TRC is taking a look at rising extremism in Central Asia. Authorities are concerned with the growth of Islamic militancy in the region. Since the collapse of the Soviet Union, regional volatility?civil wars and abusive exercising of power–has plagued Central Asia. These factors have contributed to advancements of radical groups. This case study, Tajikistan, follows the steps of its neighbors in attempting to combat the evolving militancy.
Extremism in Tajikistan
The Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU; Group Profile) constitutes one of the largest terrorist threats to the region due to their open militant agenda and their extensive history of violence. The IMU’s largest bases were established in Tajikistan and Afghanistan from where several attacks were planned and launched in 1999-2000 (source). While the Afghani stronghold was incapacitated by Coalition bombings, Tajikistan seems to remain one of IMU’s largest areas of operation: holding one of the group’s two key bases.
In 2006, Tajik authorities repeatedly warned of the IMU’s upsurge as the former holds the latter responsible for several recent attacks in the country (source). In January, masked gunmen freed a prisoner with suspected close ties to the IMU. The incident was followed by other incidents this Spring, and most recently, a suicide bomber struck in Isfar on August 3, killing one police officer and injuring two . The events reinforce local officials’ claims of IMU’s dangerous expansion. Chief Prosecutor in Tajikistan’s northern Soghd Province Abdugaffor Qalandarov said that the notorious uprising in Andjion in eastern Uzbekistan in May 2005 has contributed to the group’s increased mobility over the borders. He also added that authorities in Tajikistan consider the IMU more threatening than the outlawed group Hizb ut-Tahrir (source).
Ferghana Valley: a Problem for All
As mentioned in previous reports, authorities call the Ferghana Valley, which straddles Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan , and Uzbekistan, a hotbed for radical Islamism. Multiple terrorist entities are known to operate in the Valley, easily moving across borders to avoid detection. TRC has highlighted how the societal factors in the area make it vulnerable to terrorists in search of savehavens .
Recently, Tajik security forces rounded up 10 suspected IMU members (source) in Khujand, which lies in the Ferghana Valley. Increased arrests have confirmed IMU’s whereabouts and composition, and the portrayal illustrates an elaborate group whose area of operations includes Afghanistan, Iran , Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan , Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. Moreover, their close links to al-Qaeda and Osama bin Laden point to a pre-eminence and resourcefulness worthy of substantial attention .
The Government’s Effort
Tajikistan suffered a bitter civil war after gaining independence from the Soviet Union and now benefits from relative political and economic stability. With natural resources?such as cotton and aluminum–and the help from international aid donors, the country’s economy is steadily growing and has surpassed neighboring Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan . The Tajik government is eager to continue the development of their nation and is well aware of the importance of sustaining that stability. Hence, Tajikistan is working diligently with regional neighbors and international partners, such as the US and India, to promote regional security.
