Greater Central Asian affairs: recent developments

Interview with Haroon Rashid, Independent Directorate of Local Governance in Kabul

Haroon Rashid graduated from Ohio University’s College of Communication with a master's degree in media management. He is currently employed as a strategic communication manager at the Independent Directorate of Local Governance in Kabul, Afghanistan. Prior to joining the IDLG, Mr. Rashid worked as the deputy head (2003-2005) and later as the deputy director of public relations (2005-2006) at the Ministry of Counter Narcotics in Kabul.

http://www.atlantic-community.org/index/Global_Must_Read_Article/Haroon_Rashid%2C_Independent_Directorate_of_Local_Governance
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A summary of Asia Foundation’s survey of the Afghanistan peoples

http://www.atlantic-community.org/index/Global_Must_Read_Article/A_Survey_of_the_Afghan_People
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Opinion piece by William Maley. He has some suggestions: A Diversity of Tactics to Win Hearts and Minds

http://www.atlantic-community.org/index/article/view/A_Diversity_of_Tactics_to_Win_Hearts_and_Minds

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EURASIA INSIGHT published an article on Nov 19, 2008 indicating that “TASHKENT HAS THE POWER TO INFLUENCE THE OUTCOME OF THE AFGHAN WAR”
The author claims that “The battle for Afghanistan may well be won or lost in Uzbekistan. With the Taliban making it increasingly difficult to re-supply NATO and US troops in Afghanistan via Pakistan, Tashkent offers the easiest solution to a vital logistical dilemma.”
There are some interesting notes here about attempts to develop Afghanistan’s connections through Uzbekistan to Europe and the west.

http://www.eurasianet.org/departments/insightb/articles/eav111908.shtml

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According to NewsCentral Asia 23 December, 2008 , “UN General Assembly Endorses Turkmenistan Proposal for International Energy Security"
The site says “The UN General Assembly has endorsed unanimously Turkmenistan's proposal for creating an international system for security of trans-national energy pipelines and related structures.

http://www.newscentralasia.net/
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Most wanted fugitive in Pakistan: Caught, then disappeared?

Financial Times [December 18 2008] reports that there is doubt about the resolve of the Pakistanis to reign in their home-grown extremists: “Fears grow over Pakistan terror resolve”. By James Lamont in New Delhi
“Fears grew on Thursday night that Pakistan’s resolve to bring the perpetrators of the Mumbai terror attacks to justice was faltering. The government said it had lost track of one of India’s most wanted militants following his supposed arrest only a few days ago.” [Nothing new here; in Pakistan this is a frequent occurrence.]

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/bb9c0412-cd30-11dd-9905-000077b07658,dwp_uuid=4d9dd3aa-5fbd-11dc-b0fe-0000779fd2ac,Authorised=false.html?_i_location=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ft.com%2Fcms%2Fs%2F0%2Fbb9c0412-cd30-11dd-9905-000077b07658%2Cdwp_uuid%3D4d9dd3aa-5fbd-11dc-b0fe-0000779fd2ac.html&_i_referer=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ft.com%2Findepth%2Fpakistan
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