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13 Feb 2026

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Pannier and Hillard’s Spotlight on Central Asia: New Episode – B5+1, Sanctions, and a New Constitution – Out Now

February 13, 2026
By Stephen M. Bland

As Managing Editor of The Times of Central Asia, I’m delighted that, in partnership with the Oxus Society for Central Asian Affairs, from October 19, we are the home of the Spotlight on Central Asia podcast. Chaired by seasoned broadcasters Bruce Pannier of RFE/RL’s long-running Majlis podcast and Michael Hillard of The Red Line, each fortnightly instalment will take you on a deep dive into the latest news, developments, security issues, and social trends across an increasingly pivotal region.

This week, the team will be covering the B5+1 summit in Bishkek, the prospect of new EU sanctions targeting Kyrgyzstan, fresh complications around Rosatom’s nuclear plans in Uzbekistan, shake-ups inside Uzbekistan’s internal security services, and some genuinely surprising new drug-use statistics coming out of Tajikistan. We’ll also look at the latest shootout on the Tajikistan–Afghanistan border. And then, for our main story, we will be diving into Kazakhstan’s newly released draft constitution and what it signals about where the political system is heading next.

On the show this week: – Yevgeny Zhovtis (Human Rights Activist) – Aiman Umarova (Kazakh Lawyer) Hosted by Bruce Pannier and Michael Hilliard

12 Feb 2026

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Amid Questions, Tajikistan’s Presidency Says Rahmon Has Upcoming Meetings

February 12, 2026
By Times of Central Asia

President Emomali Rahmon of Tajikistan has several meetings in the coming days, his office said this week, following reports that the leader had not been seen in public this month.

Rahmon, 73, will meet Zou Jiayi, head of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, as well as Kazakhstani Foreign Minister Yermek Kosherbayev, who will visit Tajikistan, the presidential office said on Wednesday. Zou took up her job as president of the Beijing-based bank last month. Kosherbayev, who assumed his position in September, was scheduled to visit Kyrgyzstan on Thursday and Friday, media in Kyrgyzstan reported.

“Several other events are also planned with the participation of the Leader of the Nation, His Excellency Emomali Rahmon, which we will report on in more detail,” the Tajikistan’s presidential office said.

Rahmon’s Telegram channel showed video of him presiding over a meeting with law enforcement officials on January 28. But reports that he had not been seen in public since then stirred online speculation about his whereabouts and health. Similar unverified reports about the president have occasionally circulated in the past, in a country where the government tightly controls the flow of information.

Rahmon has been president of Tajikistan since 1994. His son Rustam Emomali is chairman of the National Assembly and would take over as interim president if his father is unable to serve.

12 Feb 2026

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Kyrgyzstan Moves to Expand Domestic and International Rail Tourism

February 12, 2026
By Sergey Kwan

Rail transport is expected to play a greater role in Kyrgyzstan’s tourism strategy as authorities seek to promote railways as an affordable and comfortable travel option for both domestic and international visitors.

On February 11, the national railway operator Kyrgyz Temir Jolu and the Tourism Development Support Fund of the Kyrgyz Republic signed a memorandum of cooperation aimed at the sustainable development of domestic and international tourism through rail infrastructure and passenger services. The agreement provides for joint promotional campaigns and coordinated railway tourism projects.

According to Kyrgyz Temir Jolu Chief Executive Officer Azamat Sakiev, rail-based tourism has demonstrated steady growth since the launch of dedicated tourist trains in partnership with travel companies in 2021. He said the company is prioritizing domestic routes while working to restore demand for cross-border rail travel.

New routes are planned for this year, alongside continued modernization of rolling stock. Refurbished railcars featuring traditional interior design have already entered service, aimed at strengthening the country’s tourism brand and enhancing the passenger experience. Following the upgrades, the company reports a noticeable increase in traveler interest.

Kyrgyz Temir Jolu has introduced luxury and VIP compartment cars on the Bishkek-Balykchy line serving the Issyk-Kul region. Last year, the route was extended to the Balykchy Beach stop, providing passengers with direct access to the lakeshore during the summer tourist season. In 2025, the route carried 116,122 passengers, up 31% compared to 2024.

Kyrgyzstan’s rail network remains limited, largely reflecting Soviet-era infrastructure. The main line runs from the Kazakh border through Bishkek to Balykchy. Despite these constraints, the country hosted 27 international tourist trains between 2022 and 2025, bringing visitors from Europe, Asia, and the United States, indicating growing global interest in rail-based travel to Kyrgyzstan.

Rail tourism is also expanding at the regional level. Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan recently extended their joint Jibek Joly tourist train route to include Dushanbe, strengthening cross-border rail tourism links in Central Asia. Meanwhile, British operator Golden Eagle Luxury Trains has launched The Grand Silk Road, a 22-day luxury rail journey connecting major Silk Road destinations across the region.

12 Feb 2026

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Foreign Capital Inflows to Tajikistan Jump by One-Third, Approaching $7 Billion

February 12, 2026
By Vagit Ismailov

Foreign investment in Tajikistan increased sharply in 2025, rising by more than one-third compared to the previous year, as the authorities also announced new investment agreements and long-term development strategies extending to 2040.

Speaking at a press conference, Sulton Rahimzoda, chairman of the State Committee for Investment and State Property Management of the Republic of Tajikistan, said that by the end of 2025, total foreign capital inflows had reached $6,925.3 million. This represents an increase of $1,798.6 million, or 35.1%, compared to 2024. In absolute terms, the economy attracted nearly $1.8 billion more in foreign investment than a year earlier.

According to the committee, $3,031.0 million of the total came from post-Soviet states in 2025, accounting for 43.8% of overall foreign investment. At the same time, countries outside the former Soviet Union accounted for the majority share. Tajikistan received $3,894.3 million from these countries, or 56.2% of total inflows. Investment from this group increased by $731.3 million year over year, or 23.1%.

Authorities attributed the growth in foreign capital to improvements in the regulatory framework. On the initiative of the State Committee, a new version of the Law of the Republic of Tajikistan “On Investments and Stimulation of Investment Activity,” dated May 14, 2025, No. 2173, was adopted.

Additional momentum came from the International Investment Forum “Dushanbe Invest – 2025,” held on October 14-16, where more than 50 cooperation agreements worth a combined $4.1 billion were signed.

12 Feb 2026

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Uzbekistan Approves Feasibility Study for Trans-Afghan Railway

February 12, 2026
By Sadokat Jalolova

President Shavkat Mirziyoyev has approved an intergovernmental agreement on the joint development of a feasibility study for the construction of the Trans-Afghan railway, which will link Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, and Pakistan.

According to the presidential resolution, the agreement between Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Transport, Afghanistan’s Ministry of Public Works, and Pakistan’s Ministry of Railways provides for the preparation of technical and economic documentation for a new railway line from Naibabad to Kharlachi. The document formalizes cooperation on the next stage of the long-discussed regional transport corridor.

Under the resolution, Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been instructed to notify the Afghan and Pakistani sides that all necessary domestic procedures required for the agreement’s entry into force have been completed.

The Trans-Afghan railway project was first proposed by Tashkent in December 2018 as a strategic initiative to provide Central Asia with direct access to Pakistani seaports. The original concept envisaged extending Afghanistan’s rail network from Mazar-i-Sharif through Kabul and Logar province before crossing into Pakistan. An earlier proposed route was expected to pass through Nangarhar province and the Torkham border crossing into Peshawar.

In July 2023, however, Uzbekistan, Pakistan, and Afghanistan agreed on a revised alignment. The updated route will run from Termez to Naibabad, then through Maidan Shahr and Logar to Kharlachi, excluding the previously discussed Torkham crossing. Once connected to Pakistan’s railway network, cargo will be able to reach the Pakistani ports of Karachi, Gwadar, and Qasim.

The railway is expected to stretch approximately 647 kilometers. According to recent statements by Uzbek officials, the estimated construction cost is $6.9 billion, although earlier projections ranged from $4.6 billion to $7 billion.

The project is regarded by the participating countries as a key component of efforts to strengthen regional connectivity and expand trade routes between Central and South Asia.

12 Feb 2026

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Uzbekistan and Russia to Develop Nuclear Medicine Strategy Ahead of 2026 Center Opening

February 12, 2026
By Sadokat Jalolova

Uzbekistan will develop a roadmap and long-term strategy for the advancement of nuclear medicine, according to the press service of the Atomic Energy Agency under the Cabinet of Ministers, Uzatom.

The announcement followed a working meeting held on February 10 at Uzatom to discuss prospects for expanding nuclear medicine in the country. The meeting brought together representatives of the Ministry of Health, the Healthcare Projects Center, the Committee for Industrial, Radiation and Nuclear Safety, the Institute of Nuclear Physics of the Academy of Sciences, the state enterprise Radiopreparat, leading medical centers, and experts from Rosatom’s engineering division, underscoring growing cooperation between Uzbekistan and Russia in the sector.

During the discussions, the Russian side presented its experience in building modern nuclear medicine infrastructure, including cyclotron complexes, radiopharmaceutical production facilities, and PET/CT diagnostic centers, as well as implementing turnkey international projects.

Following the talks, the parties agreed to jointly draft a roadmap and strategy that will provide a framework for technology transfer, specialist training, and improvements in healthcare services. The initiative is intended to strengthen early cancer diagnosis and expand access to advanced treatment methods based on nuclear technologies.

The construction of a Nuclear Medicine Center in Tashkent has begun. The center is scheduled to be equipped in 2026 with PET/CT scanners, a cyclotron, a radiopharmaceutical laboratory, as well as Gamma Knife and CyberKnife systems. The broader program also involves upgrading oncology services, promoting early cancer detection, training medical personnel to international standards, and deepening cooperation with Russia and Rosatom.

Uzatom stated that it will continue to support the introduction of advanced technologies aimed at improving access to modern cancer diagnostics and treatment.

As previously reported by The Times of Central Asia, citing IQVIA data, Uzbekistan’s pharmaceutical market reached $2.14 billion in the twelve months to September 2025, reflecting continued expansion and rising demand for medical services.