On June 2, the Russian Duma unanimously backed an agreement, originally signed in October 2001, on joint air patrols and the exchange of information, paving the way for the future joint use of the air and air defense forces of Russia and Uzbekistan (Interfax, Moscow,... MORE

On May 24-25 many portraits of President Saparmurat Niyazov suddenly disappeared from the streets of the capital of Turkmenistan. This was done on orders from Turkmenbashi. Hundreds of portraits of the president, which until recently were conspicuous on government buildings, businesses, clinics and schools, disappeared... MORE

A demarcation ceremony was held at the Gishtkuprik customs checkpoint on May 19 to officially delineate the Uzbek-Kazakh border. The demarcation process was begun in fall 2003. Gishtkuprik is located 17km from Tashkent. Astana and Tashkent plan to plant border poles along the entire length... MORE

According to an unidentified official from the Northwest Frontier, Pakistani security forces have launched a search for the widow of a suspected Uzbek terrorist. Accused of establishing a training camp for female suicide bombers along the Afghan-Pakistan border, the woman's husband is said to have... MORE

The Karachaganak Petroleum Operating B.V. (KPO) announced on May 20 that it has begun delivering oil to the Caspian Pipeline Consortium's (CPC) main export pipeline. The pipeline mostly serves the large Tengiz onshore oil field, operated by ChevronTexaco. The KPO consortium includes British Gas and... MORE

During a press conference organized in Khojand, Sogdy District Prosecutor Nabidzhon Rahimov revealed that 33 criminal cases have been launched against individuals suspected of participating in the activities of outlawed religious party Hizb ut-Tahrir in the Sogdy district of in the north of Tajikistan. According... MORE

The Kazakh parliament's May 13 decision to postpone the request for extending the deployment of the country's peacekeeping battalion (KAZBAT) in Iraq highlights the question over the future deployment of Kazakh forces in Iraq. Of the CIS countries, only Ukraine with its 1,800 troops in... MORE

In an effort to reassure Moscow about its relations with Tajikistan, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Tajikistan Talbak Nazarov recently gave an interview with Nezavisimaya Gazeta where he stated that Dushanbe remains interested in maintaining a Russian military presence in the country. During the interview,... MORE

It seems a marriage made in heaven. Growing energy giant Kazakhstan has tapped into China, the world's biggest market and a booming economy. Kazakhstan and China signed an agreement on May 17 on the construction of the Atasu-Alashankou oil pipeline which will connect western Kazakhstan... MORE

Russia's First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Vyacheslav Trubnikov announced on May 12 that Russian border troops are being withdrawn from Tajikistan. Trubnikov's statement is the first high-level confirmation by Moscow of this move. Asked whether it was a result of "American pressure," Trubnikov replied:... MORE