The significance of that region of Central Asia is one of geography and resources. Historically, if you could control that region, you could theoretically control 2/3 of the world's land mass with ground forces. More significant in our times is the fact that the whole region is one giant oil basin and that makes it a prize worth taking but if you try then every other competing interest will be turned against you, either openly or in secret, to thwart you from your goal.

Global politics is messy stuff and is not really carried out by politicians. They might think they are making the decisions but as happened in Japan prior to WWII, others were really pulling the strings.