Geopolitical interest in central Asia

After the collapse of the Soviet Union, central Asia suddenly saw the spread of independence in which many sovereign countries emerged. The interest towards this region has increased, in particular because of their huge natural resources, mainly oil and gas. Some analysts think that the interests of Russia, China, Europe and USA are coinciding in this region. All of them are interested in diminishing the influence of Islamist forces and stable democratic development of the region. Of course each of these countries pursues their own interests first but some efforts are being taken to promote mutual interest. Russia, which was the domineering force during the last couple of centuries in the region, has its own plans, economical as well as political. China and the EU mostly concentrate on economic factors whereas US policy is determined by its strategy in Afghanistan. So the ‘struggle’ for central Asia has started.