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
What Nazarbayev Hopes to Achieve
The honorary secretary of the Singapore Press Club on the Kazakh president’s efforts to modernize the country
Feb 9 — “The 10 priority tasks that President Nursultan Nazarbayev announced on Jan. 9 indicate that the statesman is in a hurry to modernise Kazakhstan. The resourceful leader knows that his developing Central Asian republic cannot afford to lag behind if it is to achieve his goal of becoming one of the top 30 economies of the world by 2050.” READ MORE: https://astanatimes.com/2018/02/what-nazarbayev-hopes-to-achieve/
Meet the Woman Charged With Saving the Kazakh Banking System
Kazakhstan’s banking system still remains weak, with non-performing loans undermining the system
Feb 12 — “After a decade of financial turmoil, Kazakhstan is looking to the head of its largest lender to restore the banking system to health. Umut Shayakhmetova, the 48-year-old chief executive officer of Halyk Bank, is weighing the lender’s first dividend since 2015. The potential payout is a sign of stabilization in the banking system after years of turmoil culminated in Halyk being drafted in to recapitalize its main competitor, Kazkommertsbank.” READ MORE: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-02-12/meet-the-woman-charged-with-saving-kazakhstan-s-banking-system
Kazakhstan’s new secularity
In October 2018, Astana will host the 6th Congress of World Religions, as the issues of religious freedom and extremism remain high on the regional agenda
Feb 13 — “The upcoming congress of religious leaders may offer the Kazakh government insights into better ways of fighting national security threats related to religion. If not, the Palace of Peace and Reconciliation built in 2006 especially for inter-confessional conferences may itself become a threat to Astana’s new definition of secularity.” READ MORE: http://neweasterneurope.eu/2018/02/13/kazakhstans-new-secularity/
Kazakhstan: Businessman Alleges Torture
The ill-treatment and torture of detained people is widespread in Central Asian countries and Kazakhstan is no exception
Feb 15 — “Kazakh authorities should provide immediate medical assistance to a detained businessman who has alleged that he was beaten and ill-treated, the Norwegian Helsinki Committee and Human Rights Watch said today.” READ MORE: https://www.hrw.org/news/2018/02/15/kazakhstan-businessman-alleges-torture
Kazakhstan moves to expand, strengthen National Security Council
The current reorganization of Kazakhstan’s National Security Council highlights the importance the authorities attach to matters of national security, and shows that President Nazarbayev — who is eligible to chair the Council for life — will keep a leading decision-making role even if he decides to retire
Feb 15 — “Kazakhstan’s parliament introduced new legislation, on January 24, 2018, pertaining to the National Security Council (KNSC) (Abctv.kz, January 24). The legislation notably follows last year’s adoption of a new military strategy, which focuses on ways to strengthen national security and domestic stability (see EDM, October 23, 2017).” READ MORE: https://timesca.com/index.php/news/19356-kazakhstan-moves-to-expand-strengthen-national-security-council
KYRGYZSTAN
Kyrgyz Optimistic About Country’s Direction and Economy, But Troubled by Corruption
People in Kyrgyzstan believe corruption is the main problem facing their country
Feb 6 — “A majority of Kyrgyz polled late last year said the country was headed in the right direction, but nearly all of them said corruption was a problem.” READ MORE: https://thediplomat.com/2018/02/kyrgyz-optimistic-about-direction-and-economy-but-troubled-by-corruption/
Kyrgyzstan: Alleged Coup Plotters on Hunger Strike
Several opposition figures in Kyrgyzstan have been targeted with politically motivated prosecutions over the past two years
Feb 13 — “Opposition politicians in Kyrgyzstan serving prison sentences on charges of coup-plotting have been on hunger strike for the past two weeks in an attempt to force the resignation of the man they say is responsible for their jailing.” READ MORE: https://eurasianet.org/s/kyrgyzstan-alleged-coup-plotters-on-hunger-strike
Kyrgyzstan: Ecologists Run Billboard Experiment to Test Dirty Air
Air pollution is a widely discussed issue in Bishkek today — with experts and the government having no clear idea of its causes and ways to solve the problem
Feb 14 — “An environmental group in Kyrgyzstan’s capital is running an unusual experiment to shame authorities into seeing just how dirty the city’s air has become. Activists with MoveGreen have erected plain billboards made of white cotton in the center and are now waiting to see how long it takes them to turn black.” READ MORE: https://eurasianet.org/s/kyrgyzstan-ecologists-run-billboard-experiment-to-test-dirty-air
Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan border impasse: finding a way out of a tight spot
The largely non-delimited state border between Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, as well as long-lasting disputes over water resources and irrigation facilities in border areas, remain the main problem in the relations between the two neighboring countries
Feb 16 — “The districts of Batken and Lelik are tucked away in a southwest corner of Kyrgyzstan with the northern part of Tajikistan on either side. On occasion, this remote corner of the Fergana Valley is the site of sudden outbreaks of unrest, as rival communities on either side of the border vie for control over the sparse resources the unyielding land has to provide.” READ MORE: https://timesca.com/index.php/news/19362-kyrgyzstan-tajikistan-border-impasse-finding-a-way-out-of-a-tight-spot
TAJIKISTAN
The Happiest Member Of The Rahmon Family
The photos and videos posted on the Instagram page of Tajik President Rahmon’s second son, Somon Emomali, show the 18-year-old is having a great time
Feb 10 — “The nine children of Tajik President Emomali Rahmon, seven daughters and two sons, are doing quite well. For example, oldest daughter Ozoda Rahmon, 40, is the head of the Tajik president’s executive office; third daughter Rukhshona Rahmonova, 26, is the deputy head of the Foreign Ministry’s international organizations department; sixth daughter Zarina Rahmon, 23, is deputy head of Tajikistan’s largest commercial bank, Orienbonk; and oldest son Rustam Emomali, 30, is the mayor of Tajikistan’s capital, Dushanbe.” READ MORE: https://www.rferl.org/a/qishloq-ovozi-happy-tajik-family/29032252.html
Tajikistan reports all-time high gold production
Tajikistan increases its gold reserves as the country’s foreign debt remains dangerously high
Feb 13 — “Tajikistan has registered a new record in gold production: in 2017, the country extracted 5.5 tons. According to Tajik Industry and New Technologies Minister Shavkat Bobozoda, the gold has been purchased by the National Bank. In 2017 as compared with 2016, gold production grew by 11.2% or 500 kilograms.” READ MORE: https://eadaily.com/en/news/2018/02/13/tajikistan-reports-all-time-high-gold-production
Tajikistan to Sell Electricity to Uzbekistan in Boon For Integration
Tajikistan and Uzbekistan move towards restoration of the Soviet-era unified power grid, which will allow cross-border trade in electricity and prevent power shortages
Feb 14 — “Starting in April through to September, Tajikistan will export 1.5 billion kilowatt hours of electricity to Uzbekistan. Mirzo Ismoilzoda, head of Tajik state-run power company Barki Tojik, said at a press conference on February 14 that although the sales agreement is in place, the sides have yet to land on a price mechanism.” READ MORE: https://eurasianet.org/s/tajikistan-to-sell-electricity-to-uzbekistan-in-blow-for-integration
Tajik Autocrat Mints ‘Democracy’ Medal Bearing His Own Image
Tajikistan is rapidly becoming an authoritarian state with President Rahmon building up his cult of personality
Feb 15 — “The repressive ruler of a country with one of the postcommunist world’s worst records on democratic freedom, Tajik President Emomali Rahmon, has established a gold “democracy” award whose recipients will receive cash and a medal emblazoned with his image.” READ MORE: https://www.rferl.org/a/tajikistan-rahmon-democracy-medal/29042341.html
TURKMENISTAN
Flour Power: Turkmenistan Mulling ‘Surplus Confiscation’ Amid Shortage
The ongoing economic downturn caused by lower gas-export revenues has led to a shortage of some staple foods in the oil-rich country
Feb 13 — “It seems that desperate times call for desperate measures in northern Turkmenistan, where authorities are reported to be considering the confiscation of “surplus” flour from people amid severe shortages of the staple.” READ MORE: https://www.rferl.org/a/turkmenistan-flour-shortage-confiscation-surplus-bread/29037664.html
Iran-Turkmenistan gas dispute ‘China’s trump card’
Expert believes Iran should settle the gas-debt dispute with Turkmenistan amicably in order to continue importing gas from this country
Feb 13 — “A senior energy expert Mohammad Aminrad said, “as People’s Republic of China increases gas import volume from Turkmenistan following the construction operation of its fourth gas pipeline, prolongation of gas dispute between Iran and Turkmenistan threatens Iran’s presence in gas market of this country significantly.” READ MORE: https://en.mehrnews.com/news/132118/Iran-Turkmenistan-gas-dispute-China-s-trump-card
Central Asia’s largest glass production facility launched in Turkmenistan
Turkmenistan has launched a major production enterprise amid the country’s economic woes and in an effort to reduce imports and increase exports
Feb 15 — “The largest glass manufacturing enterprise in the Central Asian region, Türkmen aýna önümleri (Turkmen glass products), was opened in Ovadandepe, 25 kilometers north of Ashgabat, the Turkmen leader’s press service reported on February 14.” READ MORE: https://www.azernews.az/region/127272.html
The Turkmen gas pipeline to Europe that will never be
The prospects for the planned trans-Caspian gas pipeline look bleak due to the Caspian region’s geopolitics
Feb 15 — “The trans-Caspian gas pipeline (TCGP) has been under discussion for more than decade. The plan envisages a 300km pipeline running from Turkmenistan’s Caspian coast to Baku, where it would link to the Southern Gas Corridor, a network of pipelines seeking to deliver Azerbaijani gas to Europe via Turkey.” READ MORE: http://www.intellinews.com/the-turkmen-gas-pipeline-to-europe-that-will-never-be-136852/?source=turkmenistan
UZBEKISTAN
Can An Alleged Uzbek Crime Boss, Heroin Trafficker Save Olympic Boxing?
Critics say putting Gafur Rakhimov in charge of the International Boxing Association finances and anticorruption reforms is like letting a fox guard the chickens in a henhouse
Feb 14 — “The future of Olympic boxing hangs on Gafur Rakhimov — a controversial sports administrator blacklisted by the U.S. Treasury Department as “one of Uzbekistan’s leading criminals” and an alleged key figure in the heroin trade.” READ MORE: https://www.rferl.org/a/uzbekistan-alleged-criminal-boss-heroin-boxing-olympics-gafur-rakhimov/29038938.html
Uzbekistan: Intelligentsia Make Plea For Opposition Leader’s Return
Such open gesture of support for an opposition figure would have been impossible under the late President Islam Karimov
Feb 15 — “More than 400 representatives of Uzbekistan’s self-described intelligentsia have signed an online petition for the president to allow veteran opposition figure Muhammad Solih to return home after 25 years in exile.” READ MORE: https://eurasianet.org/s/uzbekistan-intelligentsia-make-plea-for-opposition-leaders-return
Uzbek Singers Are Told: No Tattoos, No Earrings, And No Singing In Bedrooms In Videos
Authorities say music videos should adhere to Uzbekistan’s culture and traditions, promote patriotism, and should not insult viewers’ feelings
Feb 15 — “Uzbek singers can no longer sport a tattoo, show off expensive cars, or sing in a bedroom in music videos — all part of new rules unveiled by government officials this week. Male singers shouldn’t dress like women or wear garish jewelry, according to a directive published on the website of Uzbekkonsert, a state body that regulates the Central Asian country’s music industry.” READ MORE: https://www.rferl.org/a/uzbekistan-musicians-rules-tatoos-earrings-drug-alcohol/29042373.html
ADB Pledges $70m To Fund Surkhan-Pul-e-Khumri Power Line
The new power line will transmit up to 1,000 megawatts of electricity from Uzbekistan to Afghanistan and both countries will start construction soon
Feb 16 — “The power transmission project between Afghanistan and Uzbekistan was agreed upon by the two countries on the sidelines RECCA last week. Officials from Da Afghanistan Breshna Sherkat (DABS) said Thursday that the Asian Development Bank (ADB) has pledged to provide $70 million to fund Surkhan-Pul-e-Khumri power project.” READ MORE: https://www.tolonews.com/business/adb-pledges-70m-fund-surkhan-pul-e-khumri-power-line
AFGHANISTAN
WHY IS EUROPE SENDING REFUGEES BACK TO WAR-TORN AFGHANISTAN?
Many EU nations deport Afghans with the claim that “Afghanistan is safe” and that Afghans seeking a better life in Europe are merely “economic” or “irregular” migrants
Feb 13 — “A wave of insurgent attacks in recent weeks in Afghanistan has led both President Donald Trump and Afghan President Ashraf Ghani to call for an end to negotiations with the Taliban militant group and to intensify efforts on the battlefield.” READ MORE: http://www.ozy.com/opinion/why-is-europe-sending-refugees-back-to-war-torn-afghanistan/83864
China in South Asia: The Case of Afghanistan
In Afghanistan, China sees the opportunity to get access to the country’s mineral wealth and to ensure the security of its own restive Xinjiang province
Feb 13 — “It is almost trite to observe in 2018 that China’s economic growth over the last twenty-five or so years has been spectacular. The Chinese Communist Party, which has managed most aspects of the economy, can justifiably take credit for that growth. It has lifted an estimated six hundred million people out of poverty and enabled many others to become millionaires and even billionaires.” READ MORE: http://www.futuredirections.org.au/publication/china-south-asia-case-afghanistan/
Hamid Karzai’s dark theories are gaining traction in Afghanistan
Former Afghan president Hamid Karzai’s criticism and assertions directed at the US are gaining an audience in Afghanistan and irritate his opponents
Feb 14 — “He has long been dismissed by critics as a cranky, embittered has-been, given to provocative rants against the American government whose might and money sustained his government for years — and whose relationship with him eventually soured into a recrimination-filled frost.” READ MORE: https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/hamid-karzais-dark-theories-are-gaining-traction-in-afghanistan/2018/02/13/31df39e0-0e19-11e8-998c-96deb18cca19_story.html?utm_term=.192a6e281789
Why Trump’s Troubling Pakistan Policy Dooms Afghanistan Peace
The Taliban is the biggest card Pakistan has to secure its interests in Afghanistan, believes a former ambassador of Pakistan and diplomatic adviser to the Pakistani Prime Minister
Feb 15 — “For a 16-year-long war in Afghanistan, whose failure lies in an endless list of complex causes – including flawed strategy, incoherent war aims, return of the warlords, rise of fiefdoms and ungoverned spaces, corruption, power struggles and a competitive and conflict-prone regional environment – U.S. President Donald Trump has one simple solution: get rid of the Haqqani Network and Taliban sanctuaries in Pakistan. And if Pakistan does not oblige, cut off aid.” READ MORE: https://thediplomat.com/2018/02/why-trumps-troubling-pakistan-policy-dooms-afghanistan-peace/
WORLD
Pakistan in the SCO: challenges and prospects
Pakistan’s membership of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization can certainly strengthen security and cooperation in the broader Central Asia region, and give the bloc’s Central Asian member countries the much-needed access to the Indian ocean to help boost international trade
Feb 12 — “The Shanghai Cooperation Organization’s (SCO) Council of Heads of Government (CHG) held its 16th meeting on November 30-December 1, 2017. Pakistan’s PM Shahid Khaqan Abbasi highlighted the pivotal role that Islamabad can play in achieving the SCO’s objectives by serving as a bridge between Central and South Asia.” READ MORE: https://timesca.com/index.php/news/26-opinion-head/19339-pakistan-in-the-sco-challenges-and-prospects
Projecting soft power as an imperative for the EU in Central Asia
Director for Central Asian Studies Center at KIMEP University, Kazakhstan, on the implementation of the EU Strategy for Central Asia
Feb 12 — “An ideal new EU Strategy for Central Asia would be forward-looking and goal-oriented, and adequately respond to current challenges. The main challenge for the EU is the growing competition for the ‘hearts and minds’ of Central Asia’s people, and the main goal is maintaining and promoting European soft power in the region.” READ MORE: https://www.euractiv.com/section/central-asia/opinion/projecting-soft-power-as-an-imperative-for-the-eu-in-central-asia/
Gwadar Vs Chabahar
Pakistan’s Gwadar port and Iran’s Chabahar port are in the center of economic, and political, rivalry between China and India in this part of Asia
Feb 14 — “Pakistan’s signing of China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) with China is a milestone of economic cooperation between the two countries. It is expected that this Corridor would boost Pakistan’s ailing economy in the years to come. Gwadar, a strategic warm water deep sea port located on the southwestern coast of Pakistan in the Baluchistan Province is the geographic center of gravity of the CPEC.” READ MORE: https://pakobserver.net/gwadar-vs-chabahar/
