Water in Central Asia: Can the Five States Reach an Agreement?

Central Asia is entering a period of growing water stress, as climate change makes supplies less predictable while demand continues to rise. Populations are growing, economies require new energy and industrial capacity, glaciers are shrinking, and agriculture continues to consume most of the available water. The region’s two main rivers – the Amu Darya and Syr Darya – cross national borders, making it impossible for any one country to solve the problem on its own.

After decades of disputes, Central Asian states are increasingly trying to manage water jointly. In 2026, that cooperation has produced further practical steps, from plans for automated water accounting in the Syr Darya basin to new proposals for reforming regional mechanisms. The question now is whether the five countries can agree on rules when their water needs remain different.

Water and Energy: An Old Conflict

The structural conflict is rooted in the region’s geography. Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan are upstream states and use water in part for hydropower generation, particularly in winter. Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan are downstream and need large volumes in summer during the irrigation season.

During the Soviet period, a centralized exchange system was in place: upstream republics stored water in winter and released it in summer, receiving energy resources in return. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, that unified mechanism disappeared. Interstate agreements preserved a degree of coordination but did not eliminate the tension between upstream energy needs and downstream agricultural interests.

Climate change is now adding another layer to the problem. Retreating glaciers in the Pamir and Tien Shan mountains are altering the timing and reliability of river flows, while populations and consumption are increasing. Countries across the region are planning new power plants, industrial facilities, mining projects, and data centers, while agriculture remains the largest consumer of water.

From Seasonal Quotas to Joint Management

The main formal mechanism for coordinating river allocations remains the Interstate Commission for Water Coordination of Central Asia (ICWC), established in 1992. Through it, countries coordinate water withdrawal limits and reservoir operating regimes in the Amu Darya and Syr Darya basins.

In late 2025, the countries agreed on water allocations for 2026: for the Amu Darya, the total withdrawal limit for the water-management year from October 2025 to October 2026 was around 55.4 billion cubic meters, while the Syr Darya allocation for the non-growing season was approximately 4.2 billion cubic meters.

The five-state framework does not, however, cover every major user of the Amu Darya. Afghanistan is outside the regional allocation system, while its Qosh Tepa Canal, now under construction, has added another source of uncertainty over future downstream flows.

Such agreements keep the shared system functioning, but many decisions are still made ahead of each new season. Climate change and rising demand require a longer-term model. In February of this year, Kazakhstan proposed developing a Central Asian Framework Convention on Water Use, while joint infrastructure projects, including Kyrgyzstan’s Kambarata-1 hydropower plant with the participation of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, are gradually adding shared economic interests to the broader water-energy relationship.

Another practical step followed in August. States met in Turkestan for the 94th ICWC meeting, where Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan agreed to develop a plan for automated water accounting in the Syr Darya basin. Kyrgyzstan participated as an observer.

Automated monitoring is intended to address one of the most sensitive problems: the reliability of data on transboundary water flows. Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan are already working to automate ten transboundary monitoring stations in the Syr Darya basin, five in each country.

By August, conditions on the Syr Darya were relatively stable: since April 1, around 3 billion cubic meters of water had flowed into Kazakhstan’s Shardara Reservoir – more than a year earlier and above the long-term average.

Who Should Pay for Water?

A favorable season does not eliminate longer-term tensions. Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan have an interest in operating hydropower plants in winter, while Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan need sufficient water to remain available for summer irrigation.

The Toktogul Reservoir in Kyrgyzstan illustrates this interdependence. The country’s largest hydropower plant is located there and generates around 40% of Kyrgyzstan’s electricity, while its operating regime also determines how much water flows downstream through the Syr Darya. In May, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan signed a trilateral protocol agreeing on a schedule for water releases from Toktogul.

Kyrgyzstan is increasingly raising the question of how costs should be shared. Bishkek points to the expense of maintaining dams, reservoirs, and other infrastructure. In February, parliamentarian Umbetaly Kydyraliyev proposed that neighboring countries compensate Kyrgyzstan for water and the costs of maintaining hydraulic infrastructure, while President Sadyr Japarov proposed a regional economic compensation mechanism for water and energy in April.

Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan do not support such a model, pointing out that existing agreements do not provide for payment for water from transboundary rivers.

The dispute also sits alongside a less contentious problem: large amounts of water are lost across aging canal and distribution networks, while cultivation of water-intensive crops keeps irrigation demand high.

The Issue Is No Longer Just How Much Water There Is

At Tashkent Water Week, Murad Uzakov, head of the Center for Regional Studies at Uzbekistan’s Institute for Strategic and Regional Studies, said the water problem had already moved beyond environmental concerns and become a matter of national and regional security.

Because of the condition of canals, dams, and distribution systems, water losses can reach 40%-50% in some areas, while around 90% of the region’s water withdrawals are used for irrigated agriculture. By 2050, he said, flows in the Amu Darya and Syr Darya could decline by 5%-13%.

At the same time, Uzakov pointed to stronger regional cooperation, including joint use of the Naryn basin’s water and energy resources, preparations for the Kambarata-1 hydropower project, and hydropower development on the Zarafshan River. In his view, the region needs a common strategy for the rational use of water.

Iskandar Abdullaev, a senior researcher at the International Water Management Institute (IWMI), stressed at the same forum that infrastructure and digitalization alone are not enough without better coordination and data sharing. Climate change is making water resources more unpredictable, meaning decisions need to be made at the level of shared river basins rather than by individual states alone.

From Central Asia to the UN

Kazakhstan is trying to elevate the water issue to the international level. At the Regional Ecological Summit in Astana in April, discussions covered the management of transboundary resources, the state of glaciers, and a proposal to establish an International Water Organization within the UN system.

On September 1, Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev again advanced the initiative, saying that the global system of water governance remains fragmented. He also proposed establishing a Water Issues Analysis Center within the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.

For Central Asia, however, agreements among the region’s countries will remain decisive. An international organization can help with coordination and mobilizing resources, but it cannot determine how much water should remain in reservoirs in winter and how much needs to be released to fields in summer.

Kyrgyzstan-Pakistan Trade: 12-Fold Growth or Pipe Dream?

One of the most notable of Kyrgyzstan’s agreements at the SCO Summit in Bishkek last week may be its deal with Pakistan to boost annual bilateral trade to US$200 million within the next two years. From a base of roughly US$16 million in 2025, that would represent roughly a twelvefold increase. It's an ambitious target, made more so by associated geoeconomic undercurrents. As long as Bishkek avoids taking sides in any Indo-Pakistan unresolved border or other geopolitical disputes and sticks to trade and commercial issues, Kyrgyzstan should have little to worry about. President Sadyr Japarov emphasized the economic benefits, casting the Joint Statement with Pakistan as a means of bringing greater resources and opportunities to the Kyrgyz people. “The economy should become the foundation of the Kyrgyz-Pakistani partnership,” he told reporters after the talks. Prime Minister Sharif similarly argued that current trade was “not a patch on our friendship, our brotherhood and our very strong relations.” In other words, Sharif thinks that the level of trade between Pakistan and Kyrgyzstan is far too low compared with the strength of their political and diplomatic relationship. The Joint Statement of Japarov and Sharif reads that the two governments “agreed to expand industrial and investment cooperation in the fields of mining and processing industries, agriculture, food, textile and light industries, pharmaceuticals, the halal industry and digital technologies, with particular emphasis on establishing joint ventures, localizing production, exchanging technologies and implementing mutually beneficial investment projects.” The leaders also agreed to promote the Tamchy Special Financial Investment Territory as a platform for international investment, fintech, innovation, and global business. Kyrgyzstan has pushed this priority hard in recent years, with Tamchy SFIT Chairman and Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers Ayaz Baetov and Tamchy SFIT Deputy Chairman and Minister of Economy and Commerce Bakyt Sydykov spearheading the effort. The Trade Picture If historical patterns are indicative of future behavior, growth in trade over the next two years points toward pharmaceuticals (already Kyrgyzstan's largest import category from Pakistan, at over $6 million of roughly $14 million U.S. dollars in 2025), textiles and ready-made garments (Pakistan's largest global export sector), dried fruit, rice and other agricultural goods, and a newer category: virtual assets and engagement in the digital and IT space. [caption id="attachment_55574" align="aligncenter" width="1500"] Trade figures: UN Comtrade via TradingEconomics.com, 2025 data.[/caption] Kyrgyzstan’s side of the ledger is thin by comparison. Its exports to Pakistan totaled $1.6 million in 2025, led by mineral fuels at about $719,000. Raw hides and leather accounted for about $341,000. It is worth being precise about what this agreement actually does. It does not describe $200 million of commerce that will simply appear. The Joint Statement seeks to spur that trade by fixing transit problems, which touch, then, on geoeconomics and unresolved territorial issues. Kyrgyz officials have emphasized improving logistics and pointed to Pakistan's Arabian Sea ports as a route to global markets. The tested route runs through western China and across the Khunjerab Pass, following the Karakoram Highway to Sost dry port in Gilgit-Baltistan, administered by Pakistan and claimed by India, then on to Karachi. Kyrgyzstan already tested the route's feasibility with a pilot shipment in April 2026, under the existing 1995 Quadrilateral Traffic and Transit Agreement, signed by Pakistan, China, Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan. [caption id="attachment_55575" align="aligncenter" width="817"] Karakoram Highway: The route starts in Bishkek going through Torugart, Kashkar, Hungerab, Islamabad which then go on to Pakistan’s seaports(3,300 km) Source: Ministry of Transport and communications of the Kyrgyz Republic.[/caption] The Kyrgyzstan-Pakistan Joint Statement says the transit trade agreement will help in “turning both countries into important transport hubs across South Asia and Central Asia.” Pakistan is seeking to expand its role as a transit hub; Kyrgyzstan is seeking access to the sea. To be clear, India regards Gilgit-Baltistan as part of its territory under Pakistani occupation. Pakistan, meanwhile, has proposed "provisional provincial" status for the region — which, it says, would let Gilgit-Baltistan's residents elect representatives to Pakistan's National Assembly and gain federal-level representation. These lands have been disputed since the First Kashmir War (1947–48), fought at the time of the partition of British India. West Asia The war in West Asia strengthens the logic for a Bishkek to Karachi land route (3,300 km) rather than weakens it. It’s always good to diversify one’s trading patterns and partners. Since early 2026, the war involving Iran, the United States and Israel has disrupted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. This summer, Yemen’s Houthis also announced a blockade targeting Saudi-linked shipping. These disruptions strengthen the case for alternative routes. India-backed Chabahar lies outside Hormuz, on the Gulf of Oman, but still requires transit through Iran. A corridor through western China and the Karakoram Highway to Karachi would avoid transit through Iranian territory. It would not automatically avoid Bab el-Mandeb, which depends on the onward destination. The Pakistani route could therefore become comparatively more attractive for Bishkek the longer the conflict in West Asia continues. Seen from Delhi’s perspective, $200 million is not, on its own, a meaningful trade figure. What matters is Pakistan's attempt to position itself as a South Asian gateway for Central Asian trade, alongside India’s existing ties with Bishkek and investment in Chabahar. [caption id="attachment_55576" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] The International North South Transport Corridor - Global Defense News - GSDN[/caption] Indo-Kyrgyz Relations Kyrgyzstan and India have a strategic partnership established in 2019. At the SCO summit last week, Prime Minister Modi said connectivity initiatives must respect national sovereignty and territorial integrity. Given the scale of trade potential across Eurasia, there’s plenty of room for both India and Pakistan to trade with Kyrgyzstan. While India and Pakistan jockey for weight across Central Asia, the real story at this year's SCO summit was Bishkek — and its skillful navigation of trade issues amid regional rivalries. Bishkek fully embraces the SCO's mantra of resolving disagreements peacefully before they escalate. Member states have committed to foreign relations that "exclude bloc-based and confrontational methods of addressing international and regional development issues," favoring dialogue over confrontation — and Bishkek understands that this is what matters. Opening the summit, President Japarov reinforced that same diplomatic raison d'être, telling fellow leaders that the SCO “must remain free from bloc-based thinking and confrontation” and must instead serve as a platform for building trust and stability — the sine qua non for long-term trade and economic development. If smart diplomacy prevails and all sides stay focused on business, the ambitious $200 million Kyrgyz-Pakistan target may yet be within reach. Only time will tell.

Kyrgyzstan Beats Kazakhstan 12-0 to Win World Nomad Games Kok Boru Gold

Kyrgyzstan has won the kok-boru title at the 6th World Nomad Games after overwhelming Kazakhstan 12-0 in Sunday’s final at the Kok-Boru Arena in Cholpon-Ata. The hosts dominated the match and shut Kazakhstan out entirely. In the third period, Baytegin Omorbekov, Ernazar Koshumbaev, and Mirbek Mukashev added to Kyrgyzstan’s total, before Anarbek uulu Seitbek scored again as the margin widened. [video width="478" height="850" mp4="https://timesca.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/A-gY_JlG.mp4"][/video] The victory gave Kyrgyzstan the gold medal, with Kazakhstan taking silver and Russia bronze. The medal ceremony was held later on Sunday in Cholpon-Ata. The sport combines horsemanship, strength, and close physical contact, and remains one of the biggest crowd draws at the Games. Kyrgyzstan also defeated Kazakhstan 7-2 in the kokpar final, completing a sweep of the two major mounted team events on the final day of competition.

Western Tourism Interest Grows Around World Nomad Games

More than 3,000 athletes from 104 countries gathered in Bishkek on August 31 as the World Nomad Games returned to Kyrgyzstan, a sharp increase from the 583 competitors from 19 countries who attended the inaugural event at Issyk-Kul 12 years ago. Tour operators are also seeing more Western travelers, many using the Games as the centerpiece of a longer journey through Central Asia. Around 30,000 people attended the opening ceremony before the sporting and cultural programs moved to Issyk-Kul. Ahead of the Games, Kyrgyzstan’s State Agency for Tourism Development projected more than 100,000 guests over the course of the event. Late on September 2, organizers reported that around 150,000 people had visited Kyrchyn during the first two days, though they provided no methodology or breakdown between domestic and foreign visitors. Kyrgyzstan’s foreign tourism market remains predominantly regional, with more than 95% of foreign tourists in recent years coming from neighboring Central Asian countries and Russia. Arrivals from Europe and the United States have nevertheless been rising, according to the Tourism Development Fund. Western interest in the World Nomad Games was already apparent in 2024, when packages offered by Regent Holidays and Wild Frontiers, both based in the United Kingdom, sold out months before the fifth Games in Kazakhstan. Ak-Sai Travel, a Kyrgyzstan-based tour operator, is offering two itineraries built around this year’s Games. Asked whether the company has seen a significant rise in Western visitors, its chief marketing officer, Aikanysh Akynbekova, told TCA, “Yes. We have seen growing interest from Western markets over the past few years, particularly since international travel fully recovered after the pandemic.” Akynbekova identified Germany, France, Italy, the UK, Spain, and Switzerland as the company’s strongest Western markets. She attributed the increase to improved air connections and greater media coverage of Central Asia, along with growing interest in nature and cultural travel. Demand for Ak-Sai’s Games itineraries has been particularly strong among people already considering a trip to Central Asia. Many of its Western customers are visiting Kyrgyzstan or the region for the first time and are looking for less crowded destinations and meaningful cultural experiences. “For most travelers, the Games are an important highlight rather than the only reason for visiting,” Akynbekova said. The itineraries combine the event with travel through Kyrgyzstan, including its mountain landscapes and historical sites. MIR Corporation, a Seattle-based tour operator, is running one scheduled small-group tour for the Games. Andrew Barron, the company’s director of service and support for retail tours, said 11 of the 16 places had been booked, all by travelers from the U.S. For most of the group, the Games are the principal reason for traveling, although about half are also visiting elsewhere in Central Asia before or after the event. Barron knew that roughly a third had visited the region before, but could not say how many of the others were first-time visitors. Bookings opened in fall 2025, but most were made during 2026, about half since the spring. MIR continued to receive last-minute inquiries during the final month before departure. Barron said bookings had met expectations, adding that “interest has been higher this year than in the past.” Barron described MIR’s customers as cultural travelers. Asked about the event’s strongest attraction, he said, “The unusual character of the event in all its facets.” One of those travelers, Mike, an American based in New York, had never taken an organized tour before. “I’ve never used a tour company before, let alone a group tour, so I was a bit apprehensive, but it has been excellent,” he said. Mike had already planned an extended overseas journey and decided to include Central Asia, a region he previously knew little about. The Games gave him a cultural event around which to build part of the trip. Describing MIR’s role, Mike said, “The company transformed what could be a difficult process of navigating a complicated event with significant language, logistical, and cultural hurdles into a relatively seamless process.” He credited tour leader Farhad’s local knowledge with resolving problems as they arose and was sufficiently impressed with MIR’s planning to use the company for a longer Central Asian itinerary. Still traveling in Kyrgyzstan, Mike entered the country from Tajikistan through the Pamir Mountains, reaching Sary Tash before continuing to Osh and flying to Bishkek. At the first border checkpoint, he mistook a guard’s outstretched hand for a request for his passport; the guard simply wanted to shake hands, ask his name, and welcome him to Kyrgyzstan. From Bishkek, Mike traveled to the Games at Issyk-Kul, stopping at Burana along the way. His trip has also included a visit to Ala-Archa National Park. During the Games, Mike met Norwegians on a shuttle and discussed lagman, a noodle dish popular across Central Asia, with a Uyghur from Russia while watching kok boru. In the mounted team sport, riders try to carry a goat carcass, known as an ulak, into the opposing goal. “The games themselves are unlike any athletic events I’ve seen, but throwing an ulak in the goal with a flip is just as thrilling as a spectacular alley-oop,” he said. Mike said the event was experiencing “growing pains in event management” amid higher attendance and pressure on venues, although his overall experience had been very good. Barron cited limited accommodation as a practical difficulty for the group tour, while guide availability affected the custom independent travel MIR also arranges. Asked whether uncertainty over tickets and schedules had affected planning, Barron replied, “Yes, finalized information has been somewhat challenging to come by on the ticketing and schedule fronts, but our travelers understand this as an aspect of the planning and are patient in awaiting final details.” Akynbekova had also expected greater pressure on accommodation and transport, along with increased competition for experienced English-speaking guides. Organizers published the detailed schedule for the Issyk-Kul program on August 21, ten days before events there began. On September 2, after large queues formed, the World Nomad Games media headquarters said 40 additional buses had been sent to Cholpon Ata and another 10 to Kyrchyn. [caption id="attachment_55463" align="aligncenter" width="1600"] Image courtesy of Karen and Howard Bowland[/caption] Karen and Howard Bowland, from Sydney, Australia, are attending with a UK-based tour company after a friend of Karen’s spoke highly of a previous trip to the region. The Games form part of a longer Central Asian journey for the couple. Still early in their trip, they had toured Bishkek and walked in a national park before reaching Issyk-Kul. “Our guide is finding out information in real time,” they said. They had encountered problems entering the opening ceremony, and volunteers had been unable to tell them where to go. The Bowlands have nevertheless enjoyed the Games and were impressed by the opening ceremony once the presidents arrived. They were unsurprised by the loud cheers for Russia but did not expect the U.S. team to receive such an enthusiastic reception. “As a Westerner, it is interesting and surprising to see the solidarity of the region here that is not really apparent back at home in Australia,” one of them said. Asked about kok boru, which was another highlight for them, the couple replied, “Basically mounted rugby with a goat as a ball. Very good.” Akynbekova believes the Games can encourage some first-time Western visitors to return after discovering more of Kyrgyzstan. Asked whether the event had become a mainstream international attraction or remained a specialist one, Barron replied, “Somewhere in between, an established tourism event, but only for those ‘in the know.’” For more from our World Nomad Games 2026 special coverage, click here.

One Target, 145 Meters: Kyrchyn’s Archers Take on Korea’s Long-Range Test

The archers formed a long, uneven line across the grass at Kyrchyn Gorge on Friday, bows rising almost in unison beneath a bank of clouds. Their target was 145 meters away, far enough for the arrows to climb visibly before dropping back toward the range. It was the final and most unfamiliar test in the World Nomad Games’ traditional ground archery program: a Korean-style competition at a distance many of the international entrants had never attempted before. [video width="1024" height="576" mp4="https://timesca.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/WhatsApp-Video-2026-09-04-at-17.18.45.mp4"][/video] A total of 196 archers from 51 countries took part in the traditional archery program at Kyrchyn. The first two days used Kyrgyz and Turkish targets at shorter distances. Friday’s Korean round pushed both men and women out to 145 meters. Under the special Korean rules, each competitor shoots 15 qualification arrows across three rounds. The top 16 men and top 16 women advance to a 10-arrow final. Korean national team archers served as judges and officials rather than competing, leaving international archers to take on one of Korea’s defining traditional distances. For Kristina Dolgilevica, coach of Great Britain’s ground-archery team and president of the UK Traditional Archers’ International Association, the distance changes almost everything. “You have to adjust and adapt in so many ways,” she told The Times of Central Asia. “Not just your technique, not just your aim. You have to also adjust and tweak your equipment.” The British longbows were only one part of a field whose equipment, experience, and expectations varied widely. Germany’s Jürgen Junkmanns had at least faced the problem before. The German prehistoric-archery specialist and bowyer has spent decades studying historical bows and said he had travelled to Korea several times to shoot there. Even so, he described the distance as unusual at home. “In Germany we don’t shoot these distances, so we’re not used to it,” he said. For Canada, there was no opportunity to practice it at all. Vancouver-based Patricia Gonsalves, founder of Lykopis Archery, has more than three decades of experience in traditional archery and was accompanying Canada’s sole competitor. “We can’t train this distance in Canada,” she said. “There’s nowhere that we can train for this.” The weather added another variable. Gonsalves said archers from British Columbia were accustomed to rain, but Kyrchyn’s rapid changes had forced them to think differently about their arrows and fletching. A strong gust matters more when an arrow remains airborne for so long. Austria’s Kunda Kiba came to Kyrchyn with far less experience. She said this was her first World Nomad Games and her first competition in this form of archery. Her assessment was simpler: “It was wonderful. It’s very fun, and that’s what I wanted.” The international mix was part of the appeal for Britain’s John Stanley, who was also writing about the Games for World Archery. He had only shot 145 meters once before, but the distance was not what made the week feel unusual. “Every 20 minutes, there’s some brand-new experience you’ve never had before,” Stanley said. “You’re sitting on the bus next to a guy carrying an eagle. That actually happened this morning.” The journey into Kyrchyn supplied plenty more. Earlier, a scheduled power cut had knocked out electricity in Cholpon Ata. On the road, traffic police in oversized furazhka caps twirled batons and blew whistles hard enough to drown out the eagles, while the bus eventually slowed to a crawl behind a flock of sheep. By then, veteran Kyrgyz singer Baktiyar Toktorov’s “Yza,” better known as “Bui Bui,” seemed to be everywhere. Athletes and spectators filmed themselves singing along to its bouncing accordion refrain. The tune has the feel of a celebration; the song itself is about love that cannot be fulfilled and two lovers left crying. The clouds that gathered over the gorge did little to thin the crowd. Around the range, archers in national dress mixed with spectators moving between pavilions, bird-hunting displays, food stalls, and other competitions. Spectators who absent-mindedly strayed across the muddy range were warned in no uncertain terms to get out of the line of fire. The wider Kyrchyn program could swiftly move from traditional archery to spine-bone breaking, as literal as its name suggests, and then on to an international chefs’ contest. In the ethno-town, women in brightly colored hanbok moved through the crowd, while a few meters away, children rode shaggy yaks, and red Kyrgyz flags fluttered above the Bishkek pavilion. That collision of formal competition and organized chaos was precisely what Stanley thought distinguished the Games. Rather than expecting the polished rhythm of the Olympics, he said the British team had learned to “experience this as it is.” At 145 meters, the sporting challenge was serious enough. Yet the Korean round also captured something broader about Kyrchyn: a German bowyer who had shot in Korea, a Canadian coach who could not reproduce the distance at home, a first-time Austrian competitor, British longbowmen, and dozens of other archers all trying to solve the same problem on the same strip of Kyrgyz grass. The Korean event concludes the traditional ground archery competition at Kyrchyn. The World Nomad Games continue in the Issyk-Kul region through September 6. The Times of Central Asia is reporting from the World Nomad Games in Kyrgyzstan. For more from our World Nomad Games 2026 special coverage, click here.

Inside a Universe of Culture at the World Nomad Games

Of all the sites at the 6th World Nomad Games in Kyrgyzstan, the “Universe of Nomads” ethno-town is arguably the most interesting. Its setting is Kyrchyn jailoo, a large summer pasture in Semenov Gorge, where the forested slopes of the Kungey Ala-Too Mountains rise around it. The location feels far removed from the largely sports-specific venues in Cholpon-Ata, including the Kok Boru Arena, the Hippodrome, and the Gazprom Sports and Recreation Complex. Getting there takes around an hour from Cholpon-Ata on marshrutkas, minivans used as tourist shuttles, and the journey is often chaotic, with passengers packed head-to-hip. Those who make the journey find stunning scenery, an abundance of culture, and indeed sport, including some of the event’s more unusual tournaments. Among them is spine-bone breaking, a very literal nomadic sport in which competitors use their bare hands to break apart cattle spinal bones with a single strike. Other sports at the ethno-town range from Kyrgyz-style mounted archery and Turkish-style archery to golden eagle hunting and races featuring taigans, a breed of sighthound from Kyrgyzstan. The pure spectacle and traditional regalia keep visitors enthralled, as does the sheer number of animals with which they can pose for photographs. Built partly from clay and modeled on the fortifications of a medieval Central Asian shahristan, or walled inner city, the walls enclose two large spaces. The Ethno Bazaar combines souvenirs and crafts with regular street performances featuring comedy, clowns, acrobatics, and traditional music, while the Nomadic Cuisine area offers samples of national dishes on a try-before-you-buy basis. For Western tourists so inclined, the few vegetarian options include kattama, a layered, flaky flatbread made with onion and accompanied by sour cream, and boorsok, small pieces of deep-fried dough. The practical difficulties of the ethno-town come with the territory. Visitors reluctant to navigate the uneven ground and muddy slopes on foot can hire a “horse taxi” from the scrum of young men and boys on horseback looking for business. At the muddy squat-toilet setups dotted around the site, women clamber into the comparatively empty men’s facilities next door, where a smattering of men merely shrug when faced with the laughing female stampede. The sprawling site features around 500 traditional yurts organized into regional sections such as Issyk-Kul, Bishkek, Osh, and Naryn. Clusters on the outskirts appear to be used for their traditional purpose as temporary homes for sellers and exhibitors, since hotels and other accommodation are far from the site. [video width="1920" height="1080" mp4="https://timesca.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/WhatsApp-Video-2026-09-04-at-18.24.43.mp4"][/video] Further afield, on the main stage and in a clearing beside the thematic and cultural-exchange yurts, dramatic theater, nomadic music, improvised poetry (aitysh), contemporary music threaded with history, and dancers twirling in brightly colored costumes follow one another in a hypnotically dizzying procession. [video width="1920" height="1080" mp4="https://timesca.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/WhatsApp-Video-2026-09-04-at-18.24.25.mp4"][/video] Among those taking part are members of Yr Kerben, or “Song Caravan,” a cultural project that brings together women from Kyrgyzstan’s seven regions. Known as the ak elechek apalary, or “mothers in white elecheks,” they promote a headdress traditionally associated with married women, with different forms reflecting regional traditions. The knowledge and rituals surrounding the elechek were added to UNESCO’s Representative List in 2023. For the Kyrchyn procession, Yr Kerben presented an oversized version that stopped visitors unfamiliar with the tradition in their tracks. Mekendeshter Ordo brings together representatives of Kyrgyz communities abroad, ranging from those established outside the borders of modern Kyrgyzstan for generations to those formed through more recent migration. Nyagan is one of the newer points on that map; the western Siberian city recorded 504 Kyrgyz residents in the 2010 Russian census, and a Kyrgyz national-cultural association was registered there in 2015. Over four days, visitors can watch craftspeople work with felt, make amulets, and fashion wooden komuz instruments, then move on to workshops on traditional headwear, music, and national dance. Toguz korgool, tug-of-war, and the chükö game add a competitive element, while a theatrical performance presents traditional customs and rituals and the Uz-Usta competition puts artisans’ skills on display. The program offers a glimpse of how Kyrgyz traditions are maintained abroad, sometimes alongside influences from the countries where these groups live. Australian tourists Karen and Howard Bowland, visiting Kyrgyzstan and the World Nomad Games for the first time, described the ethno-town’s breathtaking setting as “yurts in a mountain meadow” before adding, “This is what we imagined it would look like.” For more from our World Nomad Games 2026 special coverage, click here.

Britain’s Horseback Archers Ride Into Kyrchyn at the World Nomad Games

At Kyrchyn Gorge on Thursday, a British rider released an arrow at a target from horseback as her steed carried her between the course markers, with the green slopes of the Tian Shan rising behind the World Nomad Games venue. Horseback archery brings the two disciplines together in a single run. Riders must control the horse while nocking, drawing, and releasing arrows at targets as they move down the track. The official Kyrgyz-style rules require the horse to remain in motion throughout the run. [video width="1024" height="576" mp4="https://timesca.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/This-one.mp4"][/video] The Games use two horseback archery formats. In the Kyrgyz style, riders race along a 100-meter track and shoot at small targets while keeping the horse moving. The Hungarian, or Magyar, style changes the challenge: riders pass a central tower carrying targets that can be shot repeatedly as the angle changes. Speed therefore counts alongside accuracy, but riders must also adapt to a horse they may have known for only a short time. [caption id="attachment_55346" align="aligncenter" width="1774"] Image: TCA, Stephen M. Bland[/caption] The venue is part of the spectacle. Beyond the course, a newly built clay fortress rises from Kyrchyn like a Silk Road settlement. It forms part of the Games’ “Universe of Nomads” ethno-town. Its buildings draw on regional architecture dating from the Middle Ages and were constructed with natural materials including soil, clay, and stone. [caption id="attachment_55352" align="aligncenter" width="1600"] Image: TCA, Stephen M. Bland[/caption] Inside the walls, visitors crowded around long tables and food stalls beneath traditional textiles as vendors bustled. Outside, rows of white yurts spread across the verdant valley floor. Golden eagles and falcons pealed nearby, as Kyrchyn is also hosting the Games’ traditional hunting with birds and other events. [caption id="attachment_55351" align="aligncenter" width="1600"] Image: TCA, Stephen M. Bland[/caption] In the gorge, the boundaries between competition and cultural festival largely disappear, with sport unfolding inside a temporary nomadic settlement rather than around a conventional arena. [caption id="attachment_55347" align="aligncenter" width="1774"] Image: TCA, Stephen M. Bland[/caption] Among the British riders competing at Kyrchyn are Becca Sweetman and Kristina Schapiro. TCA spoke with them after Thursday’s Kyrgyz-style runs. TCA: Is this a sport you have been doing for some time back home? Becca Sweetman: We’ve both been doing it for about eight years and competing for the British team for more than four years. TCA: How did it go today? Becca Sweetman: It’s a challenging competition because you have to change horses for every single run, which we don’t do at any other international competition. Kristina had a few amazing runs, and she’s currently in second place. Half the competition is done, so we’ll see how it continues. I managed to hit some targets, which is always good. [caption id="attachment_55349" align="aligncenter" width="1600"] Image: Mae Pollard[/caption] TCA: Have you been to the World Nomad Games before, and what has your general impression been? Kristina Schapiro: It’s our first time competing in horseback archery at the World Nomad Games. It’s a little disorganized, but it’s an incredible experience. At the opening ceremony, I had the honor of carrying the flag for the Great Britain delegation, and walking into that stadium felt incredible. It was a very surreal experience. [caption id="attachment_55364" align="aligncenter" width="1774"] Image: TCA, Stephen M. Bland[/caption] The scale here is amazing; seeing all the different sports. The atmosphere is unbelievable, with athletes from around the world taking part in these nomadic sports. We’re really enjoying riding the Kyrgyz horses. We went out for a week beforehand riding them. They’re very steady and very fast, but actually quite safe, so it’s been a lot of fun. TCA: Different from British horses? Kristina Schapiro: Different from British horses. They can climb up and down mountains with ease. [caption id="attachment_55348" align="aligncenter" width="1600"] Image: Mae Pollard[/caption] TCA: What comes next? Kristina Schapiro: We’ve just done the Kyrgyz style, which is very fast. You hit each target once, and the targets are only 50 centimeters across and quite far away from the track. Then we’re going to do the Hungarian style over the next two days, with the men followed by the women. That has a tower in the center, and you can hit the target as many times as you can as you go past. The Hungarian, or Magyar, horseback archery competition continues at Kyrchyn on September 4 and 5. The World Nomad Games run through September 6. For more from our World Nomad Games 2026 special coverage, click here.

In Bishkek, Gor and Daines Put Business First

U.S. Special Envoy for South and Central Asia Sergio Gor and U.S. Senator Steve Daines used their visit to Bishkek this week to put business squarely at the center of Washington's engagement with Kyrgyzstan and Central Asia, with discussions focused on investment, trade, infrastructure and practical steps for turning ideas into deals. Gor and Daines arrived for the opening of the World Nomad Games to cheer on the U.S. team, a visit that coincided with the SCO Summit on its 25^th anniversary. The Games were only part of the visit. Much of the agenda focused on economic engagement. They were accompanied by Bethany Morrison, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia at the U.S. Department of State. “Called on President Zhaparov today in Bishkek, Kyrgyz Republic,” Gor tweeted. “Many great opportunities for our two nations to work together. We look forward to welcoming President Zhaparov to the United States next month to further advance our growing partnership.” U.S. officials met President Sadyr Japarov on Aug. 31 and held separate talks in Bishkek with Economy and Commerce Minister Sydykov and other officials. Edil Baisalov, Kyrgyz Ambassador to the U.S., accompanied the delegation to their meetings with Kyrgyz officials. Their Bishkek schedule also included meetings with Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev and Tajik President Emomali Rahmon. Discussions with Kyrgyz officials covered steps needed to advance different types of projects, opportunities for business-to-business cooperation and ways to connect U.S. companies with projects and partners in Kyrgyzstan and the wider region. Mining was among the sectors in focus, as expected, alongside infrastructure, energy, technology and trade. The discussions focused on identifying viable projects, connecting companies and resolving financing and implementation issues. [caption id="attachment_55339" align="aligncenter" width="690"] Daines and Gor. Image: https://x.com/USAmbIndia/status/2094364843390476459[/caption] More than Business The agenda was overwhelmingly commercial, though not exclusively, as Gor himself tweeted: “A very productive meeting with President Mirziyoyev of Uzbekistan. We discussed ongoing cooperation in energy, commerce, and building more robust security ties between our nations. Looking forward to big announcements soon between the U.S. and Uzbekistan.” Or consider this tweet: “Pleased to meet with Tajikistan’s President Emomali Rahmon. Together, the U.S. and Tajikistan are growing our commercial engagement, expanding our health cooperation, and strengthening security and counterterrorism cooperation.” Gor mentioned “security cooperation” with Kazakhstan as well. The latest visit builds on an economic agenda already being developed through the B5+1 business forum, which Gor attended in Bishkek earlier this year. The forum brought together businesses and government officials from the United States and the five Central Asian states, with an emphasis on investment, market access and reducing obstacles to private-sector activity. The discussions in Bishkek also touched on the next C5+1 summit, the U.S.-Central Asian leaders' format involving Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. Kyrgyzstan offered to host the next summit in Bishkek. [caption id="attachment_55340" align="aligncenter" width="622"] L/R – Bethany Morrison, Daines, Gor, US Amb Lesslie Viguerie. Image: https://x.com/USAmbIndia/status/2094303173481844848[/caption] For Daines, the visit extended work he has been pursuing on Capitol Hill as chairman of the Senate Central Asia Caucus, which promotes stronger U.S. trade and investment ties with the region. He has repeatedly highlighted opportunities for American companies in mining, energy, technology, agriculture and infrastructure and has called for concrete commercial projects and greater private-sector participation. For Kyrgyzstan, the objective is to attract American capital, technology and expertise. For U.S. companies, the region offers new markets and opportunities in natural resources, infrastructure, energy, transportation and technology. Kyrgyzstan's Ministry of Economy and Commerce has been closely involved in that effort, promoting investment, financing, technology transfer and stronger commercial links as part of the country's push to attract foreign capital. Gor met with Minister Sydykov. The U.S. message was notably transactional: find projects, connect businesses, secure financing and move them forward. The World Nomad Games brought Gor and Daines to Bishkek, but business dominated the agenda.