Transit Corridors: Afghanistan, Iran and Tajikistan have signed a trilateral road transit deal in Mashhad, with a first pilot shipment expected within a month and a joint working group to speed customs, driver visas and border procedures—aimed at cutting freight costs and boosting Afghanistan’s role as a land bridge. Fuel Dependence: Tajikistan’s antimonopoly data shows over 90% of oil product imports in 1H 2026 came from Russia (91.1%); diesel and gasoline volumes rose, with Gazpromneft-Tajikistan among the top suppliers. Border & Supply Pressure: Kazakhstan has set up 59 police checkpoints and tightened controls on auxiliary fuel tanks to curb smuggling to Russia as Russian refinery attacks and export bans tighten regional diesel supplies—raising spillover risks for Central Asian neighbors including Tajikistan. Forestry & Planning: Tajikistan is launching a national forest inventory using satellite imagery plus field checks, after decades without a full picture, to feed 10-year management plans for state forestry enterprises. US-Central Asia Finance: The U.S. State Department confirmed Konstantin Sokolov as chairman of the TRIPP+ enterprise fund (over $200m) targeting transport, energy infrastructure and critical minerals across Central Asia and the South Caucasus. KidsRights Index: Kazakhstan ranked 24th in the 2026 KidsRights Index; Tajikistan placed 92nd, underscoring wide gaps in children’s protection, health and education across the region.