Foreign Minister Kamilov reaffirms to his parliament that Uzbekistan does not get involved in foreign military blocs or war efforts. gazeta.uz/ru/2021/01/19/…
Ukraine’s ambassador to Uzbekistan 🇺🇿 confirms that Tashkent has quietly sent 28 tons of humanitarian assistance to Ukraine 🇺🇦 gazeta.uz/ru/2022/03/11/…
Ambassador says thousands of Uzbekistanis have donated to humanitarian efforts in Ukraine.
He says they have received some large donations but also many very small ones.
He notes that even the poorest in Uzbekistani society want to those in Ukraine.
Looks like a diplomatic cascade.
Uzbekistan seemed to be on the precipice of joining the Eurasian Economic Union.
Russia had reasserted itself as Uzbekistan’s largest trading partner.
Rosatom was about to commence construction of huge nuclear plant outside of Tashkent.
Hard to imagine these projects moving forward. Damage to Russian interests is real.
So too is damage to Uzbekistani and Central Asian economies. They are devastated by actions of Russia in Ukraine.
Central Asia will feel economic and social pain of this for long time.
*want to help those in Ukraine.
This shift is exactly why this looking more and more like a cascade @timurkuran
YouTube star and one of Uzbekistan’s 🇺🇿most popular preachers, Abror Muxtor Aliy, says that if Putin loses in Ukraine he will attack Central Asia next.
🇰🇬 🇰🇿 🇹🇲 🇹🇯
This perspective mirrors divides you see on Uzbekistan’s social media. Intellectual class on telegram posting careful anti-Putin messages. But others seeing this as a war of values and Putin defends these values.
This article shows deep history of these disputes. Soviet-backed regime of the 1970s sought to redistribute land in a violent manner.
We trace the roots of conflicts to the reign of 19th century ruler Abdul Rahman Khan who ruthlessly confiscated lands, esp. from minorities.
During the past twenty years, the only solution donors came up with was legal titling.
In a survey, I found that 80% of rural Afghans have customary deeds. Makes no sense to give up your customary deed to take a legal title from a state you do not trust. State had no trust.
Much attention on the hasty US withdrawal, but this is a collapse of political institutions. The state lost its remaining legitimacy. This had been eroding for years. US aid fed the state but undermined its connection to people. Domestic politics is the primary driver.
Taliban gained momentum by pointing out the grotesque corruption and rentier nature of the Afghan state. They could draw a contrast. They called the Aghan government puppets.
Taliban public statements show they have a clear understanding of grievances. They understand what was wrong with the Ghani government. Their public statements try to assure people of their security and dignity. They speak in terms of accommodation.
Afghanistan and its people came a long way. Such relentless creativity. Have never seen anything like it. The government couldn't keep up with its diverse citizens and their demands to be treated with dignity and respect. So a deep cynicism about public institutions congealed.
Yet donor countries poured salt on wounds by celebrating corrupt elections. Saying these exercises were good for the Afghans. It was all so patronizing and demoralizing. The donors kept pouring money into these charades. Everyone pretended until they stopped.
Have no doubt that relentless creativity and spirit will persist. It is far too early to say what will come out on the other side of this. But I remain hopeful, as do many Afghans.