Central Asia

Hot Topics

Soldier kneeling with sunset in background.
Better World Info | Mei Lau

Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict

The conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia over the region began after the collapse of the USSR. Both countries are former Soviet nations, and although Nagorno-Karabakh is predominantly ethnic Armenian, it has been under Azerbaijani control since 1923, as part of a Soviet practice to avoid homogeneity within nations. Azerbaijan launched a new offensive after 6 people were killed by landmines, but has since agreed to a ceasefire with separatist Armenian forces proposed by Russian peacekeepers.

Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict
Image by ErikaWittlieb from Pixabay

Taliban Takeover (2021)

After the collapse of the Afghanistan government, the Taliban flooded the capital with heavily armed fighters ready to take control. Signifying the failure of the 20-year U.S. campaign to stabilise the country. With plans to form an Islamic government, Afghans and foreigners alike are rushing to leave the country. Many fear the elimination of women’s rights, and the harsh penalties of previous Taliban rule.

Taliban Takeover (2021)
War tank with soldiers and an Afghan flag.
Al Jazeera English CC BY-SA 2.0 | Wikimedia Commons

The Forever War

After 20 years of war, the US-led coalition has decided to withdraw from Afghanistan because, as President Biden said, "the United States had to end its presence in another country's civil conflict". The Taliban were ousted from power by US-led forces in 2001, but after the foreign military withdrawal, they have been rapidly regaining territory, with Kabul being the latest city to fall, prompting Afghan President Ghani to flee abroad, causing chaos among the Afghan population, who fear Taliban human rights abuses.

The Forever War