Central Asia Digest | January 2022
HIGHLIGHTS ● Political Developments● Economic Developments● India-Central Asia Relations Political Developments During the visit of Uzbek President to South Korea, the two countries signed a joint statement on deepening the special strategic partnership, and some agreements related to health care, development, and foreign affairs cooperation for the 2022-2024 period, as well as memoranda related to […]
Central Asia Digest | December 2021
HIGHLIGHTS ● Political Developments● Economic Developments● India-Central Asia Relations Political Developments President Shavkat Mirziyoyev of Uzbekistan embarked on his second term of office with a pledge to reform Uzbekistan’s constitution. He did not specify what changes he had in mind, as he made the announcement when he was sworn into office on November 6, following […]
Central Asia Digest | November 2021
HIGHLIGHTS ● Political Developments● Economic Developments● India-Central Asia Relations Political Developments Presidential elections were held in Uzbekistan on 24th October. Voter turnout was strong at 80.8%: over 16 million out of a total of 20 million eligible voters exercised their franchise. Incumbent President Shavkat Mirziyoyev won more than 80% of votes cast. The other candidates […]
Central Asia Digest | October 2021
HIGHLIGHTS ● Political Developments● Economic Developments● India-Central Asia Relations Political Developments The Taliban have released multiple statements assuring neighbours in Central Asia of safety, security and peace, promising a change in leadership despite their history of violent rule in 1990. However, the international community, especially in Central Asia, remains extremely skeptical. The Taliban pose a […]
Central Asia Digest | September 2021
HIGHLIGHTS ● Political Developments● Economic Developments● India-Central Asia Relations Political Developments Russia pledged to provide military support to Central Asia allies as security deteriorated in neighboring Afghanistan. Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu voiced Moscow’s readiness to bolster Tajikistan’s military with weapons, equipment, and training. Shoigu made this statement at a meeting of Defense Ministers of […]
Central Asia Digest | August 2021
HIGHLIGHTS ● Political Developments● Economic Developments● India-Central Asia Relations Political Developments Few could have foreseen the rapid advances Taliban fighters have made in northern Afghanistan since the start of May. The fighting has spread swiftly to Afghanistan’s northern borders and involved Central Asia. The earlier isolated cases of Afghan government troops seeking refuge across the […]
Central Asia Digest | July 2021
HIGHLIGHTS ● Political Developments● Economic Developments● India-Central Asia Relations Political Developments As United States withdraws its last forces from Afghanistan, it is eyeing Central Asia more closely than at any other time since the early 2000s as a potential launching pad for residual counterterrorism operations in the region. But planning is complicated by these countries’ […]
Central Asia Digest | June 2021
HIGHLIGHTS ● Political Developments● Economic Developments● India-Central Asia Relations Political Developments US Secretary of State Antony Blinken met his counterparts from the five Central Asian countries (C5) to discuss a range of issues, including prospect of peace in Afghanistan, COVID-19 recovery and climate change. The C5+1 format was created in 2015 to increase communication and […]
Central Asia Digest | May 2021
HIGHLIGHTS ● Political Developments● Economic Developments● India-Central Asia Relations Political Developments Voters in Kyrgyzstan granted sweeping powers to President Sadyr Japarov on 11 April in a constitutional referendum that will also allow him to run for re-election. The vote to change the Constitution to make it a Presidential form of government was approved by the […]
Central Asia Digest | April 2021
HIGHLIGHTS ● Political Developments● Economic Developments● India-Central Asia Relations Political Developments Kyrgyzstan’s foreign debt is reportedly around US$5 billion and more than 40% (US$1.8 billion) is owed to Export-Import Bank of China for a series of infrastructure projects over the last decade under the guise of Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). Bishkek is grappling with […]