By Stephen Blank (2/11/2004 issue of the CACI Analyst)
BACKGROUND: One of the key theaters of Indo-Pakistani rivalry has been Afghanistan. For a long time, Pakistan has sought to gain decisive influence over that state, seeing Afghanistan as a strategic hinterland in its rivalry with India and as a gateway to expanded trade, political, military, and religious ties to Central Asia. During the nineties, Pakistani intelligence agencies were also involved in recruiting Jihadis from these states as well as in forming the Taliban.By Sabine Freizer (2/11/2004 issue of the CACI Analyst)
BACKGROUND: Having obtained over 96% of the vote in the 4 January 2004 elections, and significant support from Western leaders, President Mikheil Saakashvili has a unique opportunity to address the deep political and developmental crisis facing Georgia by embarking on substantial reforms. One of his greatest challenges is to increase the state’s legitimacy and efficiency after a revolution that demonstrated the population’s deep dissatisfaction with government. The 1995 Constitution of Georgia provided for three distinct branches of government, and a clear system of “checks and balances.By Eric D. Hagt (2/11/2004 issue of the CACI Analyst)
BACKGROUND: Although the first case of AIDS was not officially reported until 1995, Xinjiang has emerged as China’s most infected region after Yunnan province. By the end of 2001, there were 6,029 officially reported cases of HIV/AIDS, or 22% of the national total. However, UNAIDS believes that the rate of infection may be underreported by as much as 5 to 10 times.By Roger N. McDermott & Col. Igor Mukhamedov (1/28/2004 issue of the CACI Analyst)
BACKGROUND: Defense Minister Altynbayev at the time of the deployment made sure to note that Kazakhstan had received a message from the U.S. administration, explicitly requesting a Kazakhstani contingent as a part of coalition stabilization forces within the framework of operation Iraqi Freedom.The Central Asia-Caucasus Analyst is a biweekly publication of the Central Asia-Caucasus Institute & Silk Road Studies Program, a Joint Transatlantic Research and Policy Center affiliated with the American Foreign Policy Council, Washington DC., and the Institute for Security and Development Policy, Stockholm. For 15 years, the Analyst has brought cutting edge analysis of the region geared toward a practitioner audience.
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