Turkmenistan Today: Regional Security and Domestic Outlook

Since early 2015, Taliban militants have significantly increased their activities in northern Afghanistan, taking control of most of the villages along the borders with Turkmenistan and Tajikistan. Already having conducted two cross border raids into Turkmenistan, so far six Turkmen border guards have fallen victim to the Afghan-based militants. The recent influx of Central Asian militants in the Taliban controlled area of northern Afghanistan has raised alarm bells throughout the region, including in Turkmenistan.

Sharing the longest border with Afghanistan among Central Asian countries, Turkmenistan seems most vulnerable to any possible cross border aggression. As a result, in recent months Ashgabat is taking unseen protection measures, including fencing the entire border.

Turkmen authorities have taken a series of new measures, both to keep potential dissent in control, and to calm the people in the face of new economic challenges.

Join us for a discussion with Muhammad Tahir, Director of Turkmen Service at Radio Free Europe/ Radio Liberty, on the regional security and domestic outlook for Turkmenistan.