Russia is concerned about the increase of ISIS militants near the southern borders of Tajikistan

The authorities of Russia claim that international terrorist and extremist organizations are amassing forces near Tajikistan.

According to TASS, on February 14, 2024, the head of the Joint Staff of the CSTO, Colonel General Andrei Serdyukov, stated that the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) is observing an increase in the number of militants from the Afghan branch of the “Islamic State” – “Wilayat Khorasan” – and the Pakistani Taliban movement – “Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan” – near the southern borders of Tajikistan.

According to him, in the Central Asian region, the main threat to stability comes from international terrorist and extremist organizations such as the “Islamic State” and “Al-Qaeda,” while the main contingent of foreign militants is concentrated in the northern provinces of Afghanistan. He also noted that the network of training camps for them is expanding.

The head of the Joint Staff of the CSTO also pointed out that uncontrolled drug trafficking and illegal arms proliferation negatively affect the criminal situation in the region.

This statement comes against the backdrop of a meeting of the Security Council of Tajikistan on January 19 of this year, where Emomali Rahmon acknowledged that, in addition to the rise of corruption and bribery among law enforcement officials and civil servants, there has been an increase in extremist and terrorist crimes, drug trafficking, and the involvement of some law enforcement and supervisory officials in the illegal drug trade, goods, and products, indicating a “low professional level, incompetence in the performance of official duties, hiring of random and unprofessional individuals in the ranks of the agencies, selection and improper placement of personnel by the leaders of the agencies.”