In the last few weeks, there have been numerous problems with Uzbekistan’s Ferghana Valley neighbors. While incidents have been provoked in the past, there has been a confluence of strife recently, likely due to the anniversary of the Andijon shootings of May 2005.
In Tajikistan, the Uzbeks have erected a checkpoint along some disputed point in the Soghd region. The Tajik governor confirms that Tajiks passing into their own agricultural fields have been forced to pay customs fees and show their papers. No vehicles are allowed in unless fees are paid.
In Kyrgyzstan, only one checkpoint was open until June 4 between the two states after a few violent incidents last week, including shootings in Khanabad and Andijon. Papers are being checked carefully at the crossing and both sides are looking for the as yet not found assailants.
The Uzbeks believe the assailants came from Kyrgyzstan so tensions have been high between the two states. A few days ago, the two states detained each others border guards before releasing them. After having closed most border crossing points, all have been re-opened, so presumably tensions have simmered down, at least for now.
A few months ago, I wrote about the early stages of the conflict in Ukraine through the lens of Sun Tzu’s The Art of War. While it appears likely that the war will carry on into the foreseeable future, enough time has passed for us to make an honest assessment of each side’s relative […]
The Ukrainian Army has made dramatic strides in the last few weeks. Ukraine’s tactical commanders have outfoxed their Russian counterparts, and by issuing a feint towards the south the UA has been able to earn substantial gains in the north of their country. The impact of these efforts have been compounded by the steady stream […]
In mid-May the Irish political party, Sinn Féin, won the plurality of seats in the Northern Ireland Assembly. Many American readers might not fully understand the significance of Sinn Féin’s political victory- but rest assured that subjects of the United Kingdom and a wide range of political movements the world over have heard the message […]
The first wave of the Russian offensive in Ukraine has fallen short of Russian autocrat Vladmir Putin’s ambitions. Most analysts deduced that Putin had hoped to achieve a decapitation strike of the Ukrainian government- taking Kiev and replacing Ukrainian President Vladimir Zolinski with a pro-Kremlin voice. Kiev has been threatened repeatedly through the course of […]
On the weekend of March 26th, the notorious MS-13 gang went on a massive killing spree in El Salvador which left more than 70 people dead by Sunday. Even for a country where powerful gangs hold massive sway, this recent tragedy stands out considering that it was the bloodiest day on record since the civil […]
