Afghanistan: Taliban spring offensive and increasing threat to Central Asia

OSH, Kyrgyzstan (TCA) — In Afghanistan, the Taliban has regained a foothold and launched the spring offensive codenamed “operation Omari,” after the name of its late leader Mullah Muhammad Omar. This will certainly nullify the peace efforts of the quadrilateral coordination group of China, the US, Pakistan and Afghanistan for reaching a direct dialogue between Kabul and the Taliban. The spring offensive will certainly escalate violence and further destabilize the country. Such development on the ground, with the Afghan government’s role in state management reduced by ever intensive fighting, may turn foreign intervention from a last option into the only option. With Afghanistan falling again into chaos, terrorism may spread to neighboring countries of Central Asia and probably China’s western Xinjiang region.  

Continue reading

New Energy Holding in Kyrgyzstan: a future success or a failure?

BISHKEK (TCA) — Electricity losses now amount to 1.5 billion soms (15 percent of the generated electricity) in Kyrgyzstan. The new National Energy Holding Company, which will bring together nine energy companies, aims to save about 200 million soms by optimizing the control and elimination of duplicating functions, head of the Holding, Aibek Kaliev said.

Continue reading

OSCE supports training of Kyrgyz journalists on countering violent extremism

BISHKEK (TCA) — Some sixty journalists on April 22 completed a series of OSCE-supported training courses in Osh and Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, on challenges related to reporting on religious beliefs and violent extremism.

Continue reading

Sergey Kwan

TCA

Sergey Kwan has worked for The Times of Central Asia as a journalist, translator and editor since its foundation in March 1999. Prior to this, from 1996-1997, he worked as a translator at The Kyrgyzstan Chronicle, and from 1997-1999, as a translator at The Central Asian Post.
divider
Kwan studied at the Bishkek Polytechnic Institute from 1990-1994, before completing his training in print journalism in Denmark.

View more articles fromTCA

ADB lending reaches record high to meet rising regional demand for finance

BISHKEK (TCA) — The demand for finance for major infrastructure and development projects in Asia and the Pacific shows no sign of slowing as regional economies seek ways to address moderating economic growth, inequality, and significant environmental risks, says the Asian Development Bank (ADB)’s 2015 Annual Report (2015 AR), released on April 22.

Continue reading

Sergey Kwan

TCA

Sergey Kwan has worked for The Times of Central Asia as a journalist, translator and editor since its foundation in March 1999. Prior to this, from 1996-1997, he worked as a translator at The Kyrgyzstan Chronicle, and from 1997-1999, as a translator at The Central Asian Post.
divider
Kwan studied at the Bishkek Polytechnic Institute from 1990-1994, before completing his training in print journalism in Denmark.

View more articles fromTCA

Remittances from Russia to Central Asian countries continue to fall

DUSHANBE (TCA) — The Central Bank of Russia has reported a sharp decrease in money remittances from Russia to Central Asian countries, Avesta news agency reports.

Continue reading

Sergey Kwan

TCA

Sergey Kwan has worked for The Times of Central Asia as a journalist, translator and editor since its foundation in March 1999. Prior to this, from 1996-1997, he worked as a translator at The Kyrgyzstan Chronicle, and from 1997-1999, as a translator at The Central Asian Post.
divider
Kwan studied at the Bishkek Polytechnic Institute from 1990-1994, before completing his training in print journalism in Denmark.

View more articles fromTCA