Latest posts by Adil Nurmakov from October, 2008
Kazakhstan: Blocked Bloggers Discuss Economics
Although LiveJournal, the major blog platform on the post-Soviet space, including Kazakhstan, is still not accessible through the national telecom monopolist Kazakhtelecom, Internet enthusiasts find their way to express their opinions online. The main topic – as, probably, elsewhere these days – is economics.
Mongolia: A Deal to Sell Uranium to India?
Bilguun reports that according to the article in The Hindu Business Line, India is looking at joint mining and exploration opportunities for uranium with Mongolia among a few other countries.
Uzbekistan: Karimov Comes to Town
Nathan reports on a prank by New York's Citylife blog, which sent a letter to a handful of NYC politicians claiming to be from Alisher Vohidov, Uzbekistan’s consul general to the United Nations, regarding a planned visit to the city by the Uzbek president Islom Karimov.
Kyrgyzstan: Boucher Schmoozing
Patrick Frost writes that Kyrgyzstan’s capital of Bishkek, which just last week hosted a Commonwealth of Independent States CIS summit, was the site of a meeting between US Assistant Secretary of State Richard Boucher and President Bakiyev.
Afghanistan: President's Family Accused of Abuse of Power
Azar Balkhi reports that provincial opposition activist has accused Karzai’s family for illegal seizure of 20,000 acres of land in Kandahar province, Afghanistan.
Tajikistan: Investments into healthcare are equal to Ones of Sierra Leone
Vadim writes that according to the latest report of WHO, there is a gap of 40 years in life expectancy between Tajikistan and Sierra Leone but in both countries governments allocate the same amount of money for one person per year, which constitutes about 100 USD.
Tajikistan: Beautiful autumn and muddy water
Vadim posts two pictures – the one of a crystally blue skies in Dushanbe, the capital of Tajikistan, and another of a scarily brown water from the tap, also in Dushanbe.
Kyrgyzstan: Earthquake
Patrick Frost reports on a large earthquake struck Kyrgyzstan’s Osh region today and the death toll is currently around 70 and may increase.
Afghanistan: Portrait of a Female Politician
Azar Balkhi writes about Fawiza Koofi, a modern thinker, poet and the deputy of the Afghanistan Parliament, a symbol of women in a men-dominated society.
Afghanistan: In the Kingdom of Karzai
Azar Balkhi reports that Jamil Karzai a member of parliament and cousin of Hamid Karzai, the President of Afghanistan, had allegedly killed five civilian while driving in Kabul.
Afghanistan: The Taliban are hard, we are soft
The Strategist contemplates on what makes the Afghan war unwinnable, and sees the reason in differences between the insurgents and Westerns soldiers.
Kazakhstan: LiveJournal Blocked
On October 7th, the Kazakhstani users have found themselves unable to access popular social network LiveJournal. This website is the most popular blogging platform in the Russian-speaking communities on the post-Soviet space. Bloggers in the neighboring Kyrgyzstan were also cut off – particularly, those whose ISPs use the facilities of...
Afghanistan: Hitch on heroin
Joshua Foust examines some of the issues surrounding opium eradication in Afghanistan, and argues that focusing on opium itself misses the point.
Kazakhstan: Language, Economics and Foreign Policy
The Kazakhstani authorities have again brought up the issue of state language. Kazakh language has been heavily depreciated in the Soviet times against the background of inculcation of Russian language. Earlier, officials restrained themselves from outright expulsion of the Russian language (which still dominates in the official paperwork and in...
Afghanistan: A reason the LA Times is terrible
Joshua Foust notes just how terrible American media coverage of Afghanistan can be.
Uzbekistan: Cotton Harvest
Michael Hancock reports that Tashkent, capital of Uzbekistan, will soon play host once again to the 4th International Uzbek Cotton Fair amidst continuing accusations of the child-labor issue.
Afghanistan: Policewoman executed by Taliban
Azar Balkhi reports that Taliban militants have shot dead high rank female police officer in the volatile southern Afghanistan province of Kandahar.
Afghanistan: UN Security Council Report
SunLeaf writes that the newly released UN Security Council report on Afghanistan is highlighting a number of issues including the extension of the ISAF mission and concerns over the issue of civilian casualties.
Afghanistan: Secret dealings with the Taliban
Strategist says that the Afghan government, Western military forces and Taliban senior leaders have been holding secret peace negotiations.
