coloCentral Asia is a region in Asia that stretches from the Caspian Sea to China and Mongolia in the east, and from Afghanistan and Iran in the south to Russia in the north, including the former Soviet republics of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. The worsening situation in Afghanistan due to the increase in the Taliban’s offensive has had a spillover effect in the Central Asian Region(CAR). The state of affairs unravelling in Afghanistan in the wake of the retreat of US-led NATO forces has impelled considerable powers to readjust their relationship to frustrate mutual terrorisation and endeavour together to stabilise the area. The Central Asian and other South Asian countries are intensely witnessing the developing a sad state of affairs.

It is pertinent to mention that USSR (now Russia) intervened in Afghanistan in 1979 to save the communist rule. The US was apprehensive about Russia’s move and helped raise mujahideen to fight against Russian armed forces. These mujahideen appealed to the world Muslims fundamentalists to join them in this fight against Russian occupation. It is believed that these terrorists were trained and equipped by Pakistan. Finally, in 1989 these mujahideen succeeded in overthrowing Russian forces from the soil of Afghanistan. After the Soviets had left Afghanistan in February 1989, the still segmented mujahideen continued their fight against the PDPA-government of President Mohd Najibullah, who was still massively supported by the Soviet Union and therefore still considered to lead a hostile puppet regime.

The terrorists were organised in three groups after the Soviets left Afghanistan; one such group of terrorists were organised under Osama Bin Laden and continued their fight in Afghanistan under one pretext or another, the second group of terrorists went back to their countries of origin and started their terrorist organisations, and the third group entered the US and the Western world under the guise of refugees and initiated the campaign of radicalisation, recruitment, funding, etc. This is how terrorism spread globally.

After the end of Communist control, the somewhat unsettled situation made the region a happy hunting ground for a new breed of the extremely inspired Islamic clergy. Countries such as Saudi Arabia, Iran and Pakistan liberally provided religious literature and funds to construct mosques and religious schools etc. Simultaneously, the socio-economic displacement in the republics and the void following the abrupt collapse of the USSR and socialism was cunningly exploited by radical Islamic fundamentals supported by the Taliban. The Taliban aided the Islamic opposition activities of the Central Asian countries by providing them shelter, training, weapons and equipment. The Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU), whose eventual aim is to create an Islamic state, was provided with weapons and training in Afghanistan by the Taliban. These connexions have made religious extremism a powerful source of disruption for the region. The commotion in the region is not likely to vanish anytime soon.

On September 11, 2001, global terrorism crossed the redline and became a faceless enemy of international society and was reinforced by the Mumbai attack on 26/11 in 2008.  The reckless development of the jihadist terrorists since 2001 has been enormous. When the ‘War on Terrorism’ began, roughly 32,200 fighters were comprising 13 Islamist-inspired terror organisations. By 2015, the estimate had swollen to more than 100,000 fighters spread across 44 Islamist-inspired terror groups.

The most severe external security threats include the growth of Islamic extremism in the region, the growth of several terrorist organisations, and transborder crime and drug trafficking. There are increasing concerns in Uzbekistan and Tajikistan, which have adjoining borders with Afghanistan. 

It is believed that the Taliban has made Tajik terrorists to some limited extent in charge of the northern border of Afghanistan. Taliban has captured some border posts adjoining Tajikstan, such as Kuf Ab, Khwahan, Maimay, Nusay, Shekay, etc. Tajik terrorists are known as Tajik Taliban in Afghanistan, but actually, they are part of Jamaat Ansarullah-a banned terrorist organisation in Tajikistan. Russia is extending reassurances and military assistance to these two Central Asian countries and also to Kyrgyzstan. 

Measures to tackle the menace of terrorism in Central Asia. The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) was ostensibly created in 2001 to mitigate the threat to Central Asia emanating from Afghanistan. Even before 9/11, the terrorist groups based in the Af-Pak region such as the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU), East Turkistan Islamic Movement (ETIM), Hizb-u-Tahrir (HUT) strived to topple the Central Asian regimes and create Muslim Caliphates in the region.

The SCO’s entire focus has maintained regional stability while creating a Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS) in 2002 in Tashkent. A formal body, the SCO-Afghanistan Contact Group, was created in 2005 that prompted the SCO to organise a distinct conference on Afghanistan in Moscow in 2009 with the participation of the UN Secretary-General, the US EU, NATO, OSCE, CSTO, and OIC representatives. With security contests wavering away from West Asia to Afghanistan again, especially after the US drawdown, the SCO would again be gearing up to deal with the Afghan spillover into Central Asia. 

Economic deterioration on the domestic front, conflicts and antagonisms among the Central Asian Republics themselves, absence of democracy and rise of authoritarian regimes are all factors that have contributed to the instability and tensions in Central Asia. Transnational religious extremists are fully exploiting these through their local fanatics. Therefore, a comprehensive solution to the Afghan conflict and political and economic progress is essential for curbing religious extremism in Central Asia.

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Views expressed above are the author's own.

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