Author: Fariborz

One senior security services officer is said to have been killed in a clash with alleged smugglers. Trouble appears to be brewing on Afghanistan’s border with the remote Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region, or GBAO, in eastern Tajikistan. Or at least it appears to be. As is often the way in Tajikistan, relying on the official narrative for a sense of the unfolding events is proving more confounding than enlightening. On April 28, Khovar state news agency reported that a high-ranking security services officer was earlier that day killed during an armed clash with an alleged gang of drug smugglers trying to cross into…

Trade turnover between Russia and Tajikistan increased by 13 percent in the first quarter of 2023, Deputy Prime Minister Marat Khusnullin reports , and the volume of accumulated investments from Russia in the republic amounted to 130 billion rubles. The figures were announced at a meeting with Tajik Prime Minister Kokhir Rasulzoda in Dushanbe, TASS writes . According to Marat Khusnullin, Russia is one of the leading trade partners of the republic, and the trade turnover between the countries tends to grow. About 300 companies with Russian participation operate on the Tajik market. An intergovernmental session is being held in Dushanbe these days. The Russian Deputy Prime Minister…

BISHKEK — As Russian influence in Central Asia wanes, China has taken steps to displace Moscow as the key security provider for the region. We are republishing the following article on the issue, written by Stephen Blank: At the recent China–Central Asia summit on May 18 and 19, Beijing presented a comprehensive plan for expanding cooperation with the Central Asian states that would usurp Russia’s position in the region (Newscentralasia.net, May 20). The convening of this summit underlined the fact that, at least in Central Asia, the repercussions of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine are now making themselves felt. It has…

Tajikistan continues the tradition of visiting the International Yarn and Fiber Fair in Istanbul, one of the largest yarn fairs in the world, which will be held June 1-3 in the business capital of Turkey. Six companies from Tajikistan: Vahdat Textile (Dushanbe, Kulyab, Yavan), Kosibon (Khujand), Leader (Khujand), Nohid (Istaravshan), Rakhimov A.A. (Khujand) and Resandai Kurgonteppa (Bohtar) went to Istanbul to learn about new trends, purchase necessary raw materials such as blended yarns and accessories, and establish new business contacts. Over 10,000 visitors from around 80 countries visit the Istanbul International Yarn and Fiber Fair every year, which brings together industry…

Mexico’s President Andrés Manuel López Obrador has finally found a buyer for a luxury presidential jet that he once called an “insult” to the people: the government of Tajikistan. López Obrador said that the agreed sale price for the Boeing 787 Dreamliner used by his predecessor Enrique Peña Nieto – but never by him – was about 1.66bn pesos, or about $92m. The announcement late on Thursday appeared to finally close a political saga that the president – popularly known as Amlo – had used repeatedly to assail the excesses of his predecessors. In a video accompanying the post, the president said the…

Nowruz, which means ‘new day,’ celebrates spring and nature’s rebirth. Rituals, ceremonies, cultural activities, a special lunch with loved ones, new attire, visits to family and friends, and the exchanging of presents, especially for children, all part of the celebration. The Embassy of Iran in Brunei Darussalam celebrated Nowruz at Iranian Ambassador to Brunei Darussalam Homeira Rigi Zirouki’s residence on Tuesday. Permanent Secretary (Sports) at the Ministry of Culture, Youth, and Sports Pengiran Mohd Amirrizal bin Pengiran Haji Mahmud, foreign envoys and the Iranian community attended the celebration. The event saw Iranian students present the Nowruz customs and culture, including…

Virginia National Guard Soldiers conducted a medical infantry tactics exchange with the Republic of Tajikistan March 5-10, 2023, in Dushanbe, Tajikistan. The exchange, which took place at a military installation in Dushanbe, was conducted in support of the Department of Defense’s State Partnership Program, in which Virginia and Tajikistan have been partners since 2003. The medical exchange team, which was composed of four Soldiers assigned to the Charlottesville-based Charlie Company, 429th Brigade Support Battalion and the Fort Barfoot-based 34th Civil Support Team, had a combined 40 years of medical experience. The medical exchange focused on the new standards of Tactical Combat Casualty…

Due to global climate change in Tajikistan, the melting of glaciers, which are sources of fresh water for all of Central Asia, has accelerated. This was once again noted by the Chairman of the Committee for Environmental Protection of the Republic Bahodur Sheralizoda. According to Sheralizod, the most vulnerable are the glaciers of the Zerafshan river basin (Amu Darya basin). According to him, the area of glaciers here annually decreases to 1.3 square kilometers. “According to the observations of the Zerafshan weather station, their glaciers are considered the most vulnerable,” summed up the head of the Committee for Environmental Protection…

The US State Department has called Tajikistan an authoritarian state ruled by the same man, Emomali Rahmon, since 1992. The U.S. State Department’s Global Human Rights Report 2022, released on March 20, notes that the Tajik constitution guarantees a multi-party system in the country, but the authorities hinder political pluralism. The authors of the annual report, in particular, write that Rustami Emomali, the mayor of Dushanbe and the eldest son of President Rahmon, headed the upper house of the Tajik parliament in April 2020, and thus became the second person in the country and the heir to his father’s “throne”.…

Three years after Ladakh was separated from Indian-administered Kashmir, residents say they want more safeguards for land and livelihoods. On August 5, 2019, when Ladakh was separated from Indian-administered Kashmir and turned into a federally governed territory, the streets in its main city – the Buddhist-majority Leh – erupted in jubilation. Nearly 300,000 residents in the Himalayan desert – situated 5,730 metres (18,800 feet) above sea level – had hoped the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) move would safeguard their lands and livelihoods. More than three years later, that hope has been replaced by anger and desperation. Residents now fear Ladakh’s…