By Jan Šír (11/30/2011 issue of the CACI Analyst)

Turkmenistan is once again at the focus of Central Asian energy geopolitics. While the country’s capital Ashgabat hosted its annual international forum Oil and Gas of Turkmenistan – 2011, President Berdimuhammedov embarked on a quick succession of visits to Pakistan and China. In mid-November, he visited Islamabad to keep Turkmenistan in the game for entering the fast-growing energy markets of Pakistan and India.

By Robert M. Cutler (11/30/2011 issue of the CACI Analyst)

Azerbaijan and Turkey have announced plans to construct a pipeline from the South Caucasus across Turkey to carry natural gas from Azerbaijan’s offshore Shah Deniz Two deposit to Southeastern Europe. At first glance, this would seem to leave Nabucco and two other candidate pipeline projects that have already submitted bids, out in the cold. However, what is involved is the creation of a format for bargaining where Azerbaijan can assert its strategic interests more convincingly against the pipeline consortia, which by their project-oriented nature have not been inclined to take a broader view.

By Richard Weitz (11/30/2011 issue of the CACI Analyst)

One reason why the Russian and Central Asian governments have become increasingly supportive of NATO’s mission in Afghanistan is their concern regarding the export of Afghan narcotics into and through their countries. These governments have become increasingly worried that NATO’s ongoing withdrawal of combat troops from Afghanistan will result in their having to confront the problem of narco-trafficking largely by themselves. Mutual concerns about Afghanistan are helping to drive Moscow and Washington to cooperate despite their persistent differences over other issues, but major disagreements over the U.