Publications

Our team aims to make impactful discoveries, sharing our research and tools to drive progress and understanding in freight railway data mapping, railway risk assessments and wider global supply chain developments in Central Asia, Afghanistan and Iran.

What to Make of the $4.2 Billion Kazakhstan-US Locomotive Deal?

Sophia Nina B-A - October, 2025 - The Royal United Services Institute (RUSI), London, UK.

Why Central Asia Focuses so Much on Railways

Sophia Nina B-A - September, 2025 - The Royal United Services Institute (RUSI), London, UK.

Russia’s Plans Are Bigger Than Conflict With the West or Camaraderie With China

Sophia Nina B-A - May, 2025 - The Diplomat, Washington DC.

The View From the Ground: China’s Evolving Strategy in South and Central Asia

Sophia Nina B-A - October, 2024 - The Diplomat, Washington DC.

Explaining South Korea’s railway ambitions in Central Asia

Sophia Nina B-A - August 2024 - The Diplomat, Washington DC.

The ‘Corridorizing’ of Asia: Cooperation, Competition, and Consequences

Sophia Nina B-A - July, 2024 - The Diplomat, Washington DC.

Russia expands oil trade south via Afghanistan as it seeks warm water ports

Sophia Nina B-A - May 2024 - The Diplomat, Washington DC.

In importing Russian gas, Pakistan treads a fine line

Sophia Nina B-A - July 2023 - The Diplomat, Washington DC.

Kazakhstan is vulnerable to secondary sanctions

Sophia Nina B-A - June, 2023 - The Diplomat, Washington DC.

Afghanistan-Iran completes first trial run of Khaf-Herat Railway

Sophia Nina B-A - June, 2023 - The Diplomat, Washington DC.

Uzbekistan and Russia energy relations: a tale of two problems

Sophia Nina B-A - May, 2023 - The Diplomat, Washington DC.

The Strategic Logic of Russia’s Embrace of the Taliban

Sophia Nina B-A - April, 2023 - The Diplomat, Washington DC.

Kazakhstan and Afghanistan seek to realign bilateral ties

Sophia Nina B-A - March, 2023 - The Diplomat, Washington DC.

New Hopes for Old Projects? China gears up rail efforts with Kazakhstan

Sophia Nina B-A - March, 2023 - The Diplomat, Washington DC.

Afghanistan Seeks New Air Corridors

Sophia Nina B-A and Mads Schmidt - March, 2023 - The Diplomat, Washington DC.

Just passing through: Kazakhstan’s parallel trade predicament

Sophia Nina B-A - March, 2023 - The Diplomat, Washington DC.

After a temporary suspension, what’s next for the Trans-Afghan railway?

Sophia Nina B-A - February, 2023 - The Diplomat, Washington DC.

Trial Run for China-Afghan Rail Corridor as SCO Summit Kicks Off

Sophia Nina B-A - September, 2022 - The Diplomat, Washington DC.

The Trans-Afghan Railway line: Back on Track?

Sophia Nina B-A - July, 2022 - The Diplomat, Washington DC.

The Russia-Ukraine Conflict: Implications for Kazakhstan’s Energy Sector

Sophia Nina B-A - May 2022 - The Diplomat, Washington DC.

China and Uzbekistan: An emerging development partnership?

Sophia Nina B-A - May, 2022 - The Diplomat, Washington DC.

Mixed fortunes for Kazakh grain?

Sophia Nina B-A - April, 2022 - The Diplomat, Washington DC.

India’s plan to realise TAPI

Sophia Nina B-A - April, 2022 - The Diplomat, Washington DC.

Uzbekistan looks south for new trade routes

Sophia Nina B-A - April, 2022 - The Diplomat, Washington DC.

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