The first "Central Asia-Russia" summit in Astana confirmed the Russian importance in the region and the Kremlin's strategy to increase economic cooperation with Central Asian republics.
While the CSTO military exercises were taking place in Tajikistan, Dushanbe received U.S. representatives who confirmed Washington's interest and strategy in strengthening the security and defence of the Tajik-Afghan borders.
Tokayev's suggestion to create an organisation in the framework of the CIS to promote the Russian language might be interpreted as Kazakhstan's attempt to normalise relations with Russia, which were downgraded due to the Ukraine conflict and the Western sanctions.
Recent propaganda on Telegram spread by a 'foreign agent' who promoted separatism in Kazakhstan highlighted possible future problems that the Central Asian republic might face since different ethnic minorities live in the country.
Russia and the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA) signed the most significant deal since the Taliban movement came to power last year, confirming Kremlin's interests in the country and Moscow's will to become a key regional actor.
Due to the borders drawn by the former Soviet Union with no regard for ethnic, political, economic, and cultural factors, the Central Asian countries Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan have faced each other for 31 years, and the recent military escalation highlighted regional instability and geopolitical strategies promoted by Dushanbe and Bishkek.
Over the years, the Islamic Republic of Iran has consolidated its relations with the countries of Central Asia, exploiting either the Persian common ethnic-cultural element or proposing itself as a logistic hub for the energy sector and trade corridors.
Tajikistan and China discussed economic, political and regional security cooperation, confirming Beijing's rising role in Tajik local dynamics and Central Asia at the expense of Moscow's regional strategy.
The establishment of Tehrik-e Taliban Tajikistan (TTT) alarmed Dushanbe Government. It highlighted how the security situation in Central Asia linked with Afghanistan has deteriorated since the Taliban took power in Kabul in August 2021.
Central Asian republics want to establish solid regional cooperation to promote socio-economic projects to stabilise the area and contrast rising problems such as widespread disappointment and protests, terrorist threats and security issues related to the current situation in Afghanistan.
In Tajikistan, local security forces and authorities emphasised the rising threat of terrorism and extremism in the country in the last six months, confirming that terrorist organisations such as the Islamic State have been able to exploit local disappointment and the unresolved issues that in Gorno-Badakhshan.