Author: Fariborz

The CSTO summit in Astana, Kazakhstan, led to a decision to reinforce the Tajik-Afghan border. The resolution, which supports the “CSTO Targeted Programme on Strengthening the Tajik-Afghan Border,” was signed by the leaders of CSTO member states, including Kyrgyzstan, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Russia, and Tajikistan. This resolution is part of a broader effort to address regional security challenges. The summit resulted in the signing of 14 key documents that focused on various aspects of international and regional security, highlighting the ongoing need for cooperation among CSTO members. The summit also assessed the activities of the CSTO during the intersessional period, reviewing…

For many years, Tajikistan has been gravely affected by drug trafficking. At least 15-20 tons of opium and between 75 and 80 metric tons of heroin are smuggled into the country each year from Afghanistan either for local consumption or for transfer to Russia and Europe. Despite an official Tajik government policy to fight illicit drug trafficking in cooperation with foreign governments and international organizations, trafficking continues to increase. The volume of drug transit through Tajikistan is now equivalent to 30 percent of the country’s GDP. So far, the success of domestic Tajik policies and international assistance has been minimal. Trafficking is a product of numerous complex…

While Alberto Fujimori was hailed for crushing a leftist insurgency and boosting the economy, he was convicted of gross human rights abuses. Peru has bid an emotional farewell to its divisive ex-president Alberto Fujimori after three days of national mourning marked by expressions of nostalgia for his iron-fisted rule. Fujimori was revered by many in Peru for crushing a bloody leftist insurgency and helping shore up the economy while in office from 1990 to 2000. He “had the guts to fight terrorism,” said Edgar Grados, a 43-year-old businessman, who travelled more than 100 kilometres to attend the funeral. “Fujimorism never dies,”…

Frankfurt, Paris (18/8 – 62.50) Ukraine has scored a series of victories in more than a week since launching a lightning offensive into Russian territory. Now the stakes are rising as its forces prepare to defend their gains and Russia begins to regain its footing. Last week, Ukraine deployed thousands of troops to the Kursk region in western Russia, removing Russian flags from captured towns and taking the initiative from Moscow for the first time in months. On Wednesday, officials in Kyiv said Ukraine would use seized Russian territory as a “buffer zone” to shield its north from Russian strikes.…

Sanjiva Weerawarana is a Sri Lankan success story. He founded enterprise software firm WSO2 in 2005, got it close to $100 million in ARR as its CEO, then sold it to private equity firm EQT for $600 million in May. He sometimes drives for Uber, too. Sri Lanka isn’t renowned for its startup ecosystem, but one company has been something of an outlier in the South Asian island nation these past two decades. WSO2, an open source enterprise software provider with customers such as Samsung, Axa, and AT&T, recently agreed to be acquired by private equity giant EQT, at a valuation TechCrunch reported at the time…

With support from the European Union and the World Health Organization Regional Office for Europe (WHO/Europe), a ‘marathon’ of high-level events was organized in February. Each event facilitated a deep dive into key components of the Tajik health system. The outcomes of the health systems marathon bring the country closer to ensuring quality health care is accessible and affordable for the entire population. The events were organized as part of the Health Development Programme, financed by the European Union. Tajikistan is currently implementing ambitious health reforms to make progress towards universal health coverage (UHC): access to quality health care for…

Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu says Pro-Western non-governmental organizations have intensified anti-Russian activities in Central Asia. Shoigu yesterday delivered a statement on the occasion of the Special Operations Forces Day at a meeting of the Board of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation in Moscow. The statement, posted on the Russian Defense Ministry’s official website, in particular, notes that the situation in the Central Asian region remains complex. According to the minister, the greatest threat comes from the territory of Afghanistan. “Over the past year, the number of the ISIS militants increased by 15%” said Shoigu. “Their main goal is…

An eighteen-year-old man was arrested in Dushanbe for torturing a teenager with an “electric shocker”. The video of the teenager’s suffering was posted on social networks on December 2 of this year and provoked the anger of many users. The Department of Internal Affairs of Dushanbe said in a statement on December 5 that Firdavs Qudratullozoda was arrested in connection with the incident. The opinion of the accused and his relatives is currently not available. Officials said, “the necessary materials for opening a criminal case have been prepared and the investigation is ongoing.” “The young man because he is a…

The German magazine Der Spiegel published a cover about Ukraine with the title “Endless War.” He called the situation in Kyiv “between courage and despair.” “Now, when the second winter of the war begins, it is clear: hopes for a new turn of events were in vain. The war has turned into a positional one, the commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine recently openly spoke about a “stalemate situation”. Only with heavy losses can the sides move the front line a little. That the military experts have known for a long time, the public now suspects: this war cannot be…

Tajik authorities say that as a result of the flood that occurred on November 8-9 in Panj district, 6 residential buildings and 74 plots of land were damaged. No casualties were recorded. “Khovar” news agency writes with reference to the Committee of Emergency Situations of Tajikistan that heavy rains occurred in the territory of the village of “10th anniversary of State Independence” of Namuna rural community. In the explanation of the news, “as a result of the filling of the Ovzikent-2 drain, a flood occurred and damaged 6 residential buildings and 74 plots of land adjacent to the yard. Also, on this day, in…