KABUL (TCA) — The Afghan government plans to seek some major loans from the International Monetary Fund to finance some of the country’s important projects, President Ashraf Ghani said on March 23, Afghan broadcaster TOLOnews reported.

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ASTANA (TCA) — Kazakhstan’s Interim President Qasym-Zhomart Toqaev has appointed a recently dismissed prime minister to head his administration, RFE/RL’s Kazakh Service reported.

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ASTANA (TCA) — The Eurasian Development Bank (EDB) and Altynalmas, a major gold producer in Kazakhstan, have signed loan agreements for a total of US $44.6 million to finance Altynalmas Group of Companies’ investment programs aimed at enhancing gold production.

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BISHKEK (TCA) — The Publisher’s note: Throughout the 19th and 20th centuries, Central Asia was the scene of intense geopolitical struggle and the Great Game between the British and Russian Empires, and later between the Soviet Union and the West, over Afghanistan and neighboring territories. Into the 21st century, Central Asia has become the area of a renewed geopolitical interest, dubbed the New Great Game, largely based on the region’s hydrocarbon and mineral wealth. On top of that, the region now is perhaps the most important node in the implementation of China’s One Belt, One Road initiative through which Beijing aims to get direct access to Western markets. Every week thousands of news appears in the world’s printed and online media and many of them may escape the attention of busy readers. At The Times of Central Asia, we strongly believe that more information can better contribute to peaceful development and better knowledge of this unique region. So we are presenting this Weekly Digest which compiles what other media have reported on Central Asia over the past week.

KAZAKHSTAN

Kazakh President Nazarbayev has resigned. Here are three things to watch

Nursultan Nazarbayev has chosen a managed power succession in Kazakhstan

March 20 — “Nursultan Nazarbayev, Kazakhstan’s president since 1989, unexpectedly resigned Tuesday — the last Soviet-era president of a former Soviet republic to relinquish power. Many citizens of Kazakhstan, which has a median age of 30, have known no other leader. What happens now? Although much remains uncertain, the leadership succession is as likely to be messy as it is to be managed. Here are three things you need to know” READ MORE: https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2019/03/20/kazakh-president-nazarbayev-has-resigned-here-are-three-things-watch/?utm_term=.9bea487f4f66

China, Russia Stand to Gain From Kazakhstan’s Political Transition

Kazakhstan’s new president aims to maintain the country’s security ties to Moscow and economic links to Beijing

March 20 — “A smooth political transition after the unexpected resignation of Kazakhstan’s longtime leader serves the interests of neighboring Russia and China, which have economic and security stakes in the region.” READ MORE: https://www.wsj.com/articles/china-russia-stand-to-gain-from-kazakhstans-political-transition-11553111654

Kazakhstan: Social media reacts to resignation with shock, joy and jokes

Kazakh social media users have shown a great deal of humor and even sarcasm in connection with President Nazarbayev’s resignation

March 20 — “The reaction of social media users to the surprise resignation of Kazakhstan’s president has covered the whole gamut from shock to joy and solemn tribute to cynical joke-cracking. Astana resident Yuliana Zhikhor said she sees the departure of Nursultan Nazarbayev as the end of era.” READ MORE: https://eurasianet.org/kazakhstan-social-media-reacts-to-resignation-with-shock-joy-and-jokes

Kazakh Activist Forced to Falsely Confess

In a voice message, Serikzhan Bilash, arrested for reporting on China’s mistreatment of Kazakhs, discloses the details of his detention

March 20 — “Serikzhan Bilash, the leader of Atajurt – a human rights NGO in Kazakhstan – is under house arrest pending trial, after his arrest on March 10 for “inciting ethnic hatred.”Serikzhan gathers information through people in Kazakhstan about their ethnic relatives persecuted in China and releases this information to international human rights organizations.” READ MORE: https://bitterwinter.org/kazakh-activist-forced-to-falsely-confess/

KYRGYZSTAN

Kyrgyzstan: Presidents past and present butt heads as weather warms

The spat between the former and incumbent presidents has taken a new twist

March 18 — “In the wild, rival mountain goats will engage in a ritual of head-butting to establish dominance. Politics in Kyrgyzstan operate on a similar principle. The end of the wearing battle of wills that has been going on for the past year between the former and current presidents looks no closer than it ever was.” READ MORE: https://eurasianet.org/kyrgyzstan-presidents-past-and-present-butt-heads-as-weather-warms

Businesses Shuttered, Migrants Stay Home Amid Tensions Over Alleged Rape In Russian Region

There is tension between labor migrants from Central Asia — including Kyrgyzstan — and other residents, including ethnic Russians and other indigenous groups, in cities across Russia

March 19 — “Some businesses owned by Central Asians have been shuttered, bus services disrupted, and Kyrgyz migrants in Sakha-Yakutia urged to stay home following two days of demonstrations that took place after police said a Kyrgyz man was suspected of raping a woman in the Russian region’s capital, Yakutsk.” READ MORE: https://www.rferl.org/a/businesses-shuttered-kyrgyz-stay-home-amid-tensions-over-alleged-rape-in-russian-region/29829961.html

Kyrgyz-Tajik Border Clash Resolved

Disputes over water use in the Ferghana Valley — shared by Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan — underlie regular incidents around a Tajik exclave in southern Kyrgyzstan

March 19 — “A section of the border between Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan reopened yesterday, five days after a clash that left two Tajik citizens dead and three Kyrgyz hospitalized. Residents of two Kyrgyz villages who had been evacuated returned to their homes after the successful conclusion of bilateral talks to resolve the conflict” READ MORE: https://www.tol.org/client/article/28296-kyrgyzstan-tajikistan-ferghana-valley-borders-water.html

Kyrgyzstan: Security services in waiting as exiled politician mulls return

Omurbek Babanov has reportedly been living in Moscow since losing the 2017 presidential election

March 22 — “As Kyrgyzstan enters spring and a season of renewal, a figure from the past is staging his return. Businessman Omurbek Babanov, who ran a costly but ultimately doomed presidential campaign in 2017, has intimated this week, through his political party, that he is planning to travel to Kyrgyzstan.” READ MORE: https://eurasianet.org/kyrgyzstan-security-services-in-waiting-as-exiled-politician-mulls-return

TAJIKISTAN

Refugee escapes Tajikistan after YouTube video plea for help

Serious human rights abuses have become commonplace in Tajikistan amid a growing cult of personality around the authoritarian President Emomali Rahmon and his family

March 18 — “Sharofiddin Gadoev, a 33-year-old political activist who had fled repression in Tajikistan, was kidnapped by Russian officials during a visit to Moscow. He was forced onto a plane to Tajikistan and paraded around in concocted videos as someone who had seen the light and returned to Tajikistan willingly. But his case confirms that naming and shaming by other governments and human rights activists can make a difference.” READ MORE: https://www.hrw.org/news/2019/03/18/refugee-escapes-tajikistan-after-youtube-video-plea-help

Tajikistan: Rights groups demand release of tortured political prisoner

The 62-year-old deputy leader of the banned Islamic Renaissance Party of Tajikistan was arrested in September 2015, a few weeks after an alleged plot coup that authorities claim was mounted by a disaffected deputy defense minister

March 20 — “A group of international rights groups has called on the government of Tajikistan to immediately release a political prisoner that they say is gravely ill and has been subjected to torture. In their March 20 statement, the coalition of rights groups said Mahmadali Hayit, the 62-year-old deputy leader of the banned Islamic Renaissance Party of Tajikistan, or IRPT, was recently beaten by prison officials for refusing to cooperate in filming video messages denouncing his exiled allies.” READ MORE: https://eurasianet.org/tajikistan-rights-groups-demand-release-of-tortured-political-prisoner

Ensuring safe drinking-water – highlighting water safety plans in Tajikistan on World Water Day

Tajikistan has introduced water safety plans to Central Asia for the first time, with the recent completion of a successful pilot project implemented by rural communities across the country

March 21 — “While some people in the WHO European Region take clean drinking-water for granted, many communities throughout the Region – and the world – still suffer from water-related issues. World Water Day is a day for action to encourage engagement and share knowledge on safe and sustainable management of water.” READ MORE: http://www.euro.who.int/en/countries/tajikistan/news/news/2019/3/ensuring-safe-drinking-water-highlighting-water-safety-plans-in-tajikistan-on-world-water-day

TURKMENISTAN

Fire in the hole! Drone captures amazing aerial footage of crater nicknamed ‘The Door to Hell’ that’s been burning for more than 40 years

The Darvaza crater, which measures 69m wide by 30m deep, lies in the Karakum Desert of Turkmenistan

March 18 — “Your typical drone can withstand temperatures of up to 40C (104F), so it’s just as well this one didn’t get too close to a crater nicknamed ‘The Door to Hell’ – where the heat can reach 1,000C (1,830F). Aerial footage has captured incredible views over the apocalyptic Darvaza crater, a flame pit in the middle of the Karakum Desert in Turkmenistan, that has burned for more than 40 years.” READ MORE: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6821393/Drone-captures-footage-crater-nicknamed-Door-Hell-Turkmenistan.html

Turkmenistan: Don’t love thy neighbor

In its ‘Akhal-Teke: A Turkmenistan Bulletin’, Eurasianet reviews the main news and events in the Central Asian country for the previous week

March 19 — “Aliquid mali propter vicinum malum – it is ill living by bad neighbors, to quote a Latin saying. Turkmenistan reportedly engaged in some treacherous behavior this week, when it handed 150 Afghan security troops who fled into its territory for safety over to their Taliban foes. If true – and the claim is contested – this would mark the largest ever capture of Afghan government forces by Taliban militants.” READ MORE: https://eurasianet.org/turkmenistan-dont-love-thy-neighbor

Ashgabat introduces a ban on colour wheels

Authoritarian Turkmenistan is a country of strange bans and restrictions imposed on its citizens

March 21 — “The authorities of Ashgabat have imposed a new ban for car owners, according to correspondents of “Chronicles of Turkmenistan”. From now on drivers are not permitted to install car wheels of all colours except silver (popularly referred to as the colour of “snow”). Even white and dark grey wheels are prohibited.” READ MORE: https://en.hronikatm.com/2019/03/ashgabat-introduces-a-ban-on-colour-wheels/

UZBEKISTAN

In Uzbekistan, Western Powers Compete for Influence With Russia

Current Uzbekistani-Russian relations represent a continuation and expansion of previous projects and several firsts

March 13 — “Since Shavket Mirziyoyev’s succession of Islam Karimov as president in 2016, concerns have been mounting regarding the apparently growing ties between Russian and Uzbekistan. Indeed, Uzbekistani-Russian cooperation has been intensifying, reinforced by multi-day official visits by both President Mirziyoyev to Russia in April 2017 and Russian President Vladimir Putin to Tashkent in October 2018.” READ MORE: https://jamestown.org/program/in-uzbekistan-western-powers-compete-for-influence-with-russia/

Why Uzbekistan’s Samarkand should be your next city break

Another travel experience in the ancient city of Samarkand

March 19 — “I arrive in Samarkand dressed in a navy train conductor’s uniform, sitting on the false base of a bunk bed stuffed to overflowing with contraband. I have just finished the last of the neat vodka the Uzbek conductor gave me as a payoff for spending the night asleep atop his smuggling enterprise.” READ MORE: https://www.standard.co.uk/lifestyle/travel/samarkand-silk-road-travel-guide-a4094356.html

Uzbekistan: Ice arena opening carries whiff of Russian soft power

The president of Uzbekistan pays much attention to physical fitness and sports, so a new, expensive ice arena has opened in Tashkent

March 21 — “Russian soft power is icy and camp. And it was on full display on March 15, at the inauguration of a spanking new $200 million ice sports arena in Uzbekistan’s capital, Tashkent. Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, meanwhile, used the occasion to enthusiastically promote his latest hobby horse – physical fitness.” READ MORE: https://eurasianet.org/uzbekistan-ice-arena-opening-carries-whiff-of-russian-soft-power

Turkish energy firms invest in Uzbekistan’s gas sector

In Uzbekistan, an average of 55 billion kWh of electricity is generated annually by power plants, some of which are quite old

March 22 — “Cengiz Energy and Yıldırım Energy, Turkey’s two leading energy holdings, have inked deals to establish two natural gas combined-cycle power plants in Uzbekistan. A statement from Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Energy noted that following a meeting between Cengiz Energy Chairman Mehmet Cengiz and Uzbekistan Energy Minister Alisher Sultanov, an agreement was signed to build a 240-megawatt capacity natural gas combined-cycle power plant in Bukhara through the public-private partnership (PPP) model.” READ MORE: https://www.dailysabah.com/energy/2019/03/22/turkish-energy-firms-invest-in-uzbekistans-gas-sector

AFGHANISTAN

Is Germany reassessing its role in Afghanistan?

As US and Taliban negotiators make progress in their talks on the issue of foreign troop withdrawal and counterterrorism, Germany is mulling over a strategy to continue its engagement with the war-torn nation

March 20 — “Germany has been deeply involved in Afghanistan since the US-led international forces invaded the country in 2001 and toppled the Taliban regime there. The first international conference for Afghanistan’s reconstruction was held in the same year in the German city of Bonn, where the foundations for the current Afghan government were laid.” READ MORE: https://www.dw.com/en/is-germany-reassessing-its-role-in-afghanistan/a-47985699

WEIGHING THE COSTS OF WAR AND PEACE IN AFGHANISTAN

While Washington is paying the vast majority of the financial costs of the Afghan war, Afghans are paying the vast majority of the human ones

March 21 — “On Mar. 12, the United States and the Taliban finished their longest set of talks to date. After 16 days of negotiations, the U.S. Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation, Amb. Zalmay Khalilzad, tweeted that “peace requires agreement on four issues: counter-terrorism assurances, troop withdrawal, intra-Afghan dialogue, and a comprehensive ceasefire … We’re now ‘agreed in draft’ on the first two.” READ MORE: https://warontherocks.com/2019/03/weighing-the-costs-of-war-and-peace-in-afghanistan/

Mullah Omar and the art of hiding in plain sight

Al Jazeera spoke to journalist Bette Dam, whose book says Mullah Omar was in Afghanistan until his death, not in Pakistan

March 21 — “A new book on the elusive former leader of the Taliban, Mullah Omar, revealed that the one-eyed rebel chief has not been hiding in Pakistan, as US officials and many in Afghanistan and beyond had said. Omar, instead, lived near a US base in Afghanistan for years, Bette Dam, author of the book, Op Zoek Naar De Vijand (Searching for an Enemy), wrote.” READ MORE: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/03/mullah-omar-art-hiding-plain-sight-qa-190319095313414.html

AFGHANISTAN MUST INCLUDE WOMEN IN TALKS AND REINTEGRATE REFUGEES – OR PAVE THE WAY FOR ISIS | OPINION

In accordance with Afghan national policy, women should have a seat at the table in all negotiations – not just discussions of gender issues

March 21 — “There is a new factor in the debate about the future of Afghanistan, and Western policy towards that country. I am not talking about the willingness of the Trump administration to directly negotiate with the Taliban. That is new, and is welcome (though the exclusion of the Afghan government is disabling of the chances of real success.)” READ MORE: https://www.newsweek.com/afghanistan-women-refugees-isis-withdrawal-1371184

WORLD

Can Central Asia countries pay their external debts?

Central Asian countries have high foreign debts, with China being among the largest creditors, especially in Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan

March 17 — “The lower debt-to-GDP ratio, the better for a country’s economy. The level of external debt is among the most important competitiveness indicators, which shows how well a country copes with debt without harm to its financial system.” READ MORE: https://www.timesca2stg.wpenginepowered.com/index.php/news/26-opinion-head/20949-can-central-asia-countries-pay-their-external-debts

The Track to Prosperity

The Central Asian region and Afghanistan had been conflict zones for long periods of time but now the picture is changing

March 21 — “The world is rebalancing and one of the key gears of this shift is that the tide has turned towards eastern hemisphere. The world is being reshaped here, not just politically but also economically. The long awaited curse has now been lifted as the cogs of new era are positioned in destiny of eastern hemisphere. As liberalism re-emerges over international arena, the thrust of this new order is in trade and connectivity.” READ MORE: https://moderndiplomacy.eu/2019/03/21/the-track-to-prosperity/

DUSHANBE (TCA) — Villages that are home to around 200,000 citizens in rural Tajikistan will gain better local infrastructure thanks to support from the CASA1000 Community Support Project for Tajikistan (CASA1000 CSP), following approval on March 21 by the World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors for $24 million in grant financing from the International Development Association.

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