Fozil Mashrab

Fozil Mashrab is an independent analyst based in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.

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Articles by Fozil Mashrab

Border Conflict Compels Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan to Look for Foreign Weapons

Neighboring Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan came close to seeing the outbreak of renewed border clashes on June 4. This danger of fresh violence emerged little more than a month after the

Prospect of Cooperation With Russia on Nuclear Power Plant Clouds Uzbekistan’s More Immediate Energy Needs

During a recent (March 24) government meeting dedicated to upgrading Uzbekistan’s energy infrastructure, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev announced that, in 2021 alone, over $1.1 billion would be allocated to upgrading the

Year 2020 in Review: Uzbekistan Grapples With Pandemic, Disasters, Russian Pressure

The fourth year of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev rule proved his most difficult yet, not only because of the COVID-19 pandemic but also due to a series of natural and man-made

Shanghai Cooperation Organization Enters Period of Stagnation

In early September, Russia hosted the Shanghai Cooperation Organization’s (SCO) annual meetings of defense ministers (September 3–4), ministers of foreign affairs (September 9–10) and security council heads (September 15) (Sectsco.org,

China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan Road-Rail Connection Launched Amid Violent Border Clashes

China and Uzbekistan have opened a new transport corridor between one other, which could eventually form a key link in a much shorter inter-continental route connecting China to the Middle

Kremlin Provides Financial Support to Stranded and Abandoned Central Asian Migrants

In response to mounting cases of COVID-19 in Russia, President Vladimir Putin signed a decree, on April 17, providing a financial reprieve for the majority of the seven million–eight million

Uzbekistan Hosts Second Central Asian Consultative Summit

The Second Central Asian Leaders’ Consultative Summit—involving the five Central Asian countries of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan—was supposed to take place during the Navruz holiday (March), in the

Uzbekistan Faces Mounting Economic Costs From Staying out of Russian-Led Eurasian Union

During his address to the 20th Plenary Session of Uzbekistan’s Senate, on June 21, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev expressed fears that the country’s manufacturers could face increasing difficulties accessing their traditional

‘Navruz Spirit’ Quietly Vanishes From Central Asian Leaders’ Agenda

The second Central Asian Leaders’ Consultative Working Meeting was supposed to take place this spring, in Tashkent. However, scheduling conflicts around the Navruz holiday (March 20, 2019) prevented the summit

Uzbekistan Steps up Railway Diplomacy

An official delegation from Uzbekistan, led by Foreign Minister Abdulaziz Kamilov, visited Pakistan on November 1–2. Kamilov and his retinue were received by Pakistan’s Prime Minister Imran Khan and held

Uzbekistan and Russia Reach Agreement on Construction of New Nuclear Power Plant

A series of meetings since late December 2017 between officials from Uzbekistan and ROSATOM, the Russian state nuclear energy corporation, suggests that both sides have reached an agreement to build

Russia Tacitly Entices Uzbekistan With Benefits of EEU, CSTO Membership

Since President Shavkat Mirziyaev’s state visit to Moscow in April 2017, bilateral relations between his country of Uzbekistan and Russia have been steadily expanding. And the frequency of subsequent bilateral

Uzbekistan Alters Its Vision for Afghanistan

After the change of leadership in Uzbekistan, it has been widely acknowledged that the country’s new president, Shavkat Mirziyaev, is pursuing a more proactive and constructive regional diplomacy in Central

New Uzbek President Courts Moscow During State Visit

Uzbekistan’s new head of state, President Shavkat Mirziyaev made his first official visit to Moscow, on April 4–5. Though the visit was in fact the Uzbekistani leader’s third foreign trip

Uzbekistan Accords Turkmenistan Status of Closest Neighbor and Partner

Three months since his election last December, Uzbekistan’s President Shavkat Mirziyaev made his first official trip abroad, visiting neighboring Turkmenistan on March 6–7. The visit put an end to rampant

Uzbekistan Turns to Russia in Search of Modern Weapons

On January 13, 2017, the newly elected president of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyaev, attended a ceremony commemorating the 25th anniversary of the establishment of the independent Uzbekistani army (January 14, 1992).

Uzbekistan and Russia Agree to Reset Bilateral Ties

Uzbekistan’s President Islam Karimov visited Moscow for talks with his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, on April 25–26, 2016. The visit was widely hailed as the opening of a new chapter

Eurasian Union’s Expansion Falters Amid Russia’s Economic Woes

In a recent interview with the media, Kyrgyzstan’s Deputy Prime Minister Oleg Pankratov, whose portfolio includes overseeing the country’s membership in the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU), reported that the Kyrgyz

Iran’s Overtures to Tajik Opposition Expose Deep-Seated Grievances

In December 2015, Iran invited Tajikistan’s opposition leader, Muhiddin Kabiri, to attend a conference on Islam. The invitation extended to Kabiri, who is accused of allegedly masterminding an unsuccessful armed

Central Asian Countries React to Latest US Overtures in Security Sphere

In early November 2015, US Secretary of State John Kerry toured all five former Soviet republics in Central Asia. It was the first such visit by a top United States

Bishkek Puts Brakes on China–Kyrgyzstan–Uzbekistan Railway

As negotiations drag on between Beijing and Bishkek over the technical and financial aspects of constructing the Kyrgyzstani part of the planned China–Kyrgyzstan–Uzbekistan railway, Uzbekistan, with Chinese monetary and technical