Central Asia

Kyrgyzstan: Democracy's Reluctant Volunteers

Teachers complain of being roped in to work as election managers, and in some cases to help political candidates’ campaigns.

21 Feb 05

Disagreements over water have postponed ratification of a friendship treaty between Kazakstan and Kyrgyzstan.

21 Feb 05

Police say Jamshid Karimov was the victim of a simple mugging, but he’s sure he was targeted for his journalism.

21 Feb 05

If the new Afghan government bows to international pressure to ban poppy cultivation the economic consequences could be catastrophic.

21 Feb 05

Long-suffering women turn to opium in order to deal with the harsh realities of Afghan life.

21 Feb 05

Exiled Ismailis returning to their homes in the north find little has changed since end of Taleban era.

21 Feb 05

The US has said it won't contribute to the Afghan peacekeeping force, but it is stepping up military deployment elsewhere in the region.

21 Feb 05

Massive privatisation aimed at resuscitating ailing economy.

21 Feb 05

Tashkent is to continue mining its borders even though the threat from Islamic militants appears to have diminished significantly.

21 Feb 05

Roaring smuggling trade across Afghan border keep Peshawar markets humming.

21 Feb 05

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