Tajikistan has 14 percent of the world’s uranium reserves

[Nader Shah]

http://eng.globalaffairs.ru/printver/1134.html

Could this explain Iran's sudden interest ?

[Parsistani]

Great news. Tajiksistan should now think smartly about these important good what to do. They can use it to get an own power with it´s Persian neighbours or sell it to Russia and China...and India OR use it to produce electricity...better would be use it for military and economic products. Tajikistan would be aanother power in central Asia noone would want to challenge it. The future will show us what will happen.

[Unity]

http://eng.globalaffairs.ru/printver/1134.html

Could this explain Iran's sudden interest ?

it could be.  anything is possible.  even if this interest is for the sake of uranium, one or other way the increase of contacts between the 2 govs and poeple will eventually have its positive impacts in the long run.

[Ahhangar]

Tajikistan also controls 65% of the water of Central Asia, and has very strategic position within Asia- one could say it is the pivot of Asia - looking down at the plains of the other STANS to the north and west, at China to the east, and India to  the south.

Decent nuclear armed missiles (5000 Km) range could reach most of Asia from there!

[Unity]

Tajikistan also controls 65% of the water of Central Asia, and has very strategic position within Asia- one could say it is the pivot of Asia - looking down at the plains of the other STANS to the north and west, at China to the east, and India to  the south.

Decent nuclear armed missiles (5000 Km) range could reach most of Asia from there!

But we still see people of tajikistan is struggling badly.  it is because of mis-managemnt in the goverment

[Afrasiab]

ajikistan

[Ahhangar]

But we still see people of tajikistan is struggling badly.  it is because of mis-managemnt in the goverment

They lack the infrastructure to expliot their wealth. The soviets deliberately drew Tajikistan borders in a manner that made it dependent on the rest of USSR - for subsidies.  

Uzbekistan stands in the way of Tajikistan's development today - always acting in a predatory manner.

We definitely need regime change in Uzbekistan - IRAQ style - and a public hanging of Karimov and all Uzbek nationalists.

[Unity]

They lack the infrastructure to expliot their wealth. The soviets deliberately drew Tajikistan borders in a manner that made it dependent on the rest of USSR - for subsidies.  

Uzbekistan stands in the way of Tajikistan's development today - always acting in a predatory manner.

We definitely need regime change in Uzbekistan - IRAQ style - and a public hanging of Karimov and all Uzbek nationalists.

Yes, you are right.  a regime change is needed in uzbekistan as well as tajikisatan.  the tajik gov seems so impotent to me to do anything good to the people of tajikistan.  in the past i had alot of respect for rahman, but now i am reconsidering my thoughts about him.  ironically, some people say that karimov is actually tajik, which is so unbelieveable to me, i dont think a healthy mind would accept that.

[Ahhangar]

Yes, you are right.  a regime change is needed in uzbekistan as well as tajikisatan.  the tajik gov seems so impotent to me to do anything good to the people of tajikistan.  in the past i had alot of respect for rahman, but now i am reconsidering my thoughts about him.  ironically, some people say that karimov is actually tajik, which is so unbelieveable to me, i dont think a healthy mind would accept that.

What are the problems with Rahmon? Could it be that his situation is worsened by his Uzbek neighbor?

I am of the thinking that the system of government within Tajikistan should be supported and made stronger - no regime change Iraq style - but an evolution of the process of better representation and openness. We have to be very wary since his situation is precarious and under the pressure of the various powers in the region.

We should support Tajikistan and its people - be opposed to violent regime change there - since the basic fundamental ideology of Tajikistan is good and healthy.

[Nader Shah]

I wonder why Tajikistan's uranium mines are not exploited (or at least so little we don't hear much about it). I think it is because Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan have as much or more uranium ore, and since they are closer to Russia, the Russians developed those first. But once the infrastructure (for example, railway from Herat to Tajikistan - the Iranian part is already there up to Herat or close) is ready, Tajikistan can export through Iran, or maybe even have its own enrichment plants with someone's help (Iran maybe, in the future, they are not there yet with commercial enrichment).

Developing water and mineral resources requires capital and proper infrastructure. Capital can come from outside - let's say China or Iran if not Russia (since Uzbeks will veto any cooperation with TJ) - but I am not sure why it is not coming yet, maybe the remoteness and lack of outside communications in TJ ... I mean access to ports, railways, proper roads,  and so on ?

Anyone interested to elaborate further ? I would love to hear more...

[Nader Shah]

Another question is: what could Rahmon do ? What would you do in his place ? Would any other president do much better ? Some limitations of TJ will be there regardless of who is president, so it is not fair to immediately blame Rahmon for the lack of advancement in some areas. It is better to make constructive suggestions, and even present them to Rahmon or his close advisers, than just point the finger. Anyone in his position would be faced with many insurmountable obstacles ... Even if his policies are not optimal to create the best business environment in TJ, what if the best business environment was available - would anyone still come and invest billions of dollars of money in TJ ? You can say, well, Rahmon should upgrade the infrastructure in TJ, and improve the economic climate ... I agree with the latter suggestion, but where will the money come from ? And even with the best business climate, how many people in TJ have the huge capital needed to set up large businesses ? Even with the best plans, where will the money come to develop the infrastructure ? Should TJ simply sell out to some foreign country everything it has ?? I dont' know, but someone really needs to look at what is possible, and then blame Rahmon for not doing those things, or even better make suggestions and see if he listens. Why would Rahmon not want his country to be more developed and prosperous ?

[Ahhangar]

Another question is: what could Rahmon do ? What would you do in his place ? Would any other president do much better ? Some limitations of TJ will be there regardless of who is president, so it is not fair to immediately blame Rahmon for the lack of advancement in some areas. It is better to make constructive suggestions, and even present them to Rahmon or his close advisers, than just point the finger. Anyone in his position would be faced with many insurmountable obstacles ... Even if his policies are not optimal to create the best business environment in TJ, what if the best business environment was available - would anyone still come and invest billions of dollars of money in TJ ? You can say, well, Rahmon should upgrade the infrastructure in TJ, and improve the economic climate ... I agree with the latter suggestion, but where will the money come from ? And even with the best business climate, how many people in TJ have the huge capital needed to set up large businesses ? Even with the best plans, where will the money come to develop the infrastructure ? Should TJ simply sell out to some foreign country everything it has ?? I dont' know, but someone really needs to look at what is possible, and then blame Rahmon for not doing those things, or even better make suggestions and see if he listens. Why would Rahmon not want his country to be more developed and prosperous ?

Dear Nader,

Thank you for your reply. Indeed I agree with you!

Rahmon of course wants his country to prosper - we need to bear in mind that he is in a difficult situation. He has few resources in a country that has very difficult terrain.

Tajikistan cannot develop on its own - it needs vast grants from international banks - ( I emphasize grants and not loans).  There has to be political backing  from USA for such grants to be given. China is also an obvious partner but USA may see it as a competitor.

THE BEST THING WE CAN DO IS TO EDUCATE OURSELVES to a level so that we can take up positions within these influential international institutions and work to the benefit of our people.

So - go after those MASTERS DEGREES and Phds in ECONOMICS - POLITICAL SCIENCE - ENGINEERING - ANTHROPOLOGY !

[Nader Shah]

Very well said ! PhDs with lots of experience and contacts, of course.

I would even go further, and say that TJ should use the little money it has to hire a few bright minds who are for hire. I mean, they don't have to be Persian speaking, they could be American or Swiss, as long as they owe their allegiance first to who pays them (and I heard the Swiss have very high ethics in serving whoever hires them).  

I really wish the USA would choose to make TJ a role model for Central Asia, even for Iran, by helping them big time. They can do it if they decide to ... but what is needed is an emotional commitment from them, and I think a Tajik lobby in the US could help get closer to that goal. America should realize that Tajiks are the inheritors and representatives of "European civilization and genes" (why not - as a commercial marketing scheme) in Central Asia ... the only non-Mongol "Aryans".  Of course, they would rather help the Semitic Jews ... but hey, let's get on the Jews's side ... why not (they are the elite of the US and in many cases deservedly so). I mean we really need to get the emotional side of the USA going for Tajiks in Central Asia as the last survivors of Indo European Civilizations ... Scythians if you like .. whatever, as long as it helps the purpose. And make nice videos to prop up the idea ...and get the right people's attention. Iran is plagued with Arabism and Islamism, but Tajikistan is not !

[Ahhangar]

Very well said ! PhDs with lots of experience and contacts, of course.

I would even go further, and say that TJ should use the little money it has to hire a few bright minds who are for hire. I mean, they don't have to be Persian speaking, they could be American or Swiss, as long as they owe their allegiance first to who pays them (and I heard the Swiss have very high ethics in serving whoever hires them).  

I really wish the USA would choose to make TJ a role model for Central Asia, even for Iran, by helping them big time. They can do it if they decide to ... but what is needed is an emotional commitment from them, and I think a Tajik lobby in the US could help get closer to that goal. America should realize that Tajiks are the inheritors and representatives of "European civilization and genes" (why not - as a commercial marketing scheme) in Central Asia ... the only non-Mongol "Aryans".  Of course, they would rather help the Semitic Jews ... but hey, let's get on the Jews's side ... why not (they are the elite of the US and in many cases deservedly so). I mean we really need to get the emotional side of the USA going for Tajiks in Central Asia as the last survivors of Indo European Civilizations ... Scythians if you like .. whatever, as long as it helps the purpose. And make nice videos to prop up the idea ...and get the right people's attention. Iran is plagued with Arabism and Islamism, but Tajikistan is not !

Dear Nader Brother - I am heartened at your sincerity!

Influencing USA and its economic intentions for our region is not an easy thing to do - and we will need much more than an appeal to their preference for secularism over theocracy - since that is not enough for them in the case of many countries they love - like Saudi Arabia - Egypt - Taliban Afghanistan.

Within the USA there are alternative views as what policies the US should follow in Central Asia.

I know of a serious program led by John Hopkins university professor Fredrick Star for recommending economic integration of the whole area including Pakistan Iran Afghanistan and all the Stans to the north.

Have a look at http://www.cacianalyst.org/

The Central Asia- Caucasus Institute of SAIS was founded in 1996, and has in five years grown to be the primary institution in the Washington area for the study of the Caucasus, Central Asia and the Caspian Region.
The institute aspires to conduct impartial research on the region; to act as a forum for policymakers both in Washington and abroad; to act as a 'switchboard' of resources and information concerning the Central Asia-Caucasus region; and to provide access for its sponsors in business to relevant expertise on the region.

They have specific sections for each of Iran Afghanistan and Tajikistan.


A 'Greater Central Asia Partnership' for Afghanistan and Its Neighbors



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[dunyo]

I've heard that Rahmonovs people were selling uranium in black market in small amounts but it was 8 years ago... I don't think there are any more researves left....