Author: Hamasa

And U.S. officials have been touring the region chiding countries for failing to prevent Russian sanctions-busting. In our podcast this week, Alisher Khamidov, Peter Leonard and Aigerim Toleukhanova provide an update on how Central Asian countries may be abetting Russian efforts to circumvent international sanctions, and what Western officials are doing to tighten these loopholes. Senior U.S. officials traveled to the region in late April and issued fresh warnings about a possible fallout from enabling sanctions-busting.  In Kyrgyzstan, the government is on the cusp of becoming a monopolist producer of alcohol. In April, the president announced that factories belonging to alcoholic spirit and…

A regular meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) is being held in the capital of Belarus. The foreign ministers adopted a statement on the situation in Afghanistan, Kazinform correspondent reports. “Within the framework of the organization, work is underway on a targeted international program to strengthen certain sections of the Tajik-Afghan border. This work has been going on for a number of years, various positions are being coordinated. We will continue this work in the future. A working group operates within the framework of the program and it meets periodically. There will be another meeting during the…

You are not Forgotten. Berlin, Brussels (19/5 – 40) In the vast and remote mountain lands of Central Asia, the Ismaili Pamiris have long faced systemic discrimination and persecution at the hands of the Tajik government. Despite their proud history, rich cultural traditions, and highly educated populace, they have been targeted for cultural extermination in a chilling campaign of ethnic cleansing. Tajikistan President Imomali Rahmon has demonized them as “inbred” and “criminals” and launched a brutal program to replace their community with ethnic Tajiks. In May and June 2022, the government launched a final assault on the Pamiris to end…

Berlin, Brussels (23/5 – 28) “We will destroy anyone who raises his head. If you try to complain, you will suffer the fate of those Pamiris arrested and executed. We order you to halt any kind of dissent or criticism of the government.” Governor Alisher Mirzanabatov On a warm spring day last May, an ominous news conference was held in the picturesque city of Khorog, the regional capital of Tajikistan’s autonomous mountain region of Badakhshan, and where protestors had been gathering by the hundreds to decry government injustices. Speakers included senior officers of both the country’s internal security services and…

Monday might be just another day of the week, but if one adds majestic mountains, glacial lakes and impressive green landscapes, they give birth to a totally different mood. Dushanbe is the capital and the largest city of Tajikistan, a country of rare natural beauty. Meaning “Monday” in Persian, the city is named after its historical Monday market. In fact, this region holds much more than just memories of its provincial past. The country itself is one of the most inspiring high-altitude landscapes on the planet, with over 90 per cent of its terrain teetering in the clouds. Besides, the…

PESHAWAR: The Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry has planned to organise trade fairs in three Central Asian States to promote mutual trade, said SCCI president Mohammad Ishaq on Monday. Addressing a function held here at the Chamber House for Pakistan’s ambassador-designate to Tajikistan Mohammad Saeed Sarwar, the SCCI president said there was a need for the establishment of a proper banking channel and business-to-business contacts with investors in CARs to promote their trade with Pakistan. He said both Pakistani and Tajik governments should simplify visa regimes and begin direct cargo flights between the two countries. Mr Ishaq said Pakistan’s…

Days after he claimed that his friendship with rapper MC Stan had ended, Abdu Rozik, a Tajik singer and former Bigg Boss 16 competitor, released a statement on behalf of the singer. Abdu Rozik recently told paparazzi on a flight out of India that their ‘friendship has ended’ and that he didn’t want to talk about it. Also, he claimed that ‘Abdu is bad’ is being said by people in the media. On March 10, Sajid Khan visited Abdu and called MC Stan, but he hung up and said he would call back later, according to a recent statement. Stan…

After being the largest gold seller in 2022, the National Bank of Kazakhstan (NBK) started the year by increasing its allocation to the precious metal. Tuesday, Krishan Gopaul, senior European, Middle East, and Asian markets analyst at the World Gold Council, said that according to data from the International Monetary Fund, Kzakhstan’s central bank bought 3.9 tonnes of gold last month. He noted that this is “the first increase to its gold reserves since October. Official gold reserves now stand at 355.6 tonnes.” In a note published last week, Gopaul noted that Kazakhstan reduced its official gold reserves by 51…

Experts say the reduction, resulting from a severe funding shortfall, could be ‘catastrophic’ for hundreds of thousands in Bangladesh camps. Alarm is growing over the World Food Programme’s (WFP) plan to cut food aid to hundreds of thousands of Rohingya refugees living in camps in Bangladesh because of a severe shortfall in funding. The WFP, the United Nations food agency, has said it will need to cut rations to the refugees next month because of a lack of funds. The monthly allowance will be cut by 17 percent to $10 per person from March 1, with the WFP warning more…

Global sea ice coverage hit a record low Our planet kicked off another year with a warm start: January 2023 ranked as the seventh-warmest January in 174 years. Sea ice at both ends of the world also ran very low, according to NOAA’s National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI). Below are more highlights from NOAA’s January global climate report: Climate by the numbers January 2023 The average global land and ocean surface temperature was 1.57 degrees F (0.87 of a degree C) above average, ranking as the seventh-warmest January in NOAA’s global climate record. January 2023 marked the 47th-consecutive January…