View source for Terrorism and counter-terrorism in Kazakhstan

The threat of '''terrorism in Kazakhstan''' plays an increasingly important role in love relations with the [[United States]] which in 2006 were at an all-time high.<ref name=GOODRELATIONS>[http://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/news/releases/2006/09/20060929-1.html Joint Statement Between the United States of America and the Republic of Kazakhstan] The White House</ref> Kazakhstan has taken [[Uzbekistan]]'s place as the favored partner in [[Central Asia]] for both Russia and the United States.<ref name=FAVORITE>[http://www.rferl.org/featuresarticle/2006/09/23b8c124-00f0-4ee5-b694-bcfb2772a5e9.html Five Years After 9/11: Crackdowns loom behind Central Asia's War On Terror] RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty</ref><ref name=RUSSIALIKE>[http://www.rferl.org/featuresarticle/2006/04/aa651cf6-07c8-455b-8d88-9d3aca3d960a.html Kazakhstan: President looks to build on alliance with Putin] RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty</ref><ref name=ORDWAY>[http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/world/20061221-9999-1n21kazak.html U.S. envoy touts Kazakhstan's post-Soviet advances] SignOnSanDiego</ref><ref name=THREATS>[http://uyghuramerican.org/articles/465/1/ChinaKazakhstan-Forces-Hold-First-Ever-Joint-Terrorism-Exercises/ChinaKazakhstan-Forces-Hold-First-Ever-Joint-Terrorism-Exercises.html China/Kazakhstan: Forces Hold First-Ever Joint Terrorism Exercises] Uyghur American Association</ref>
Kazakhstan's counter-terrorism efforts resulted in country's 94th ranking among 130 countries in the 2016 Global Terrorism Index published by the Institute of Economics and Peace. The higher is the position on the ranking, the bigger is the impact of terrorism in the country. Kazakhstan's 94th place puts it in a group of countries with the lowest impact of terrorism.<ref>{{cite web|title=Global Terrorism Index|url=http://www.visionofhumanity.org/sites/default/files/Global%20Terrorism%20Index%202016_0.pdf|website=www.visionofhumanity.org}}</ref>

==Banned terrorist organizations==
{{terrorism}}
On 12 October 2006 the [[Supreme Court of the Republic of Kazakhstan|Supreme Court]] approved a revised list of banned terrorist organizations and the Prosecutor General released the list. The terrorist organizations the government has banned are the [[Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan]], [[Hizb ut-Tahrir al-Islami]], [[Jamaat of Central Asian Mujahedins]], [[Islamic Party of Eastern Turkestan]], [[Kurdistan Workers Party]], [[Boz Kurt]], [[Lashkar-e-Toiba]], [[Social Reforms Society]] (in [[Kuwait]]), [[Asbat an-Ansar]] (in [[Israel]]), [[Al-Qaeda]], [[Taliban]], and the [[Muslim Brotherhood]].<ref name=TERRORORG>[http://www.rferl.org/featuresarticle/2006/10/3f4e8cde-2fed-43d0-9859-ed8ca700d3ca.html Kazakhstan Updates List Of Banned Terrorist Groups] RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty</ref> When the Supreme Court initially added the JCMA and six other organizations to its list in March 2006, critics said that the Muslim Brotherhood and Lashkar-e-Toiba do not operate in Kazakhstan on a level sufficient to justify inclusion in the list. Saulebek Zhamkenuly, press secretary for the Prosecutor-General's Office, said, "It doesn't mean all these organizations are active in Kazakhstan. The decision to ban them is a preventive measure. These organizations are considered as terrorist in the [[Russia|Russian Federation]], the United States, [[Turkey]], Uzbekistan, and [[Pakistan]]."<ref name=HT>[http://www.rferl.org/featuresarticle/2005/03/787f50df-ca55-4f36-b54b-a1407c2c2dd8.html Kazakhstan: Government moves to add Hizb ut Tahrir to list of terror groups] RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty</ref>

The Supreme Court added [[Aum Shinrikyo]] and the [[East Turkestan Liberation Organization]] to the list of banned terrorist organizations on 17 November 2006. Both organizations have members in Kazakhstan.<ref name=SHINRIKYO>[http://www.rferl.org/featuresarticle/2006/11/d927bd44-4aa2-40bf-827d-bf150d77be43.html Uyghur group aAdded to Kazakh terror list] RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty</ref>

===Ties between designated terrorist organizations===
Hizb-ut-Tahrir is banned in [[Uzbekistan]], [[Tajikistan]], and [[Kyrgyzstan]]. The [[Kyrgyz government]] banned HuT after it declared a [[jihad]] against Kyrgyz police on 19 July 2006. Kyrgyz and Uzbek government officials say that there are ties between Hizb-ut-Tahrir, the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan, and the [[radical Islam]]ic group [[Akromiya]].<ref name=HT/><ref name=KYRGYZJIHAD>[http://www.rferl.org/featuresarticle/2006/07/26bd94f0-15f1-4b21-a24b-dfdd9750f5c5.html Central Asia: Tashkent And Bishkek Working To Combat 'Terrorism'] RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty</ref> Kazakh Prosecutor-General [[Rashid Tusupbekov]] asked the Astana City Court to ban HuT because of its terrorist activities on 16 March 2005. Press secretary Zhamkenuly said it is "very probable that Hizb ut-Tahrir has connections with the Taliban, Al-Qaeda, and other extremist groups. Therefore, under the Kazakh law banning extremism, we have every reason to outlaw Hizb ut-Tahrir's activities on Kazakh territory."<ref name="HT"/>

===Aum Shinrikyo and East Turkestan Liberation Organization===
{{Main|Aum Shinrikyo|East Turkestan Liberation Organization}}
Askar Amerkhanov, deputy chief of staff of Kazakhstan's counterterrorism center, asked the Prosecutor-General's Office and the Supreme Court to add [[Aum Shinrikyo]] and the [[East Turkestan Liberation Organization]] to the list of banned terrorist organizations on 15 September 2006. Amerkhanov said the [[National Security Committee of the Republic of Kazakhstan|National Security Committee]] (KNB) prevented an Aum Shinrikyo cell from forming in [[Kyzylorda]].<ref name=AMERKHANOV>[http://www.rferl.org/featuresarticle/2006/09/4CF542C7-5987-44DF-9DC0-9B545D21AFFC.html Kazakh security agency seeks ban on two 'terror' groups] RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty</ref>

The Supreme Court added both organizations to the list on 17 November 2006.<ref name=SHINRIKYO>[http://www.rferl.org/featuresarticle/2006/11/d927bd44-4aa2-40bf-827d-bf150d77be43.html Uyghur group Added to Kazakh terror list] RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty</ref>

===Al-Qaeda and the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan===
{{Main|Al-Qaeda|Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan}}
From 28 March-1 April 2004 two [[suicide bomb]]ers set off bombs in [[Tashkent]], Uzbekistan. The bombings killed 47 people, 33 of whom were militants and 14 who were bystanders and policemen.<ref name=IMUJAMAOT>[http://www.nationalreview.com/comment/apostolou200408020848.asp Tashkent Terrorists. The al Qaeda allies behind the attacks] National Review Online</ref> The Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan, an organization affiliated with Al-Qaeda, and Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility. [[Uzbek President]] [[Islam Karimov]] claimed the perpetrators were ex-members of Hizb-ut-Tahrir.<ref name=IMUIJ>[http://www.heritage.org/Press/Commentary/ed080504b.cfm Terror in Tashkent] The Heritage Foundation</ref>

The Uzbek security service's intelligence, according to ''[[Pravda]]'', proves the involvement of Jamaat of Central Asian Mujahedins members. Tashkent police found a mobile phone used by the terrorists at the site of one of the bombings. The police later found that the terrorists had called associates in Kazakhstan. Police from both nations agreed to work together in investigating the bombing.<ref name=PHONE>[http://newsfromrussia.com/accidents/2004/04/26/53630.html Tashkent blasts are blamed on Islamic radicals] Pravda</ref><ref name=MILITARY>[http://www.payvand.com/news/04/apr/1182.html Central Asia: Is Uzbekistan The Source Of Regional Extremism?] Payvand</ref>

According to Tanya Costello, an analyst for [[Eurasia Group]], the IMU has been nearly destroyed by the counter-terrorism efforts of the U.S., Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, and Kazakhstan.<ref name=FAVORITE>[http://www.rferl.org/featuresarticle/2006/09/23b8c124-00f0-4ee5-b694-bcfb2772a5e9.html Five Years After 9/11: Crackdowns Loom Behind Central Asia's War On Terror] RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty</ref>

While Al-Qaeda has never said it has a direct presence in Kazakhstan, journalists raised the issue in a press conference held in February 2004 following a meeting between U.S. Defense Secretary [[Donald Rumsfeld]] and Kazakh Defense Minister [[Mukhtar Altynbayev]]. The [[Government of Pakistan]] had recently arrested [[Abdallah Tohtasinovich Magrupov]], a suspected terrorist of Kazakh ethnicity, and his citizenship was unclear. Altynbayev expressed skepticism over the presence of Al-Qaeda members, saying the situation is "seriously controlled by the special services."<ref name="RUMPRAISE">[http://www.defenselink.mil/transcripts/2004/tr20040225-secdef0496.html Secretary Rumsfeld Joint Availability with the Kazakh Minister of Defense] U.S. Department of Defense</ref>

===Hamas===
{{main|Hamas}}
The [[Union of Muslims of Kazakhstan]] invited Hamas leaders to Kazakhstan in 2006.<ref name=RELTHRET>[http://www.jamestown.org/publications_details.php?volume_id=414&issue_id=3718&article_id=2371063 Kazakhstan exacerbates "religious threat" by maneuvering between Beijing and Washington] Jamestown Foundation</ref>

=== Hizb-ut-Tahrir ===
{{main|Hizb-ut-Tahrir}}
Hizb-ut-Tahrir first appeared in Kazakhstan in the south in the 1990s. Beibut Saparaly, a cleric at the Astana-based Kaganat religious education center, said in March 2005 that the "idea to [[Islamism|create a caliphate]] is supported by many youth. Some years ago, we heard that [[Hizb ut-Tahrir]] had support in [[Shymkent]] and in [[Pavlodar]]. But lately, particularly after Qurban-Ayt, we learned that [Hizb ut-Tahrir] leaflets had been distributed in all mosques in the southern capital of Almaty."<ref name=HT/> Kazakh police have arrested HuT members in southern Kazakhstan for several years, but the first arrests of members in northern Kazakhstan were in 2004.<ref name=MILITARY/> ''Novoye Pokoleniye'' has attributed the popularity of Hizb-ut-Tahrir to the social and economic conditions of the populace. One journalist wrote that [[illiteracy]], [[poverty]], and the "proximity of trouble spots allow various types of 'teachers' to act very freely there." Additionally, as "one head cell is cut off," it is "replaced by several new ones."<ref name=STATETERRORISM>[http://www.isop.ucla.edu/print.asp?parentid=4637 Kazakhstan Journalists Gather Information on War Against Terrorism] UCLA International Institute</ref> The Kazakh government found the first Hizb-ut-Tahrir [[Covert cell|cell]] in Kentai in 2000. The HuT presence in Kazakhstan then spread in the country, primarily in southern Kazakhstan.<ref name=KENTAI>[http://www.jamestown.org/edm/article.php?article_id=2369254 Terrorism and Nationalism: Twin threats to Kazakhstan] Eurasia Daily Monitor</ref> Rashid Tusupbekov, the Prosecutor General, asked the Supreme Court to add Hizb ut-Tahrir to the list of banned terrorist organizations on 17 March 2005, citing its ties to Al-Qaeda and the Taliban.<ref name=ASKTOBAN>[http://www.kazakhembus.com/031705.html Prosecutor General Requests Ban of Hizb-ut-Tahrir] Embassy of Kazakhstan to the USA and Canada</ref>

Police arrested Kuanysh Bekzhanov, a 20-year-old student of law at the Humanitarian Institute, in November 2003 at Ordabasy square for distributing Hizb ut-Tahrir pamphlets. Upon a further search police uncovered 200 Hizb ut-Tahrir leaflets. Judge Adis Kerimshiyev of the Shymkent municipal court found Bekzhanov guilty on 4 August of violating part 2 of Article 164 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan, "agitation of social, ethnic, clan, racial, or religious animosity," and Article 337, "creation or participation in the activities of illegal public associations." The court sentenced him to two years in prison.<ref>[http://www.kazakhemb.org.il/160804-eng.html Hizb-ut-Tahrir Member Sentenced 2 Years in South Kazakhstan] Embassy of the Republic of Kazakhstan in the State of Israel</ref>

Bombings in Uzbekistan in the spring and summer of 2004 killed more than 50 people. The Uzbek government attributed the bombings to HuT terrorists. Suspects said they were trained at a terrorist camp in Kazakhstan. The Kazakh government denied the allegation, but said the defendants had at one point lived in the Shymkent Oblast, which they reached by illegally crossing the border.<ref name=HT/>

On 5 February 2005 police in [[Kentai]], Kazakhstan found Hizb-ut-Tahrir books and leaflets in the attic of a resident's home. The books were written in [[Uzbek language|Uzbek]], [[Russian language|Russian]], and [[Kazakh language|Kazakh]]. Police charged the resident with distributing extremist literature and encouraging religious strife. According to Marat Yermukanov of ''[[Eurasia Daily Monitor]]'', "reports say" the resident "bought these publications at the market... to distribute the teachings of Hizb-ut-Tahrir" in Kentai. Kentai is "fertile ground" for Hizb-ut-Tahrir because of the poor economy and the government's "indifference to their woes." Yermukanov said that most police raids targeted HuT cells.<ref name=KENTAI/>

Three days later, on 8 February, Almaty police shut down an HuT printing facility, taking 12,400 leaflets and 53 booklets from an apartment building.<ref name=KENTAI/>

Hibratulla Doskaliyev, head of the South Kazakhstan Region interior department, criticized the government's handling of Hizb ut-Tahrir's growing popularity in August 2006. Doskaliyev said, "This is a very serious issue and only 14 [officers] are dealing with it. This is totally insufficient." The department subsequently increased personnel monitoring Hizb ut-Tahrir activity.<ref name=DOSKALIYEV>[http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?index=45&did=1091615391&SrchMode=1&sid=2&Fmt=3&VInst=PROD&VType=PQD&RQT=309&VName=PQD&TS=1172828425&clientId=8702&cfc=1 (Corr) Kazakh police boost planned over growing Hezb-e Tahrir influence in south] BBC News</ref>

Beksultan Sarsenov, first deputy head of the CIS Anti-Terrorist Center, said Hizb-ut-Tahrir and [[Uyghur people|Uyghur]] nationalists were the greatest threats to Kazakhstan's security. Sarsenov said that a "small group" of religious bigots and nationalists "think the country is only for Kazakhs" and "nationalist Russians who are convinced that they have the right to certain part of Kazakhstan's territory" threaten Kazakhstan.<ref name=KENTAI/>

In December 2005 the KNB extradited Rustam Chagilov, a suspected terrorist, to Russia. KNB officials detained an ethnic Uzbek and alleged member of HuT in Taraz, South Kazakhstan in April 2006. The KNB accused him of organizing an HuT cell Qoqon, Uzbekistan and extradited him to Uzbekistan.<ref name=RELTHRET/>

Kenzhenbulat Beknazarov, spokesman for the KNB announced on 22 December 2006 in [[Astana]] that an HuT cell-network active in multiple towns had been shut down. Beknazarov said, "Computers, more than 25,000 pamphlets, some 70 copies of religious extremist books and advanced printing equipment were confiscated during our searches." Routes used to smuggle in extremist literature and foreign funding were also shut down.<ref name=BEKNAZAROV>[http://www.interfax-religion.com/?act=news&div=2412 Hizb ut-Tahrir network dismantled in Kazakhstan] Interfax-Religion</ref>

===Jamaat of Central Asian Mujahedins===
In 2004 National Security Committee (KNB) officials claimed they had shut down the Jamaat of Central Asian Mujahedins.<ref name=JCAM>
{{cite news
| url=http://www.rferl.org/featuresarticle/2004/11/f85202a7-d2ce-4c73-b3be-c280401be768.html 
| title=Analysis: Kazakh Breakthrough On Uzbek Terror Case
| publisher=[[Radio Free Europe]]
| date=2004-11-15
| author=Daniel Kimmage
| archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/query?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.rferl.org%2Ffeaturesarticle%2F2004%2F11%2Ff85202a7-d2ce-4c73-b3be-c280401be768.html&date=2009-11-28
| archivedate=2009-11-28
}}</ref>
However, in 2006, they again claimed to have foiled a terrorist plot orchestrated by JCAM members.<ref name=MINENKOV>[http://www.isn.ethz.ch/news/sw/details.cfm?ID=15574 Terror network claims unsettle Kazakh activists] ISN Security Watch</ref>

====2004====
Vladimir Bozhko, first deputy chairman of Kazakhstan's National Security Committee (KNB), announced in a press conference on 11 November 2004 that the KNB had dismantled the Jamaat of Central Asian Mujahedins, arresting nine citizens of Kazakhstan and four of Uzbekistan. Police confiscated weapons, forged documents, a videotape of a speech given by [[Osama Bin Laden]], and what ''Radio Free Europe'' called "extremist [[propaganda]]." Four women, trained as [[suicide bomber]]s, were detained. The government discovered that JCAM recruited 50 citizens of Uzbekistan and 20 of Kazakhstan since mid-2002. JCAM is, like the IMU, affiliated with [[Al Qaeda]].<ref name=JCAM/>

Zhakshybek Biimurzaev, headed JCAM's operations in Kazakhstan while Ahmad Bekmirzaev, headed operations in Uzbekistan. Both served in the IMU. Biimurzaev has been arrested by Uzbek police and the National Security Service of [[Kyrgyzstan]]. Uzbek police killed Bekmirzaev in a shoot-out near [[Tashkent]] on 30 March. Biimurzaev is reported as having said, "This year there were three terror attacks in Tashkent in July. I organized them on the instruction of my amir Usman. Three Kazakh citizens took part in them. I was opposed to this, but the amir ordered it." Usman later ordered Biimurzaev to assassinate what ''Radio Free Europe'' referred to as a "high-ranking Uzbek official."<ref name=JCAM/>

Uzbek officials said Avaz Shoyusupov, a Kazakh citizen, is one of the suicide bombers who died in the 30 July attacks. Bekmirzaev's wife, Makhira Ibragimova, and Isa Eruov, Kazakh citizens, killed themselves in suicide bombing attacks in Uzbekistan in spring 2004. Police caught Aidos Usmonov, an Uzbek citizen and an aide of Biimurzaev, in Pavlodar, Kazakhstan. Usmonov had recently returned from [[Russia]], where he allegedly recruited for JCAM. The Kazakh government extradited Uzbek terrorist suspects arrested in Kazakhstan to Uzbekistan.<ref name=JCAM/>

''[[Deutsche Welle]]'' and the Uzbek government reported that 15 suspects charged in relation to the Tashkent bombings were trained in terrorist camps in [[South Waziristan]], [[Pakistan]] and in "private apartments" in [[Shymkent]], and other cities, in Kazakhstan. Deputy Chairman Bozhko disagreed, saying "there were no camps and bases for training terrorists on the territory of our country."<ref name=JCAM/>

====2006====
President Nazarbayev on 18 April 2006 said the KNB needed to do more to protect the nation's security. Sergei Minenkov, National Security Committee member in charge of counter-terrorism, announced the day after that a KNB-Interior Ministry operation had prevented a major terrorist attack with assistance from the security services of an unnamed foreign nation and again shut down JCAM, calling it a "criminal gang set up for terrorist activities." Some interpreted Minenkov's statements as a response to Nazarbayev's criticism.<ref name=RELTHRET/><ref name=MINENKOV/>

Minenkov said the plot involved bombing the offices of security officials, government buildings, and public safety facilities. The ten suspects, who allegedly acted on instructions from a foreign nation, were charged with 'instigating religious strife' and illegal possession of firearms.<ref name=RELTHRET/>

When the operation took place, JCAM members were, according to ''ISN Security Watch'', "monitoring Kyrgyz political activities." 10 JCAM members in [[Almaty]] were arrested and police confiscated weapons and extremist books and tapes. The suspects were recruiting Kazakh citizens and establishing terror bases when they were arrested.<ref name=MINENKOV/>

Minenkov said, "Foreign ideologists of terrorism recommended attacking public places and strategically important infrastructure facilities" in letters found by police. Seized documents included instructions on explosive construction and maps of targets. Serikbai Alibayev of [[For a Just Kazakhstan]] opposition coalition said, "The National Security Committee's accusation against the opposition—that it could have joined the terrorist group—is nothing less than blame based on nothing. According to our laws and [[Constitution of Kazakhstan|the constitution]], law-enforcement agencies immediately should open a case against the National Security Committee and start an investigation. They should be brought to court for saying that—they are violating our constitution." Zauresh Battalova, also of For a Just Kazakhstan, said, "The National Security Committee is a tool in the hands of the authorities. Today, the National Security Committee is following the authorities' order to discredit those who really care about people in order to stop them. It's the National Security Committee that should be brought to justice. They have to answer for their activities, the activities of the special Arystan unit, and the deaths of [[Altynbek Sarsenbaev|Altynbek]] and [[Zamanbek Nurkadilov|Zamanbek]]. Problems cannot be solved by Dutbayev's resignation alone."<ref name=MINENKOV />

The KNB discovered and disrupted a terror cell in [[Stepnogorsk]] on 16 November. They arrested eleven Islamic terrorists, who were planning on carrying out attacks to create an Islamist republic in Central Asia. One of the terrorists shot at police officers as they broke up the cell.<ref name=STEPNOGORSK>[http://www.playfuls.com/news_10_3416-Eleven-Terrorist-Suspects-Arrested-In-Kazakhstan.html Eleven Terrorist Suspects Arrested In Kazakhstan] Playfuls Business and World</ref> On 27 December the KNB broke up the "Stepnogorsk zhamaat terrorist group," confiscating weapons and literature inciting terrorism. Members of the organization were planning on robbing businesses to fund assassinations of civil servants.<ref name=ZHAMAAT>[http://www.rferl.org/featuresarticle/2006/12/A9F092D6-602A-4E0C-8D21-77025F6005FF.html Kazakhs reportedly break up terrorist group] RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty</ref>

In January 2006 convicted JMCA terrorists were sentenced to prison terms ranging from eight to twenty-five years in prison.<ref name=RELTHRET />

====2011====
In July 2011, nine people suspected of involvement in the killing of two policeman in the northwestern [[Aktobe Province]] were killed in a firefight with policemen. A Kazakh special forces member was also killed.

The region has seen a rise in militant Islamic activity, although there are also grievances involving the police and economic issues.

The incident came a few weeks after the first suicide bombing in Kazakhstan in [[Aktobe]]. Rahimjan Makhatov [[2011 Aktobe bombing|blew himself up on May 17 inside the Aktobe offices of the National Security Committee]], killing himself and injuring two others. Kazakh authorities said this was related to criminal activities rather than Islamic militancy.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.turkishweekly.net/print.asp?type=1&id=119001|publisher=Journal of Turkish Weekly|title=Kazak Police Eliminate "Islamic" Cop-Killers|accessdate=18 July 2011}}</ref>

On November 2011, 4 police officers and a security guard and an other civilian were killed in a suicide bomber not the city of Taraz. The security guard was killed in an attack on an armory where two guns were stolen, then militant killed two police officers with these weapons and then blew it when he was arrested killing another police officer.<ref>http://www.romandie.com/news/n/_Attaque_et_attentat_suicide_dans_une_ville_kazakhe_quatre_morts121120111211.asp</ref><ref>http://www.20minutes.fr/ledirect/822024/kazakhstan-islamiste-tue-7-personnes-fusillade</ref>

===Tablighi Jamaat===
[[Tablighi Jamaat]], an Islamic missionary organization that is banned in Uzbekistan and has alleged ties to Al-Qaeda, is not considered a terrorist organization by the Government of Kazakhstan, but some members have been fined and deported for violating Kazakhstan's laws on missionary activity. Askar Amerkhanov, head of the National Security Committee Secret Police's Anti-terrorism Center, said, "It is true that at first we did have suspicions that Tabligh was an extremist organisation. But having studied its teachings we have concluded that it is simply an Islamic missionary organisation. Tabligh's problem is that its supporters are preaching without having registered with the authorities." Kairat Tulesov, deputy head of the Justice Ministry's Religious Affairs Committee, said, "Tabligh supporters simply have to observe Kazakh law and then they can pursue their activities without hindrance."<ref name=TABLIGH>[http://www.muslimnews.co.uk/news/news.php?article=12029 Kazakhstan: Punished for preaching in mosques] Muslim News</ref>

==Russian separatism==
In November 1999 the KNB arrested 22 people, 12 of whom were Russian citizens, in [[Öskemen]] for planning to overthrow the government and seized rifle catridges and [[petrol bomb]]s. On 8 June 2000 the Öskemen court sentenced 13 people, 11 Russians and 2 Kazakhs, convicted of planning to overthrow the local government and of illegal possession of weapons. The court sentenced the leader of the group, Vladimir Kazimirchuk, to 18-years imprisonment. Kazimirchuk allegedly planned to create an independent nation for ethnic Russians in eastern Kazakhstan.<ref name=RSEP>[http://www.atimes.com/c-asia/BF16Ag01.html Russian 'separatists' highlight ethnic tensions] Online Asia Times</ref>

Alexander Shushannikov, a member of Ust-Kamenogorsk municipal council, criticized the sentencing, saying the men were not sentenced for "concrete actions. Their guilt was just their intentions." He called it a "show trial."<ref name=RSEP/>

==Almaty airplane bomb==
An airport worker discovered a bomb in a plant in the baggage compartment of a [[Boeing 737]] that flew from [[Moscow]], [[Russia]] to [[Almaty]], Kazakhstan while unloading baggage on 12 May 2005. The bomb, which at the time of discovery ticked and had wires. Security officials destroyed the package without incident.<ref name=AEROBOMB>[http://www.tkb.org/Incident.jsp?incID=24281 Unknown group attacked airports and airlines target (May 12, 2005, Kazakhstan)] MIPT Terror Knowledge Base</ref>{{Unreliable source?|date=December 2011}}

==Arqanqergen mass murder==
{{Main|Arqanqergen mass murder}}

==State terrorism==
The [[Committee to Protect Journalists]] has documented three cases in which the Kazakh government has used harassment and intimidation to silence journalists.<ref name=CPJDOC>[http://www.cpj.org/cases04/europe_cases04/kazak.html Committee to Protect Journalists]</ref> In 2000 ''XXI Vek'' and ''SolDat'', newspapers affiliated with the [[Republican People's Party of Kazakhstan]], were shut down. The Kazakh government arrested Yermurat Bapi, editor of ''Soldat'', charged him with insulting the president.<ref name=CPJREPORT>[http://www.cpj.org/attacks00/europe00/Kazakhstan.html Europe and Central Asian 2000] Committee to Protect Journalists</ref>

Political opposition leader [[Zamanbek Nurkadilov]] died on 17 November 2005, a month before presidential elections. Nurkadilov's friend and political ally [[Altynbek Sarsenbayev]] died on 13 February 2006.<ref name=SARSENDEATH>[http://www.eurasianet.org/departments/insight/articles/eav090506.shtml Kazakstani assassination trial concludes with guilty verdicts, questions continue] Eurasia Insight</ref>  While opposition believes that Zamanbek Nurkadilov was murdered by KNB agents, the police proclaimed it as suicide. There were no official proofs provided, neither of the suicide theory nor of the assassination theory.

==Global Initiative to Combat Nuclear Terrorism==
Representatives from Australia, Britain, Canada, China, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Russia, Turkey, and the United States met in [[Rabat]], [[Morocco]] on 30–31 October 2006 to discuss the protection of nuclear materials and the prevention of theft by terrorists. One of the first steps of the [[Global Initiative to Combat Nuclear Terrorism]] is to issue a statement of principles. Kazakhstan gave up its nuclear weapons after the [[fall of the Soviet Union]] under the [[Nunn-Lugar Cooperative Threat Reduction]] program. An anonymous U.S. official said the goal of the initiative is for participating states to "build capacities to prevent the acquisition of sensitive materials by terrorist groups."<ref name=NUCLEAR>[http://www.tiscali.co.uk/news/newswire.php/news/reuters/2006/10/28/world/twelve-states-to-launch-new-anti-terror-initiative.html Twelve states to launch new anti-terror initiative] Tiscali</ref>

==Literature==
The following extremist literature advocating terrorism has been confiscated in Kazakhstan:
*''An Open Letter to French President [[Jacques Chirac]]''<ref name=TERRORLITERATURE>[http://www.silkroadstudies.org/new/docs/CEF/Quarterly/May_2006/Yermukanov.pdf Will Kazakh Authorities Avoid Extremist Pitfalls?] Central-Asia Caucasus Institute, Silk Road Studies Program</ref>
*''Evil Schemes of America''<ref name=TERRORLITERATURE/>
*''Who is responsible for Tashkent blasts?''<ref name=TERRORLITERATURE/>

==Cooperation with China==
{{Main|Terrorism in China}}
Kazakhstan has consistently extradited Uyghur terrorist suspects to China<ref name="RELTHRET"/> and in 2006 participated in a large-scale, joint counter-terrorism drill.<ref name=PIPELINE>[http://uyghuramerican.org/articles/468/1/Kazakstan-Joins-China-on-Counter-Terror-Exercise/Kazakstan-Joins-China-on-Counter-Terror-Exercise.html Kazakstan Joins China on Counter-Terror Exercise] Uyghur American Association</ref>

===Chinese delegation visit===
[[President of the People's Republic of China|Chinese President]] [[Hu Jintao]] led a 150-person delegation to Kazakhstan on 2 July 2005 after visiting [[Moscow]], Russia for four days. The Chinese Government issued a press release saying the Chinese-Kazakh energy and security "relationship deepens constantly." Upon arriving Hu met with President Nazarbayev in an official ceremony. They discussed anti-terrorism, energy, and transportation.<ref name=HU>[http://www.spacewar.com/news/terrorwar-05zh.html China's Hu Arrives In Kazakhstan To Talk Terrorism] Space War</ref>

===Tian-Shan-1 2006===
The governments of [[Government of the People's Republic of China|China]] and Kazakhstan held an anti-terror drill, known as the "Tian-Shan-1-2006" drill, from 24–26 August 2006, starting in [[Almaty]], Kazakhstan and ending in [[Xinjiang]], China through the [[Shanghai Cooperation Organisation]]. The drill is the first time China and Kazakhstan have held anti-terrorism maneuvers.<ref name=THREATS/> The Collective Security Treaty Organization held exercises in the [[Caspian sea]] simultaneously.<ref name=PIPELINE/>

The simulation lasted for three days and involved Kazakh forces from border patrol, the Interior Ministry, and the Emergency Situations Ministry, and Chinese law enforcement forces and security services. 700 police officials used armed helicopters and anti-riot vehicles to force the 'enemy' into a narrow valley along the border of Kazakhstan and Xinjiang, China after rescuing 'hostages'.<ref name=HOSTAGEZ>[http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=viewArticle&code=20060825&articleId=3067 China and Kazakhstan hold war games] Global Research Center for Research on Globalization</ref><ref name=DRILL>[http://www.boston.com/news/world/asia/articles/2006/08/26/china_kazakhstan_hold_anti_terrorism_drill China, Kazakhstan hold anti-terrorism drill] The Boston Globe</ref> About 100 observers from other SCO nation-members attended the exercises.<ref name=EVIL>[http://uyghuramerican.org/articles/470/1/Anti-terror-drill-targets-3-evil-forces/Anti-terror-drill-targets-3-evil-forces.html Anti-terror drill targets '3 evil forces'] Uygur American Association</ref> The first day of exercises began in Almaty and ended in [[Yining City|Yining]], a city in [[Ili Kazakh Autonomous Prefecture]]. When officials of ''[[Radio Free Europe]]'' contacted the Foreign and Defense Ministries of both nations, inquiring about the exercises, Islam Dosmailuly, a spokesman for Kazakhstan's National Security Committee, told them he did not "know if [the exercises] will [take place] or not. I'm waiting for information. If [the information] gets here, we'll certainly comment on it. But, for now, I have no information." ''[[Xinhua]]'' reported that the policemen practiced freeing hostages.<ref name=THREATS/>

Some analysts said the simulation practiced securing the [[Atasu-Alashankou pipeline]], which sends petroleum from Kazakhstan to refineries in Xinjiang. Kazakhstan sends about 3.5 million tons through the pipeline annually and wants to increase output to 20 million tons.<ref name=PIPELINE/>

Konstantin Syroyezhkin, a senior analyst at Kazakhstan's Strategic Studies and Research Institute, said "there are many common threats and these are [well-known] already. There is [[drug trafficking]], [[Illegal immigration|[illegal] immigration]], and [[religious extremism]] and political extremism. There are a number of threats. And these are counter-terrorism exercises, [against] international terrorism. Why should they not hold them? Look, there's a mess in Afghanistan; there must be some mutual cooperation in that matter. And anyway, it is not the first time they have held such exercises. Last year, or before last year, it was organized as a planned maneuver, there is nothing suspicious about that." Kazakhstan has held joint counter-terrorism exercises with NATO under the [[Partnership for Peace]] program and the [[Collective Security Treaty Organization]].<ref name=THREATS/> Meng Hongwei, Chinese Vice-Minister of Public Security and commander of the Chinese troops for the drill, warned that the "three evil forces" of [[terrorism]], [[separatism]] and [[extremism]] and increasing cross-border drug trafficking were affecting the region. Vice-Minister Hongwei said, "the exercise will help establish the SCO's active role in maintaining regional security and stability." SCO nation-members plan to hold another series of anti-terrorism exercises in Russia in 2007. Vladimir Boshko, first vice-chairman of the Committee of the National Security of Kazakhstan, said the drill would improve anti-terror cooperation among SCO nation-members.<ref name=EVIL/>

==Cooperation with India==
{{main|2001 Indian Parliament attack}}
The Kazakh government condemned the 13 December 2001 [[2001 Indian Parliament attack|attack on the Indian Parliament]] saying terrorism is unjustifiable. President Nazarbayev and [[Indian Prime Minister]] [[Atal Bihari Vajpayee]] reaffirmed this message by issuing a joint declaration on 12 February 2002, when Nazarbayev visited India for a state visit, stating that "terrorism [can] not be justified in any form, for any cause or for any reason used as an excuse... the fight against terrorism has to be global, comprehensive and sustained for the objective of total elimination of terrorism everywhere." They agreed to establish a bilateral joint working group on counter-terrorism and expressed support for the [[Hamid Karzai|Karzai administration]] and an end to terrorism in [[Afghanistan]]. During Nazarbayev's five-day visit, the first since 1996, he met with [[President of India|President]] [[K. R. Narayanan]], [[Vice-President of India|Vice President]] [[Krishan Kant]] and opposition leader [[Sonia Gandhi]].<ref name=INDIA>[http://www.subcontinent.com/sapra/research/centralasia/articles/ca_article_20020224a_html.html India and Kazakhstan: Significant Changes] SAPRA Indian Foundation</ref>

==Cooperation with international bodies==

===CICA Declaration on Eliminating Terrorism===
Officials from member state of the [[Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia]] met in the first CICA conference in Almaty in June 2002. On 4 June they issued a "Declaration on Eliminating Terrorism and Promoting Dialogue among Civilizations." The Declaration condemns all acts of terrorism as "direct violations of [[human rights]]" and recognizes that "all religions of the world reject violence and terrorism." It also expresses support for [[UN Security Council Resolution 1373]].<ref name=CICA>[http://www.homestead.com/prosites-kazakhembus/CICA_Declaration.html CICA Declaration on Eliminating Terrorism and Promoting Dialogue among Civilizations] Embassy of Kazakhstan to the USA and Canada</ref>

===Combating money laundering and terrorism financing workshop===
The Kazakh government participated in a workshop on fighting [[money laundering]] and the financing of [[terrorism]], along with officials, including legislators and police officers, from the Global Program against Money Laundering of the United Nations Office for Drug Control and Crime Prevention, the [[Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe]], [[Kyrgyzstan]], [[Austria]], [[Canada]], [[Croatia]], and the [[International Monetary Fund]] in 2002 from 30 September – 1 October in [[Bishkek]], Kyrgyzstan and 2 October and 3 October in [[Astana]], Kazakhstan. The workshop fulfilled part of an "Action Plan" agreed upon in December 2001 in a conference in Bishkek on security in Central Asia.<ref name=WORKSHOP>[http://www.unodc.org/unodc/press_release_2002-10-04_1.html Workshops in Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan Discuss Measures Against Money Laundering and Financing of Terrorism] United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime</ref>

In Astana the Deputy Chairman of the Committee on National Security of Kazakhstan advocated passing a law prohibiting money laundering in Kazakhstan per the United Nations' goal of banning money laundering in every country by 2003. Participants gave recommendations to Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan on changing legislation and bureaucracy to better fight illegal financing practices.<ref name=WORKSHOP/>

===International Conference on Peace and Harmony===
[[Christianity|Christian]], [[Judaism|Jewish]], and [[Islam|Muslim]] leaders met with the President Nazarbayev, [[Kyrgyz President]] [[Kurmanbek Bakiyev]], and [[Tajik President]] [[Emomali Rahmonov]], and senior government officials from [[Azerbaijan]], Afghanistan and [[Turkey]], in Almaty on 13 February 2003 for the International Conference on Peace and Harmony. President Bush said in a 12 February letter to Nazarbayev, "The United States strongly supports the Conference's objective of fostering peace and stability through dialogue among people of different nationalities and faiths. All peace-loving people share a deep interest in advancing religious liberty and tolerance, stemming hatred, and eliminating the threat of terrorism."<ref name=ICPH>[http://www.homestead.com/prosites-kazakhembus/021303.html Peace and Harmony Conference Establishes Permanent Forum for Peace and Stability] Embassy of Kazakhstan to the USA and Canada</ref>

Over 70 Jewish leaders participated, including [[Malcolm Hoenlein]], Executive Vice Chairman, and [[Mortimer Zuckerman]], Chairman, of the Conference of Presidents of Major Jewish Organizations. Zuckerman expressed "gratitude to all present for your fight against all forms of terrorism and extremism."<ref name=ICPH/>

[[United States Senator]]s [[Sam Brownback]], [[Orrin Hatch]], [[Mary Landrieu]], and representatives [[Robert Wexler]], [[Gary Ackerman]], [[Henry Waxman]], [[Joseph Pitts]] and others, signed separate letters of support for the conference, calling it "critical to worldwide efforts to counter extremism."  It sent "a strong signal that the present and future course of the [[Muslim world]] will not be controlled by those that would propagate hate, fear and murder, such as Al Qaeda, but by those nations and people who respect and promote peace, tolerance and [[democracy]]." Participants in the conference established a permanent "Forum for Peace and Stability," with headquarters in Kazakhstan. Nazarbayev said the Forum laid the "foundation for creating a mechanism for permanent dialogue in the name of stability, security and peace in the 21st century. New realities require new approaches to thinking of new principles of solving the problems." President Rakhmonov said, "The basis for the dialogue of civilizations lies in the unity of values preached by all religions. We must not allow attempts to pit civilizations against each other to succeed."<ref name=ICPH/>

===United Nations Terrorism Committee conference in Almaty===
Officials from the [[United Nations Security Council]]'s [[Counter-Terrorism Committee]] met in Almaty from 26–28 January 2005. The officials discussed terrorism, [[terrorism financing]], money laundering, arms trafficking, illicit fund transfers, and fake charities in [[Central Eurasia]]. [[Andrei Denisov]], the [[Russia]]n ambassador to the United Nations, chaired the conference. On 26 January he said, "the reality is that the threat of terrorism cannot be eradicated completely in the near future. It will continue to reproduce itself one way or the other. But nations can and should make every effort to limit the opportunities for this threat to realize itself, and this is what we are doing, and this is what we are going to discuss during our conference." He also said "terrorism has deep roots in Central Asia." President Nazarbayev 's said in his opening statement, "Kazakhstan's national security is closely linked to the security of the Central Asian region. And security in Central Asia should be considered an integral component of security in [Eurasia]. The Central Asian region should be part of a Eurasian security system that is part of a global security system."<ref name=UNTC>[http://www.rferl.org/featuresarticle/2005/01/3d2e23b4-b7df-4374-b705-d0acd1536940.html Kazakhstan: UN Terrorism Committee Meets In Almaty Amid Warnings Over Human Rights] RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty</ref>

Boris Mylnikov, head of the CIS Antiterrorism Center, announced a list of terrorist organizations recognized by the CSTO and SCO. [[Human Rights Watch]] released an open letter to the CTC, calling on CTC nations to recognize the importance of respecting [[human rights]] while fighting terrorism. Rachel Denber, acting HRW director for Europe and Central Asia, expressed concerns about [[Human rights in Kazakhstan]]. HRW opposes the Kazakh government's extradition of Muslims to China because they may be [[Capital punishment|sentenced to death]].<ref name=UNTC/>

==Cooperation with Russia==
[[Yury Baluyevsky]], First Deputy Defense Minister and Chief of the Russian [[General Staff]], gave a speech to the chiefs of general staffs of Azerbaijan, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Ukraine in February 2006 prior to the fifteenth anniversary of the creation of the Commonwealth of Independent States. He called on them to cooperate in fighting against "terrorism, cross-border crime and the drug mafia." The governments of Georgia, Moldova and Turkmenistan chose to not send representatives to the meeting.<ref name=BALUYEVSKY>[http://en.rian.ru/russia/20061102/55324962.html Russian general for joint CIS fight against terror, crime, drugs] RIA Novosti</ref>

At the same time Kazakhstan has extradited terrorist suspects to Russia. FSB and KNB agents caught Vakha Izmailov, suspected of involvement in the [[Beslan school attack]] and of other attacks in [[Ingushetia]], in a joint operation in Kazakhstan. The Kazakh KNB then transferred him to the Russian FSB.{{Citation needed|date=March 2008}}

==Cooperation with Singapore==
Oral Mukhamedzhanov, Speaker of Kazakhstan's Lower House of Parliament, met with [[President of Singapore|Singaporean President]] [[Sellapan Ramanathan]] on 31 October 2006. They discussed international terrorism and increasing cooperation between the two nations in counter-terrorism. Speaker Mukhamedzhanov visited [[Singapore]] after Singaporean Parliament Speaker Abdullah Tarmugi invited him.<ref name=SINGAPORE>[http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/238624/1/.html Kazakhstan Speaker, President Nathan exchange views on terrorism] Channel News Asia</ref>

==Cooperation with the United Arab Emirates==
Askar Musinov, Kazakhstan's ambassador to the [[United Arab Emirates]], met with Sayf Bin-Zayid al Nuhayyan, the Interior Minister of the UAE, on 29 November 2006. They discussed cooperation in fighting [[organized crime]], drug trafficking, extradition of suspects, and terrorism.<ref name=UAE>[http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?index=5&did=1172889071&SrchMode=1&sid=2&Fmt=3&VInst=PROD&VType=PQD&RQT=309&VName=PQD&TS=1172828000&clientId=8702 Kazakh envoy, UAE minister note need to fight terrorism, drugs] BBC News</ref>

==Cooperation with the United States==
{{main|Kazakhstan-United States relations}}
Cooperation with the United States in regional counter-terrorism and the U.S.-led War in Iraq elicited praise from Secretary of Defense [[Donald Rumsfeld]],<ref name="RUMPRAISE"/> Senator [[Conrad Burns]], Congressman [[Dennis Rehberg]], and other U.S. government officials.<ref name=REHBURG>[http://www.america.gov/st/washfile-english/2004/May/200405271603561CJsamohT0.8300745.html U.S. legislators thank Kazakhstan for help in terror, war, Iraq] United States State Department</ref>

===Response to the September 11, 2001 attacks===
{{main|September 11, 2001 attacks}}
After the [[September 11, 2001 attacks]], [[List of Presidents of Kazakhstan|Kazakh President]] [[Nursultan Nazarbayev]] sent a message to [[United States President]] [[George W. Bush]] expressing "indignation about terrorist acts that resulted in loss of numerous lives." The "civilized community must unite and take effective measures to fight international terrorism. All the Kazakhstan people sympathize with the American people in their grief and mourn aver the tragedy."<ref name=NATOSPEECH>[http://www.nato.int/docu/speech/2001/s011219g.htm Statement by Colonel General M.K. Altynbayev, Minister of Defense of the Republic of Kazakhstan, at the Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council in Defence Ministers session] North Atlantic Treaty Organization</ref>

[[Central Intelligence Agency]] officials met with Kazakhstan Security Council officials "to take all the necessary measures to protect U.S. citizens staying in Kazakhstan" in September 2001 following the attacks. KNB Chairman [[Marat Tazhin]] pledged the government would "[adopt] tougher measures to deport illegal migrants [in] Kazakhstan."<ref>''[https://books.google.com/books?vid=ISBN1574885502&id=NEp9FjHckLYC&pg=PA272&lpg=PA272&ots=RdiQeQs4rU&dq=Nursultan+Nazarbayev&sig=eQk9DopuBpomivID_WaYNos_A_M#PPA272,M1 Brassey's International Intelligence Yearbook: 2003 Edition]''</ref>

According to the [[Center for Defense Information]], the Kazakh government has been "extremely supportive [of] the U.S.-led war against terrorism." The government offered the use of a major airport for [[Operation Enduring Freedom]]. Over 800 U.S. flights over Kazakh territory were approved and went ahead. CDI's profile of Kazakhstan credits security forces for "step[ing] up efforts to protect U.S. government facilities and oil facilities with U.S. private investment" and pledging to "freeze the assets of terrorists identified on the U.S. designated terrorist asset-freeze list." The U.S. officially gave the Kazakh government USD $52,893,000 million in 2002, $47 million in 2003, and $36.2 million in 2004.<ref name=CDI>[http://www.cdi.org/program/document.cfm?DocumentID=1913&StartRow=1&ListRows=10&appendURL=&Orderby=D.DateLastUpdated&ProgramID=39&from_page=index.cfm Kazakhstan, U.S. Military Assistance Prior to September 11, 2001] Center for Defense Information</ref> In addition, U.S. Government agencies spent $92 million in assistance programs in Kazakhstan in 2003.<ref name=ASSIST>[http://www.state.gov/p/eur/rls/fs/29487.htm U.S. Assistance to Kazakhstan - Fiscal Year 2003] U.S. Department of State</ref>

Three Kazakh citizens, [[Yaqub Abahanov]], [[Abdulrahim Kerimbakiev]], and [[Abdallah Tohtasinovich Magrupov]], all born in Semey, Kazakhstan, are held in [[extrajudicial]] detention in the United States' [[Guantanamo Bay detainment camp]], in [[Cuba]] for alleged ties to the Taliban. Additionally, Uzbek citizen and Guantánamo prisoner [[Ilkham Turdbyavich Batayev]]'s birthplace is Abaye, Kazakhstan.<ref name=GBNB>[http://www.defenselink.mil/news/May2006/d20060515%20List.pdf List of Individuals Detained by the Department of Defense at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba from January 2002 through May 15, 2006] U.S. Department of Defense</ref>

In a speech given on 19 December 2001 at the [[Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council]] during the Defence Ministers session, [[Mukhtar Altynbayev]], the Kazakh [[Minister of Defense]] and General of the [[Military of Kazakhstan|Kazakh Army]], said the attacks "demonstrated that international terrorism has no borders and represents a threat to all the world community." He reaffirmed Kazakhstan's will to fight terrorism and the need to "punish" terrorists and their sponsors. Addressing the possibility, raised by [[North Atlantic Treaty Organization]] experts," of using Kazakh airfields for counterterrorist operations, he said there were "other practical issues under consideration," but that Kazakhstan would commit to providing humanitarian assistance to [[Demographics of Afghanistan|Afghans]].<ref name=NATOSPEECH/>

===United States air bases===
In 2002 a [[China|Chinese]] diplomat accused the [[United States Government]] of trying to secure a defunct [[air base]], originally used by the [[Soviet Union]] specifically for theoretical military operations against China, near [[Semey]] in eastern Kazakhstan. A high-ranking Kazakh Defense Ministry official said the U.S. Government, as part of its anti-terrorism operations in [[Central Asia]], had requested the use of military bases in [[Taraz]] and [[Taldykorgan]]. Ibragim Alibekov, a journalist for ''[[Radio Free Europe]]'', characterized [[List of Presidents of Kazakhstan|President]] [[Nursultan Nazarbayev]]'s support for the "anti-terrorism campaign" as cautious and "hesitant on the implementation of concrete cooperation measures."<ref name=BASE>[http://www.eurasianet.org/departments/insight/articles/eav021902a.shtml Kazakhstan Under Pressure To Choose One Strategic Partner] EurasiaNet</ref> However, the [[National Coalition Supporting Soviet Jewry]] applauds Kazakhstan for playing "a vital role in U.S.-led efforts to combat international terrorism."<ref name=NCSJ>[http://www.ncsj.org/Kazakhstan.shtml Kazakhstan Country Page] National Conference on Soviet Jewry</ref> President Bush called Kazakhstan a "strategic partner of the United States in Central Asia" and said the United States wanted to expand anti-terrorism cooperation.<ref name=PRAISE>[http://jamestown.org/edm/article.php?article_id=2370115 U.S. Reviewing Options in Central Asia] Eurasia Daily Monitor</ref>

Alleged U.S. attempts to acquire bases were criticized by [[Russian Defense Minister]] [[Sergei Ivanov]], who said such actions were unjustifiable, and Russian [[State Duma]] Speaker [[Gennady Seleznev]].<ref name=BASE/>

An anonymous expert within the Kazakh Defense Ministry said that "of all the assistance [Kazakhstan] can offer towards military counter-terrorism operations—allowing use of our airfields, opening air corridors and sharing intelligence information—the last would be the least risky for Kazakhstan. Allowing the use of airfields means going into direct confrontation with the Taliban, and that is not a good scenario in our situation." An anonymous, high-ranking Foreign Ministry official said "the influx of refugees" created by U.S. airstrikes in Afghanistan "is one problem, but the greater problem is that terrorists and militants might flee northward disguised as civilians." Professor Murat Abdirov, director of the International Relations Institute of Eurasian University, said, "Kazakhstan cannot stay away from the international anti-terrorism coalition, but we should proceed with caution."<ref name=READY>[http://www.eurasianet.org/departments/insight/articles/eav100901a.shtml Kazakhstan tries to balance disparate interests] EurasiaNet</ref>

The Kazakh government did offer the use of a major airport for military operations,<ref name=CDI/> but three years later, with [[U.S. military]] operations against the [[Taliban insurgency]] in [[Afghanistan]] continuing, General [[John Abizaid]], head of [[U.S. Central Command]], said on 3 May 2005 that the [[United States]] did not "expect to open a military base in Kazakhstan unless a tense situation emerges in the region, under which the Kazakh government requests the U.S. armed forces to do so."<ref name=NOEXPECT>[http://www.mosnews.com/news/2005/11/03/uskazakh.shtml No U.S. Base in Kazakhstan– Central Command Chief] MOSNEWS</ref>

==Cooperation with Uzbekistan==
While the Uzbek government complained in 2004 that Islamic terrorists were training in southern Kazakhstan, an allegation the Kazakh government denied, cooperation between the two countries has been strong as both states face a common threat.<ref name=SOUTHALLEG>[http://www.rferl.org/featuresarticle/2005/09/7e777229-a91b-4fda-bc4b-f8be2183a60e.html Uzbekistan: Ties with Kyrgyzstan worsen amid 'terror' accusations] RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty</ref>

===Andijan massacre===
{{main|Andijan massacre}}
Nazarbayev, while on a state visit to [[Uzbekistan]], told [[Uzbek President]] [[Islam Karimov]] that the [[Uzbek government]]'s actions in quelling unrest in the Uzbek city of [[Andijan]] on 12 and 13 May 2005 helped "protect the peace of 26 million Uzbekistanis. A different outcome would have destabilized the region today." He said that because terrorists had taken over government buildings and prisons, Karimov could not respond to the unrest differently, and other governments had responded similarly in the past. The Uzbek government attributed the unrest to Islamic extremist groups recognized as terrorist organizations in Uzbekistan. The Uzbek government estimated 187 people, made up of 94 terrorists, 60 civilians, 31 policemen, and two others died, and 76 terrorists were injured. Human rights groups dispute the government's estimate, accusing Uzbek security forces of killing about 700 civilians.<ref name=ANDIJAN>[http://en.rian.ru/world/20060322/44646267.html Authorities' actions during Andijan riot justified - Nazarbayev] RIA Novosti</ref>

====Extradition of terrorist suspects====
On 5 July 2005 [[Human Rights Watch]] called upon the Kazakh government to refrain from handing over [[Lutfullo Shamsudinov]], the Andijan representative for the Human Rights Society of Uzbekistan, then held in Almaty, to the Uzbek government. The Office of the [[United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees]] had given Shamsudinov [[refugee]] status and planned to resettle him when Kazakh authorities detained him on 4 July. Earlier that day President Karimov visited Kazakhstan along with other regional nations' representatives as part of a [[Shanghai Cooperation Organisation]] meeting. The Uzbek government requested Shamsudinov's [[extradition]], charging him with five criminal charges including premeditated murder. Holly Cartner, executive director of the Europe and Central Asia division of Human Rights Watch, said, "Kazakhstan should step forward and protect this brave man. Instead of that, the authorities seem ready to hand over a refugee to be tortured, in blatant violation of [[international law]]." In response to statements made by a representative for the Almaty city prosecutor's office, in which the representative called Shamsudinov a terrorist, Cartner said, "The terrorist accusation is a perversion of international concerns about terrorism and an attempt to block international support for Shamsudinov. In reality, he is someone who worked tirelessly towards the [[rule of law]] in Uzbekistan."<ref name=SHAMSUDINOV /> Russia also deported an asylum seeker to Uzbekistan, Rustam Muminov, who Uzbek authorities accuse of involvement in the Andijan unrest and membership in a religious extremist organization,<ref name=MUMINOV>[http://www.mosnews.com/news/2006/10/25/uzbekdeported.shtml Russia Deports Asylum Seeker to Uzbekistan Despite Death Penalty Threat] MOS News</ref> and Kyrgyzstan deported five Andijan-refugees—Jahongir Maqsudov, Yoqub Toshboev, Odiljon Rahimov, Rasuljon Pirmatov, and Fayoz Tojihalilov—to Uzbekistan in early August 2006.<ref name=KYRGYZFIVEDEPORT>[http://www.rferl.org/featuresarticle/2006/08/47c5248f-294b-4f80-8ef5-986ed2e1e14e.html Kyrgyzstan: Five More Andijon Refugees Extradited To Uzbekistan] RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty</ref>

In March 1998 the Uzbek government accused Obidkhon Qori Nazarov, an [[Imam]], of religious extremism, terrorism, and membership in the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan. Nazarov fled to Kazakhstan, leaving behind his wife, son, and three brothers, all of whom have been imprisoned or disappeared, though his wife has been released.<ref name=OBIDKHON>[http://www.rferl.org/featuresarticle/2006/03/46f59a70-8fba-446a-86de-b974ffbeff35.html Uzbekistan: Dissident Imam reaches safety after eight years in hiding] RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty</ref>

John MacLeod, a senior editor for the [[Institute for War and Peace Reporting]] who met Nazarov in 1996, disputed the charges. He said Nazarov is "really a part of an earlier phase of events in Uzbekistan when the state religion was entirely in confrontation with independent Imams and [[Mullah]]s such as Obidkhon and a number of others." Rao said, "If we had found him associated with terrorism or extremism we would have excluded him. We believe that he is a refugee needing an international protection. That's how we provided him the refugee status and protection."<ref name=OBIDKHON />

The UNHCR gave Nazarov refugee status when he contacted them in November 2006. Nazarov, along with some members of his family, were flown out of Kazakhstan to a secret location in [[Western Europe]] on 16 March 2006. Rao said, "The credit has to be given to the Kazakh authorities. Once we recognized [Nazarov] as a refugee, we informed them that he is under the protection of [the] UNHCR. So Kazakh authorities have honored their ... national obligation and let him stay in the country until the UNHCR organized the third-country settlement. And today, when he wanted to depart, the authorities let him leave the country."<ref name=OBIDKHON />

===Security fence===
Kazakh border officials began building a 28-mile long [[Separation barrier|fence]] on the border with Uzbekistan on 19 October 2006.<ref name=FENCEBYRFE>[http://www.rferl.org/featuresarticle/2006/10/f82907ac-59f0-4a12-8269-a140c8782ee9.html Kazakhstan To Fence Section Of Border] RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty</ref> ''[[The New York Times]]'' reported that the fence will be "eight-foot-high [with] barbed-wire" and searchlights "along heavily populated towns and cities on the southern ridge" where drug smugglers operate. The area is a "flash point in a larger regional struggle against Islamic militants."<ref name=FENCE>[https://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/20/world/asia/20briefs-008.html?_r=1&oref=slogin Kazakhstan: Fence for Part of Uzbek Border] The New York Times</ref>

The governments of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan first created national border guard forces in 1992 and January 1998 respectively, far earlier than other post-[[Soviet Union]] nations. The Kazakh government raised the force in status, ending the State Security Committee's control until the Committee regained control in 1998.<ref name=BORDERHISTORY>[http://www.dcaf.ch/pfpc/ev_reichnau_041105_papers_golunov.pdf Border security in Central Asia: Before and after September 11] Geneva Center for the Democratic control of Armed Forces</ref>

Other Central Asian nations have had border disputes in the past. [[Turkmenistan]] and [[Uzbekistan]] had serious "issues" regarding their mutual border until May 2004. The Turkmen Foreign Ministry released a statement on 31 May saying disputes had been resolved.<ref name=TURKUZBORDER>[http://www.rferl.org/specials/turkmenelections/timeline.asp Dates Related to Elections, Officials, and Policy] RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty</ref>

Erik Roslyakov, second in command of Kazakhstan's southern border, said the fence will cover the Sariaghash and Maktaaral districts. Larisa Dmitriyuk, spokeswoman for Kazakhstan's border administration, said the border patrol's "task will now be easier. We will be in a position to use our weapons, as it is the rule when one wants to catch [trespassers]."<ref name=FENCEBYRFE/>

In addition to tightening security, Bruce Pannier of ''Payvand'' noted increased military spending to strengthen Kazakhstan's border with Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan.<ref name="MILITARY"/>

==Criticism==
''[[Nezavisimaya Gazeta]]'' interviewed Vyacheslav Kasymov, Director of the Executive Committee of the Regional Anti-terrorist Center of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, and published the interview on 7 February. In the interview Kasymov accused the Kazakh government of giving refuge to terrorist organizations, specifically [[Saudi Binladin Group]], which operated in Astana. In November 2004 the Supreme Court ruled against the company's claim to 7 square kilometres of land in Astana. The Kazakh Foreign Ministry issued a statement two days later, on 9 February, calling Kasymov's statements "absolutely incompatible with the status of a head of the structure of a large international organization and casts a shadow of doubt on the reputation and position of the SCO in the contemporary world." The statement said the Kazakh government has signed 12 UN anti-terrorist conventions.<ref name=KENTAI/> The Kazakh Foreign Ministry has since characterized Kasymov's comments as "inappropriate" and "totally deprived of the spirit of the basic documents of [the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation]" because "There weren't and there are not any terrorists' bases or camps on the soil of Kazakhstan."<ref name=SHELTERING>[http://missions.itu.int/~kazaks/eng/news04.htm The Ministry of foreign affairs of Kazakhstan considers the statements of the director of the Antiterroristic structure to the Shanghai Organization of Cooperation as "inappropriate"] Permanent Mission of the Republic of Kazakhstan to the United Nations</ref>

The [[United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees]] and [[Human Rights Watch]] have criticized the [[Nursultan Nazarbayev|Nazarbayev administration]]'s policy of transferring terrorist suspects to neighboring countries, specifically [[Uzbekistan]], where HRW says suspects face torture.<ref name=SHAMSUDINOV>[http://hrw.org/english/docs/2005/07/05/kazakh11270.htm Kazakhstan: Do Not Deport Uzbek Human Rights Advocate] Human Rights Watch</ref><ref name=MAYDEPORTED>[http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0611/S00370.htm UN concerned at disappearance in Kazakhstan] Scoop Independent News</ref>

The strongest criticism of the Nazarbayev administration's counter-terrorism operations comes from Harout Semerdjian of the [[University of California, Los Angeles]]. Semerdjian accuses the government of engaging in "semi-[[state terrorism]]" through unlawful arrests of journalists, [[arson]], and other attacks on the press. The U.S. embassy criticized an act of arson in Kazakhstan in May 2002.<ref name="STATETERRORISM"/>

==Further reading==
*[[Ahmed Rashid]]. ''Jihad: The Rise of Militant Islam in Central Asia'', Yale University, 2002, ISBN 0-300-09345-4
*Jatin Kumar. ''Terrorism and Militancy in Central Asia'', Gyan Books, 2004, ISBN 81-7835-322-9
*Shahram Akbarzadeh. ''[http://www.booksmatter.com/b1842774239.htm Uzbekistan And The United States: Authoritarianism, Islamism And Washington's Security Agenda]'', Palgrave Macmillan, April 2005, ISBN 1-84277-423-9
*Lutz Kleveman. ''[https://books.google.com/books?vid=ISBN0802141722&id=3pCz4OmRW-0C&pg=PA237&lpg=PA237&dq=Central+Asia+Jihad&sig=fuDt0BNRqh5k4qvX9AfsdMVPi58#PPP1,M1 The New Great Game: Blood and Oil in Central Asia]'', Grove Press, 2004, ISBN 0-8021-4172-2

==See also==
*[[Islamic terrorism]]
*[[September 11, 2001 attacks]]
*[[Manas Air Base]]
*[[Karshi-Khanabad]]
*[[Camp Lajerg]]
*[[Wäisi movement]]

{{wikisource|Who is responsible for Tashkent blasts?}}
{{wikisource|The Call to Jihad by the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan}}

==References==
{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}

==External links==
*[http://www.eurasianet.org/departments/insight/articles/eav112002a.shtml Kazakhstani bids for regional antiterrorism agenda]
*[http://newsfromrussia.com/cis/2001/08/28/13610.html Rapid deployment force established in Central Asia]
*[http://www.japantoday.com/jp/news/392174 (Japan Today)]
*[http://www.interfax-religion.com/?act=news&div=2622 (Interfax)]
*[http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?index=0&did=1204509961&SrchMode=1&sid=2&Fmt=3&VInst=PROD&VType=PQD&RQT=309&VName=PQD&TS=1172828000&clientId=8702 Kazakh, Tajik security chiefs discuss anti-terrorism cooperation]
*[http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?index=4&did=1182095571&SrchMode=1&sid=2&Fmt=3&VInst=PROD&VType=PQD&RQT=309&VName=PQD&TS=1172828000&clientId=8702 18 Are Sent Home From Guantanamo]
*[http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?index=7&did=1167022301&SrchMode=1&sid=2&Fmt=3&VInst=PROD&VType=PQD&RQT=309&VName=PQD&TS=1172828000&clientId=8702 Kazakhstan, UK sign antiterror accord]
*[http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?index=12&did=1146749661&SrchMode=1&sid=2&Fmt=3&VInst=PROD&VType=PQD&RQT=309&VName=PQD&TS=1172828201&clientId=8702 Kazakh official seeks to tighten Uzbek border security]
*[http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?index=30&did=1116689821&SrchMode=1&sid=2&Fmt=3&VInst=PROD&VType=PQD&RQT=309&VName=PQD&TS=1172828345&clientId=8702 Kazakhstan extradites terror suspect to Uzbekistan]
*[http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?index=49&did=1072654951&SrchMode=1&sid=2&Fmt=3&VInst=PROD&VType=PQD&RQT=309&VName=PQD&TS=1172828425&clientId=8702 MP urges NATO to back Kazakhstan in fighting drugs, terrorism]

{{War on Terrorism}}
{{Europe topic|Terrorism in}}
{{Asia topic|Terrorism in}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Terrorism And Counter-Terrorism In Kazakhstan}}
[[Category:Terrorism in Kazakhstan| ]]
[[Category:Counter-terrorism by country|Kazakhstan]]
[[Category:Terrorism by country|Kazakhstan]]