Viewpoint by Ramesh Jaura BERLIN | NUR-SULTAN, Kazakhstan (IDN) – On June 12, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev completed the first year of his term as President of Kazakhstan, traversing a road to multifarious reforms at home, reflecting the maturity and stable political transition in Central Asia’s biggest nation-state. At the same time, he has been strengthening bilateral […]
CENTRAL ASIA: Turning COVID-19 Calamity into an Opportunity
By Hamid Ali Khan Eusafzai BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan (IDN) – The University of Central Asia (UCA), along with many other universities across the globe, suffered the effects of COVID-19. Being forced to close the campus and send students back home, for the health and safety of both students and staff, it also opened a new opportunity […]
The Story of a Kyrgyz Mother Bride Kidnapped as A Teenager
By Aqila Hassanzada* NARYN, Kyrgyzstan (IDN) – Mairam Bibi says her sons will not follow in their father’s footsteps – an abductor who kidnapped a teenage girl and forced her into a violent marriage. At the age of 41, Mairam is sitting in her small straw house telling the story so many women in Kyrgyzstan […]
A Kyrgyz Activist Translates UNICEF Mandate into Action
By Sehar Naz Janani NARYN, Kyrgyzstan (IDN) – His pale skin, teary eyes, shivering body and trembling voice added to the air of grave solemnity pervading the room. Breaking the dead silence, his mouth slowly started murmuring, “I am an orphan… But, I have a sister… She beats me every now and then” and added, […]
Adaptation Course for Kazakh Children Returned from Iraq
By Aidana Yergaliyeva NUR-SULTAN | BAGHDAD (IDN | The Astana Times) – Kazakhstan’s humanitarian operation on November 27 brought 14 children back to their homeland from an Iraqi prison, where they have been living for two years with their mothers. The life “after” will start for them with courses of rehabilitation at Pravo public fund’s […]
New Kazakh President Envisions Gradual ‘Transformation’
By Ramesh Jaura BERLIN | NUR-SULTAN (IDN) – The Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has accentuated the need of “constructive public dialogue” which he defines as “the basis of stability and prosperity” of the country and elaborated wide-ranging plans engulfing all sectors: political, social and economic. In his first major speech nearly three months after bagging […]
Female Football A Gender Equalizer in Kyrgyzstan
By Bagymdat Atabaeva BISHKEK (IDN) – In this predominantly Islamic country, one may expect to see women playing a subordinate role to men in many spheres of life. But, women in Kyrgyzstan are breaking this stereotype image and football is shaping up as a great gender equalizer. “I have been coaching girls for over 40 […]
Kazakhstan Needs Young Graduates as Teachers for Education Reforms to Succeed
By Milena Melnikova* TARAZ (IDN) – Since 2016, the educational system in Kazakhstan has undergone numerous reforms, and in October 2018 President Nursultan Nazarbayev announced further reforms, including a pledge to increase spending in education along with science and healthcare to 10 percent of national GDP within five years. With the aim of making Kazakhstan […]
As Capitalism Fails in Tajikistan, Older Tajiks are Nostalgic About the Communist Era
By Alisher Kukanbekov KHOROG (IDN) – “I’m surely grateful to have lived in the Soviet Union. Our lives moved rather slower back then, we didn’t have to worry about putting food on the table. Everyone was equal,” says Amid, recalling the days when Tajikistan was part of the Soviet Union. It is not uncommon for […]
Kazakhstan Honours Advocates of a Nuclear-Free World
By Ramesh Jaura with reports from Katsuhiro Asagiri BERLIN | NUR-SULTAN (IDN) – Kazakhstan, widely acknowledged as a leader in nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation, has availed of this year’s International Day against Nuclear Tests to honour two eminent advocates of a world free of nuclear weapons. The Central Asian republic was one-time holder of the […]