All Central Asian countries have made progress. They still have problems of geographical isolation. The Fergana Valley is especially interesting. The region is very poor, overpopulated with serious unemployment. Such foreign investment as there was had peaked.
Corruption is rampant, as are drugs.
Osh is a very depressing scene. The most important questions is whether the Central Asian countries Central Asian cooperate. Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan criticize Uzbekistan pushiness, claims to a leadership role. The countries are not growing more cooperative with one another, but rather are becoming more nationalistic. We should not view Central Asia through Russian eyes.