By Oleg Salimov (the 22/01/2014 issue of the CACI Analyst)

On November 30, 2013, Tajikistan's recently reelected President Emomali Rakhmon decided to appoint his son Rustam Emomali as the head of the State Customs Administration. Although some have argued that the move was tantamount to preparing the ground for Rustam as Rakhmon's successor on the presidential post, the actual reason for the high-profile appointment seems to be more trivial and less politically motivated. The immediate motivation for the appointment seems to be economic, rather than political, since it will greatly enhance the opportunities to gain wealth for the Rakhmon family. 

By Richard Weitz (the 22/01/2014 issue of the CACI Analyst)

India has made major economic, political, and strategic investments in Afghanistan since the Taliban lost power in 2001. The two countries share an interest in Afghanistan’s postwar reconstruction, pursuing common diplomatic goals, and cooperating against mutual security threats. For years, India has been undertaking programs to bolster Afghanistan’s security capabilities and integrate the country into regional diplomatic and economic structures. Now with the withdrawal of Western combat forces, India is acceding to longstanding Afghan government requests and deepening bilateral security cooperation, despite the risks of provoking a strong and adverse reaction in Islamabad, as well as enlarging their economic collaboration.

By Farhad Aliyev (the 22/01/2014 issue of the CACI Analyst)

The Geneva interim agreement in November, 2013, between six world powers and Iran on its disputed nuclear program could mark the start of one of the most significant transformations in the Middle East over the last decades, with ramifications across Eurasia. Azerbaijan, as one of Iran's neighbors and sharing certain religious, ethnic, and cultural commonalities with Iran, should be considered among the countries most influenced by the success of negotiations with Iran, even in terms of Azerbaijan's domestic development.