Tag: Eurasia

Unrest in Kazakhstan Leaves Questions Unanswered

Unrest in Kazakhstan Leaves Questions Unanswered

After Kazakhstan’s most serious unrest since it gained independence, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev is positioned to chart a new course that separates him from Nursultan Nazarbayev’s legacy. However, lingering questions about causes of the violence and the possibility of intra-elite conflict remain unanswered.

Iran’s Strategy in Afghanistan: Pragmatic Engagement with the Taliban

Iran’s Strategy in Afghanistan: Pragmatic Engagement with the Taliban

Throughout the U.S. war in Afghanistan, Iran has maintained extensive influence in its eastern neighbor. It played both sides of the conflict, supporting the now-deposed government in Kabul while also developing ties with the Taliban. With the Taliban’s takeover of the country in the wake of the withdrawal of U.S. and NATO forces, Tehran will engage pragmatically with the militant group to safeguard and further its national security strategy.