Cooperation With Russia Crucial for Anti-Terror Efforts in Central Asia

According to a representative of the Kyrgyz Interior Ministry, joint counterterrorism actions played a significant role for all Central Asian countries, because terror threats in the region had much in common.

BISHKEK (Sputnik) — Cooperation with Russia and Central Asian states is essential for struggle against terrorism, a representative of the Kyrgyz Interior Ministry said Wednesday.

"It is impossible to fight both terrorism and extremism effectively only on a scale of one state, because almost all their aspects are of transnational nature… That's why joint discussion of the issues related to the strengthening of efforts against terrorism and extremism with our colleagues from Russia, Kazakhstan and Central Asian countries is essential," Stalbek Rakhmanov said.

He added that some 50 terrorist groups, including the Islamic State (IS, or Daesh in Arabic), which is prohibited in Russia, were operating on the territories of the members of Collective Security Treaty Organization, a Russia-led intergovernmental military alliance, including Kyrgyzstan among other states, at the moment.

Central Asia has seen a rise in violent religious extremist groups since the collapse of the Soviet Union. According to Interpol, terrorist affiliates operating in the region are focusing more and more on the recruitment of new members, particularly young people, and spreading radical ideology over the Internet.