Central Asian Union

[2] In early 1992, Tajikistan plunged into the Tajikistani Civil War (1992–1997) between government forces and various Islamist rebel factions supported by the Taliban; thus they could not participate in the integration process.

Turkmenistan preferred to maintain neutrality, and decided not to partake in CIS or Central Asian integration.

[3] A new Central Asian Union was proposed by Kazakhstan President Nursultan Nazarbayev on April 26, 2007, in order to create an economic and political union similar to that of the EU encompassing the five former Soviet Central Asian republics of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.

The proposed Union would primarily deal with interstate border issues, trade, visa regimes, tourism and security.

If realized, the CAU would represent a counterbalance to the existing Russian-dominated Collective Security Organization and the Chinese-Russian-led Shanghai Cooperation Organisation.

[11] In his proposal, the Kazakh President said: "In the region, we share economic interest, cultural heritage, language, religion, and environmental challenges, and face common external threats.