Navigating Diplomacy: Central Asia’s Strategic Balancing Act Amid Middle East Tensions

The five Central Asian republics are actively building ties with the outside world, trying to balance the influence of China and Russia in the region. For the former Soviet republics, the Middle East was, until recently, a kind of terra incognita since Moscow carried out all contacts with the area. However, since the nineties, thanks to a growing friendship with Turkey, Kazakhstan, followed by other Central Asian republics, have begun establishing diplomatic, cultural, and trade ties with the Middle East and North African countries. Another escalation in the Middle East has forced the diplomatic departments of the Central Asian countries, whilst avoiding any accusations against either side in the conflict, to inform their citizens about and the address the fate of their compatriots who have found themselves at the epicenter of events. Kazakhstan In Kazakhstan, law enforcement agencies reacted before diplomats. Shyngys Alekeshev, head of the Interior Ministry's Information Policy Department, said in response to journalists' inquiries that police in the republic have brought their patrol routes closer to synagogues and Israeli diplomatic facilities. Later, official representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan, Aibek Smadiarov, said that no Kazakh citizens were injured as a result of the armed escalation between Iran and Israel, and urged Kazakh citizens in the Middle East to exercise caution. “The Kazakh Foreign Ministry expresses deep concern about the increasing escalation of tensions in the Middle East. We call on all parties involved to exercise restraint and refrain from using forceful methods to avoid civilian casualties and further escalation of the situation in the region, which could provoke a full-scale war. In this regard, we note the importance of taking early measures to resolve differences exclusively through political and diplomatic means within the framework of the principles of the UN Charter and international law,” said Smadiarov. According to the representative, 120 citizens of the Republic of Kazakhstan, including diplomats and their family members, are registered as being present in Israel, 102 in Iran, and 139 in Lebanon. “Communication channels have been created with citizens who are in these countries. Constant communication is maintained with them, and necessary recommendations are given depending on the development of the situation in one country or another. Several times, embassies have announced the need to leave the country due to the aggravation of military and political situations. At the same time, the Ministry and authorized bodies are monitoring the situation to work out possible repatriation flights. The evacuation of our citizens is still under consideration and the special control of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs,” said Smadiarov. Kyrgyzstan The Kyrgyz Foreign Ministry stated on October 2 that it is deeply concerned about events taking place in the Middle East, stating that it is calling on “the conflicting parties to respect the fundamental principles and norms of international law, including refraining from actions leading to an escalation of the situation in the region. The Kyrgyz Republic urges the global community to completely stop military action as soon as possible, and start...

Kazakhstan Still Repatriating Its Citizens From War Zones

Kazakhstan is still repatriating its citizens from war zones, 24KZ reports. Since 2019, more than 750 Kazakhs have been successfully repatriated to the republic as part of a humanitarian operation. Similar efforts are underway in other Central Asian countries. For example, Uzbek authorities have evacuated more than 500 citizens from conflict zones, compared to 511 in Kyrgyzstan and 381 in Tajikistan. These figures were presented in Tashkent at the first meeting of the Regional Expert Council on Rehabilitation and Reintegration in Central Asia. "The results of our rehabilitation programs are very high. Repatriated women and children do not pose a danger to society and the state. All orphaned children have been taken under the guardianship of their grandparents. Now they are studying at school," psychologist Gulnaz Razdykova said. However, the UN's under-secretary-general Vladimir Voronkov has commented: "Unfortunately, there are still a huge number of people still in camps and detention centers in northeastern Syria and Iraq. First, women and children. We estimate that this is about 55,000 to 60,000 people as of today. So, there is still a lot of work to be done to unload these camps and bring back those who deserve a normal life." Thanks to the active efforts of the Kazakhstani authorities, 180 women, more than 500 children and 37 men have already returned home. In addition, another 34 children left without parents have been successfully reunited with their grandparents. In 2018, Kazakhstan approved a state program to counter religious extremism and terrorism. The special operation to return Kazakh citizens from Syria and Iraq was called "Zhusan", which is Kazakh for wormwood, found on the country's steppe and which symbolizes home for many Kazakhs.