Central Asia

There’s so much news and so many who report it well, it’s difficult to hit all of the high points without a round-up.

Afghanistan:
–One of the South Korean hostages has been killed.  Negotiations continue for the other 22 hostages, who are, according to the ROK government, safe for the moment.  Reuters builds a Timeline of Hostage Incidents in Afghanistan
–Afghanistanica shares the tactics of a successful counter-insurgency expert from the Soviet Union.  It’s a lesson in how individual strengths need to be magnified in diplomatic efforts of all kinds–and how, the failure to learn from these talented individuals dooms a larger enterprise.  I loved this.
–Carl Robichaud at Afghanistan Watch talks about strengthening the Afghanistan Police capabilities: what needs to happen and what is happening.  A must-read.
–See also: Pakistan.

Kazakhstan:
–The long (but hopefully not too-long) slog toward Kazatomprom’s ability to purchase Westinghouse stock proceeds apace.  As previously reported, self-styled security experts first started talking down this purchase of stock from Japanese companies.  Now Registan.net reports that a mix of environmentalists have weighed in.  As I posted earlier, this sale has nothing but strategic benefits to the U.S., Westinghouse, Japan, Kazakhstan.  Please note that Kazakhstan already has the uranium, okay?  All they want to do is diversify their economy and produce some value-added process to their natural resource endowments.  If Kazakhstan doesn’t do it with Westinghouse, they’ll do it with someone else–they are a valuable partner in any nuclear energy companies’ strategy.
–Minister Ertsybaev urges the OSCE to continue working with Kazakhstan toward democratic reform, and mentions an opening up of media freedoms.  However, the OSCE report on Internet censorship that recently appeared shows that Kazakhstan, and many other states, has a long way to go. . .

Kyrgyzstan:
–The Perils of Being Bermet: Bermet Akaev, the daughter of Kyrgyzstan’s former President, Askar Akaev, has been charged with contempt of court, obstruction of justice, and destruction of evidence.  If convicted, she could spend up to two years in prison.
–Kyrgyzstan reports that its economy is on the rise, but experts see the numbers as inflated.  The shadow economy accounts for 40 to 60% of all commerce in the Kyrgyz Republic.
–Obviously, a lack of attention to details Here: Kyrgyz union of air traffic controllers appeals to U.S. Ambassador for wages for the work at Ganci AFB.

Mongolia:
–Bilateral ties between the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea and Mongolia are extolled by North Korea’s leader, who also offered to assist in the development of Eastern Mongolia.  As noted in this article, the ties between the DPRK and Mongolia have always been friendly, and this has been of silent benefit in, for example, the Six-Party Talks.
–The Ulaan Bataar Post also looks at a World Bank initiative that will enable Mongolia to go cellular, one year into the project.

Pakistan:
–This week’s Babur Hatf VII missile test successful–700 km range, nuclear-capable.  Good news.
–Pakistan wants Aussie uranium.  Australia is a large source of uranium, and by law it cannot be sold except for peaceful purposes.  But Australia is selling uranium to India, who is not a signatory to NPT treaties. . . ergo. . .
–More trouble at the Red Mosque:  suicide bomber kills twelve.
–In Transit to Afghanistan discusses the road to Islamization in Pakistan–before, as well as during, the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan.

Tajikistan:
–Tajikistan’s citizens in two djamoats (districts) suffered from the effects of an earthquake 5.5 on the Richter scale.  1200 homes are affected.
–Some Tajikistan-Turkmenistan energy diplomacy.
–Press news: First, Targeting the Internet: Tajikistan’s legislature has passed changes to the Criminal code that will extend defamation charges to internet correspondence.  Not a good sign for a free press.  Second, Tajikistan also opened a new independent news agency, Sima News, broadcasting in English but also soon in Russian and Tajik.  So far, however, I have not been able to find its Web site. . . stay tuned.

Turkmenistan:
–Turkmenistan’s official news agency is reporting bilateral talks with Belarus.  since Belarus is a member state of the Russia-led Collective Security Treaty Organization, this may well be a gradual step to Turkmenistan’s increased involvement in CSTO affairs.  One agreement: military cooperation.  Since Turkmenistan’s military has been gutted over the last decade, and Belarus’ defense industry likewise floundering, this is probably a good avenue from which to start.
–The stark regime against internal travel begins to loosen up.

Uzbekistan:
–A look at sex and marriage at NewEurasia.net, from women’s perspective.  And Global Voices looks at marriage and alcoholism.
–Messy corporate divorce fixed: Newmont Mining, which lost all its assets in Uzbekistan after the government expropriated them under tax laws, has reached an amicable settlement with the government.

Xinjiang:
–The power of nature: Xinjiang, beset by record rain, tornadoes, mudslides, and earthquake tremors.  Most recently 32 people have died in floods–with a total of 500 this year alone from flooding.
–This summer’s SCO military training maneuvers are scheduled in Xinjiang and in Chelyabinsk, Russia (North of Kazakhstan). 

This entry was posted on Friday, July 27th, 2007 at 12:06 pm and is filed under Central Asia General, Central Asia Beat. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.