Reliable Entrepreneurs

The Ministry of Economy and Commerce of Kyrgyzstan has opened applications for a newly established Registry of Reliable Entrepreneurs, aimed at promoting transparent and responsible business practices. According to officials, companies listed in the registry will receive a range of incentives and benefits from the state. The registry is open to all eligible businesses, including large companies and individual entrepreneurs operating under patent regimes. To qualify, applicants must meet several criteria: At least three years of operational history No outstanding debts related to taxes or social contributions Timely payment of wages at or above the industry average Compliance with labor...

Local Politics

Fuel Exports

Kazakhstan Plans to Export Up to a Third of Its Fuel Production by 2040

The government of Kazakhstan has approved a long-term development strategy for the oil refining industry for the period 2025-2040, significantly increasing its forecast for petroleum product exports. The new plan triples previous export projections, aiming for exports to account for 30% of total production by 2040. According to the strategy, key priorities include expanding refining capacity and boosting exports to China, India, and neighboring Central Asian countries. By comparison, in May 2024, the Ministry of Energy had presented a separate draft strategy looking toward 2050, which proposed limiting fuel exports to 10%, and only in cases where domestic supply exceeded...

Afghan Refugees

Tajikistan Confirms Deportation of Afghan Refugees

Transport

Kyrgyzstan Moves to Tighten Passenger Transport Regulations

Internet

Turkmenistan Tightens Internet Blocks to Promote State-Controlled VPNs

Investments

New Law Paves Way for Special Investment Zone in Kyrgyzstan

Migration

Kazakhstan Deports 10,000 Foreigners Amid Crackdown on Migration Violations

Nearly 10,000 foreign citizens have been deported from Kazakhstan since the beginning of 2025, according to First Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs Baurzhan Alenov. The announcement was made during a recent government meeting addressing migration trends and enforcement measures. Alenov noted a consistent rise in the number of foreign arrivals to the country. In the first half of 2025 alone, more than 7.5 million people entered Kazakhstan, while 7.2 million departed, a net increase of 600,000 compared to the same period in 2024. Approximately 90% of those arriving are citizens of post-Soviet states. “It is important to note that 97%...

Philanthropy

Kazakhstan to Launch “School for Philanthropists” to Support Endowment Sector

Kazakhstan is set to establish a “school for philanthropists” at one of its universities, a specialized training center for professionals working in endowment funds. The initiative was announced by Gulzat Kobenova, Deputy Minister of Science and Higher Education. Currently, 22 endowment funds operate in Kazakhstan. These targeted financial structures support the long-term development of education, healthcare, and cultural institutions through private donations. Unlike traditional charitable organizations, endowments invest the principal and use only the investment income to fund their programs, ensuring financial sustainability over time. A significant step toward institutionalizing the sector came in June 2025 with the enactment of...

Politics

Saida Mirziyoyeva, Uzbek President’s Daughter, Grows Her Authority

Saida Mirziyoyeva, the eldest daughter of Uzbekistan’s president Shavkat Mirziyoyev, will focus on education, business, the judicial and legal system, healthcare, and water resources in her new job as head of the presidential administration. Mirziyoyev has signed a decree with details about the structure of the office that his daughter took over last month, handing her authority in a wide range of areas that are critical to Uzbekistan’s efforts to modernize its economy and society. The move points to the increasing political influence of Mirziyoyeva, a polished operator who is comfortable interacting with foreign dignitaries and other international partners. The...

Security

CCTV Cameras Installed Around Lake Issyk-Kul to Combat Poaching and Environmental Violations

Kyrgyz authorities have begun installing CCTV cameras around Lake Issyk-Kul as part of a broader effort to protect the region’s fragile ecosystem and crack down on poaching. The surveillance system, which includes thermal imaging capabilities, will operate around the clock, the Issyk-Kul Regional Internal Affairs Department announced. The cameras are designed to capture instances of illegal fishing and to monitor motorists who drive onto beaches or into the lake itself, practices that authorities say are damaging the environment. Police officials stressed that this measure was necessary, as public awareness campaigns and verbal warnings had not been effective in curbing such...

International Affairs

Chinese influence

China Steps Into the Central Asian Power Vacuum

China’s footprint in Central Asia is growing rapidly, with the number of joint projects and strategic initiatives expanding across the region. Analysts attribute this shift to the waning influence of both Russia and the United States. Kazakhstan: From Agriculture to Atomic Energy In recent months, China has significantly deepened its cooperation with Kazakhstan. As The Times of Central Asia recently reported, on July 24, the Kazakh Ministry of Finance announced a pilot project with China involving unmanned freight trucks crossing the Bakhty (Kazakhstan) and Pokitu (China) border points. The initiative, known as "Smart Customs," will employ autonomous guided vehicles (AGVs)...

Travel

Kazakhstan Leads Central Asia in Latest Global Passport Rankings

China

Kazakhstan and China to Build Ground Satellite Station in Almaty

State Visit

Steppe Diplomacy: Mongolia Deepens Central Asia Ties

Food

Tajikistan Launches National Food Reform to Boost Nutrition

Caspian Sea

Opinion: A Sea of Discord? Intensifying Military Drills Threaten Stability in the Caspian Region

On Monday, Russia and Iran launched joint military exercises in the Caspian Sea under the banner “Together for a Safe and Secure Caspian Sea.” Officially, the drills aim to enhance maritime security and naval cooperation between the two countries and are being coordinated by Iran’s Northern Fleet. While such exercises might once have passed without much notice, their timing and frequency reflect a shifting dynamic: the Caspian region is rapidly emerging as a potential hotspot in global geopolitics. Just one month prior, the same waters hosted joint military exercises between Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan, held in Aktau, western Kazakhstan. These were...

Higher Education

Indian Regulator Flags Concerns About Uzbek University

India’s National Medical Commission (NMC) has issued a warning to Indian students regarding enrollment at the Chirchik branch of Tashkent State Medical University in Uzbekistan, as well as three medical schools in Belize. As reported by The New Indian Express, the NMC cited multiple concerns, including alleged non-compliance with Indian medical education standards, subpar infrastructure, inadequate clinical training, high tuition fees, and instances of student harassment. According to the NMC, all of the institutions in question “did not comply with Indian medical education standards, lacked adequate or functioning campus infrastructure, provided poor quality educational and clinical training, and had instances...

International

Azerbaijan’s Aliyev: Uzbekistan’s First Gift Helped Rebuild Karabakh

At a major media forum held in Khankendi, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev expressed gratitude to Uzbekistan for its contribution to the reconstruction of Nagorno-Karabakh. Speaking at the event, Professor Sherzodhon Kudratkhodja, Rector of Uzbekistan’s University of Journalism and Mass Communications, congratulated Aliyev on successfully hosting the 17th Summit of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) in Khankendi. He noted that while Uzbek journalists had visited Karabakh over the past three years, this was their first visit to Khankendi, marking a symbolic step toward reconciliation and renewal. Kudratkhodja praised the recent meeting between Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan in Abu...

Railways

Uzbekistan, Pakistan, and Afghanistan Sign Deal to Study TransAfghan Railway

Uzbekistan, Pakistan, and Afghanistan have taken a significant step toward realizing the long-planned TransAfghan railway. According to Uzbekistan Railways, the three countries signed an intergovernmental agreement on July 17 in Kabul to launch a technical and economic feasibility study for the proposed “Termez-Naibabad-Maidan Shar-Logar-Kharlachi” route. The deal was finalized at a trilateral summit attended by Uzbekistan’s Transport Minister Ilkhom Makhkamov, Pakistan’s Railways Minister Muhammad Hanif Abbasi, and Afghanistan’s acting Public Works Minister Mohammad Esa Thani. The route itself was agreed upon in July 2023 in Islamabad by representatives of all three nations. A project office established under the International Transport...

Life & Culture

Sports

Kazakhstan’s Bublik Wins Back-to-Back Tennis Titles on Clay

Another week, another title. Alexander Bublik of Kazakhstan won the Generali Open in Kitzbühel, Austria on Saturday, just a week after raising the winner’s trophy in Gstaad, Switzerland. Both tennis titles were on clay, a surface he once disparaged. Bublik beat Arthur Cazaux of France, 6-4, 6-3 in Kitzbühel, pounding groundstrokes and feathering dropshots against a player he had also beaten on the way to the title in Gstaad. It’s all part of what Bublik, 28, has described as his greatest season on the tour, which includes a quarterfinals run at the French Open and the grass court title at...

Chess

Kazakhstani Woman Earns Grandmaster Title, Says Chess is “My World”

Architecture

In a New Light: Kazakhstan’s Evolving Relationship with Design and Atmosphere

Labor migrants

Fatherless Tajik Children: The Social Consequences of Labor Migration

Media

Netflix Documentary ‘Off Road’ Showcases Kyrgyzstan to the World

History

Exile and Empire: Dostoevsky’s Years in Semey, Kazakhstan

Semey, Kazakhstan – In the windswept, seemingly infinite steppe of eastern Kazakhstan stands a city with a dual, haunting legacy. It is a place where one of the world's literary giants plumbed the depths of the human soul, and where, a century later, humanity sought to master the power to extinguish itself. This is Semey, formerly Semipalatinsk, a city whose soil is steeped in the memory of both Fyodor Dostoevsky's exile and the Soviet Union's atomic ambition. For Fyodor Dostoevsky, one of Russia’s most celebrated writers, Semey was not a destination of choice but of punishment. Arrested in 1849 for...

Higher Education

German University Launches Bachelor’s Programs in Kazakhstan

Germany’s Anhalt University of Applied Sciences has opened a branch campus in Almaty, marking a new milestone in German-Kazakh educational cooperation. The new campus, based at Energo University, is now accepting applications for bachelor’s programs in Biomedical Engineering and Electrical Engineering and Information Technology. The initiative is supported by Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Science and Higher Education and the German Consulate General in Almaty. According to the ministry, the programs were selected to align with current demands in Kazakhstan’s labor market. Graduates will receive dual diplomas, one from Anhalt University and one from a Kazakhstani institution. A total of 100 state-funded...

Society

In Tajikistan, Tradition Defines the Ideal Bride in a Changing World

In Tajikistan, the image of the “ideal bride” is shaped not only by character but by deep-rooted societal expectations. While wedding customs vary across Central Asia, they are united by traditional values that place a high premium on modesty, obedience, and domestic skill—qualities that can determine a woman’s future prospects in marriage. Restraint in All Things In traditional Tajik households, modesty is synonymous with decency. Future mothers-in-law scrutinise prospective brides for soft-spoken voices, humble body language, and conservative attire. In some homes, daughters-in-law are expected not to make direct eye contact with their parents-in-law—considered a mark of humility. Clothing is...

UNESCO World Heritage List

Timur’s Birthplace Languishes on UNESCO List of Endangered Sites

Bukhara, Samarkand, Khiva. Uzbekistan’s cultural heritage draws visitors from around the world, but the troubled modern history of another ancient site, Shakhrisabz, is a reminder that development and mass tourism sometimes overshadow preservation. Shakhrisabz, or Green City, is less known than some other tourist destinations in Uzbekistan that were part of the Silk Road network linking cultures across Asia, Europe, and Africa many centuries ago. Yet the old urban core is more than 2,000 years old and contains spectacular monuments and other structures, some dating from the heyday of the city during the rule of the Turco-Mongol conqueror Timur, also...

Justice

Afghan Refugees

Tajikistan Escalates Deportations of Afghan Refugees Amid Growing Concerns

Afghans who fled to Tajikistan are keeping a low profile lately. Tajik authorities have started the latest wave of deportations, and this one looks to be bigger than the previous sweeps. “You Have 15 Days” At the beginning of July, Afghan refugees and asylum-seekers in Tajikistan received an SMS warning them to leave the country within 15 days or else they would be forcibly deported. Tajikistan’s government has not commented on these messages, but the detention of Afghans started not long after the messages were sent. So far, the only two places mentioned where Afghans were being apprehended were the...

Healthcare

Kazakhstan to Increase Penalties for Attacks on Medical Workers

Fraud

Embezzlement Scandal at Kazakh Charity Fund Implicates Influential Officials

AZAL Plane Crash

Despite Kazakh-led Inquiry, Azerbaijan to Take Plane Crash Case to International Courts

Travel Ban

Travel Ban Overturned: Turkmen Woman and Her Daughter Rejoin Family in Turkey

Narcotics

Kazakhstan Drug Seizure Tops Six Tons in First Half of 2025

Kazakh authorities seized 6.4 tons of narcotic substances in the first half of 2025, Interior Minister Yerzhan Sadenov announced at a recent meeting of the Interdepartmental Commission on Crime Prevention. For comparison, the Ministry of Internal Affairs reported a total of 21 tons of drugs confiscated in 2024. That figure included 547 kilograms of synthetic substances, 2.5 kilograms of heroin, over 10 tons of marijuana, and 572 kilograms of hashish. Authorities also recorded more than 8,000 drug-related offenses, dismantled 63 drug laboratories, and identified 7,400 internet resources involved in the distribution of drug-related content. Between January and June 2025, the...

Crime

Secret 450-Meter Smuggling Tunnel Uncovered on Kazakhstan-Uzbekistan Border

Kazakhstan’s Financial Monitoring Agency has uncovered a secret underground tunnel used to smuggle petroleum products across the border with Uzbekistan. The tunnel, discovered in the Turkestan region, extended 450 meters underground. According to the agency, a transnational criminal group operated the tunnel for approximately two months, using it to illegally transport fuel and lubricants. The scheme reportedly involved foreign financing and a carefully organized logistics network to facilitate cross-border smuggling. The operation to dismantle the network was coordinated by the Prosecutor’s Office of the Turkestan region and the Department of Financial Monitoring, with assistance from Uzbek law enforcement. Authorities have...

Crocus City Hall Terrorist Attack

Closed Court Begins for 19 Suspects in Crocus City Hall Attack

The Second Western District Military Court in Moscow has begun preliminary closed-door proceedings for 19 suspects charged in the March 22, 2024, terrorist attack at Crocus City Hall in Krasnogorsk, according to Russian state agency TASS. The attack left 149 people dead and caused an estimated 6 billion rubles in damages. Court spokesperson Irina Zhirnova stated that the session would follow Article 234 of the Russian Criminal Procedure Code, meaning a single judge will preside over the preliminary hearing, which is not open to the public. “We will take unprecedented security measures,” she added. Federal security personnel are tasked with...

Healthcare

White Coats, Red Lines: Kazakhstan Health Minister Demands End to Violence

Kazakhstan’s Minister of Health, Akmaral Alnazarova, has issued a public appeal urging an end to violence against medical personnel, following two brutal attacks on healthcare workers in Karaganda and Kostanay. “Dear citizens of Kazakhstan, I am addressing you as a specialist who has worked as a nurse in a maternity hospital, as a doctor in the emergency room of a children’s hospital, as a duty officer, and as a resident; stop the violence against medical workers!” Alnazarova wrote on Instagram. Two Violent Incidents in One Week In Karaganda, a 42-year-old man accompanying his wife allegedly attacked a nurse at a...

Environment

Tourism Development

Charvak Resort Plan Sparks Public Outcry in Uzbekistan

A proposed tourism development at Uzbekistan’s Charvak reservoir has drawn widespread public scrutiny following an announcement by Azerbaijani businessman Emin Agalarov. The project, dubbed “Sea Breeze Uzbekistan,” envisions a vast resort complex covering 500 to 700 hectares and featuring hotels, cottages, pools, sports facilities, restaurants, retail outlets, a bridge across the reservoir, and event venues. Public reaction has been swift, with critics raising concerns over transparency and environmental impact. The hashtag #SaveChorvoq has gained traction as citizens question the lack of open consultation. Minister Calls for Transparency and Public Input Speaking at a July 23 press conference near the Charvak...

Environment

Bishkek Opens Poplar Nursery to Increase City Tree Cover

Extreme Weather

World Bank Report: Central Asia Faces Rising Risks from Extreme Heat

Tourism Development

Uzbekistan Faces Criticism Over Charvak Tourism Project

Environment

Kyrgyzstan Eases Plastic Ban to Comply with EAEU Standards

Water

Kyrgyzstan Moves to Address Falling Water Levels in Lake Issyk-Kul

Kyrgyzstan is stepping up efforts to combat the declining water level of Lake Issyk-Kul, a critical ecological and economic resource, as the effects of climate change intensify. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Water Resources Bakyt Torobaev raised the issue at a government meeting this week, highlighting a combination of shrinking glaciers, reduced precipitation, and inefficient water use, particularly in agriculture, as key contributing factors. Lake Issyk-Kul, located in northeastern Kyrgyzstan, is the country’s largest lake and a vital component of the regional climate system. It also supports biodiversity and tourism. Torobaev warned that the continued decline in water levels...

Caspian Sea

The Caspian Sea Hits Historic Low

The Caspian Sea has dropped to its lowest recorded level, now sitting at less than 29 meters below sea level. The northern basin, bordering Russia and Kazakhstan, is shrinking particularly rapidly. As the water recedes, the exposed seabed is threatening key marine ecosystems. Experts warn the decline is already causing serious disruption to biodiversity in the region. Declining Volga Flow and Climate Change The downward trend in sea levels began in the 1990s and has accelerated since 2020, with a nearly 80-centimeter drop in the past four years. The primary factor is a decrease in the annual flow of the...

water level

Water Level in Lake Balkhash Continues to Rise

The water level in Kazakhstan’s Lake Balkhash has increased by 32 centimeters during the first half of 2025, rising from 341.55 to 341.87 meters above sea level, based on the Baltic height system, according to data released by Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation. Located approximately 280 kilometers northwest of Almaty, Lake Balkhash is one of Asia’s largest inland bodies of water and ranks as the fifteenth-largest lake in the world by surface area. Since the beginning of 2025, 8.52 billion cubic meters of water have been discharged from the Kapchagay Reservoir in the Almaty region into Lake Balkhash....

Water Security

Melting Mountains, Drying Futures: Central Asia Confronts Water Emergency

Central Asian countries are mobilizing against an emerging water crisis as a United Nations report highlights the vulnerability of mountain water systems to climate change. Identifying ranges like the Tien Shan and the Pamirs, the UN World Water Development Report 2025 – Mountains and Glaciers: Water Towers – warns that rapid glacier melt and erratic snowfall are threatening vital freshwater supplies worldwide. According to the report, mountains provide up to 60% of the world’s annual freshwater flows, with over two billion people depending directly on water from mountain sources. This risk is particularly acute in Central Asia: a UN drought...