by Eldar Mamedov According to those who seek to contain Iran, it is supposedly building a new Persian empire in the regions where it has influence—the Persian Gulf, the wider Middle East, and Central Asia. Such accusations, besides mistakenly assuming… Continue Reading
by Eurasianet Despite the close cultural connection that Tajikistan has with Iran, Dushanbe seems intent on burning all its diplomatic bridges with Tehran. In a remarkably hostile gesture, Tajik state television in early August aired a sensationalist, 45-minute documentary produced… Continue Reading
by Gary Sands A two-day summit to unveil what China is portraying as the infrastructure project of the century concluded on May 15. The $1 trillion initiative is designed to vastly expand free trade in Africa, Asia and Europe. Realization… Continue Reading
by Alexander Morrison Few parts of the world are the subject of as much sustained journalistic ignorance as Central Asia. News from what are patronizingly known as the “stans” rarely makes it into mainstream news outlets, except in connection to… Continue Reading
by Joshua Kucera The U.S.’s primary interests in Central Asia are making sure the region doesn’t become a terrorist sanctuary and protecting it from Russian influence, a senior State Department official has testified. The statement suggests a shift in Washington… Continue Reading