India Has Very Limited Security Options for Ensuring Its Interests in Afghanistan

India Has Very Limited Security Options for Ensuring Its Interests in Afghanistan

The Taliban’s lightning-fast takeover of Afghanistan in the wake of the US’ full military withdrawal by September 11th presents certain security concerns for India, but the South Asian state only has very limited options for ensuring its relevant interests, none of which credibly involve any conventional military involvement contrary to widespread speculation about this scenario….

Hot Air Messaging: Iran Floats Reports of Imminent Shanghai Cooperation Organization Membership

Hot Air Messaging: Iran Floats Reports of Imminent Shanghai Cooperation Organization Membership

Eager to enhance its negotiating leverage with the United States and Europe, Iran is projecting imminent membership of the China-led Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) in much the same way it pushed the signing of a much-touted 25-year cooperation agreement with the People’s Republic that has yet to have any real legs. Converting Iran’s SCO observer…

Who is Fanning the Flames of the Kyrgyz-Tajik Сonflict and Why?

Who is Fanning the Flames of the Kyrgyz-Tajik Сonflict and Why?

In the last month alone, the situation on the border between Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan escalated for the second time. Kyrgyzstan stated that Tajik military personnel have reinforced the border with military personnel and reported that a sea vessel appeared on the disputed section of the state border at an undisclosed location, with equipment and soldiers…

Kyrgyzstan-Tajikistan Conflict Was Also About the Flow of Afghani Narcotics

Kyrgyzstan-Tajikistan Conflict Was Also About the Flow of Afghani Narcotics

Recent border clashes between Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan claimed more than 40 lives, most of them civilians. Although the dispute may seem like another post-Soviet conflict over population and territory, it is also motivated by water control and drug trafficking. The skirmishes between April 28 and May 1 were the worst border clashes between the two Central…

Why Wasn’t There Any Post-Election Turmoil In Tajikistan?

Why Wasn’t There Any Post-Election Turmoil In Tajikistan?

Unlike fellow former Soviet Republics Belarus and even neighboring Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan’s latest elections didn’t result in any turmoil even though one might have expected it to have due to some similarly discernible risk factors, but that wasn’t the case (at least not yet) for five primary reasons. Tajikistan’s latest elections came and went without any…