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Terrorism in Central Asia: Will Al-Qaeda take control over Uzbek terror movement?

LONDON (TCA) — With the recent death of its last strongman, the oldest and most threatening terrorist organization of Central Asia, the Uzbek-dominated IMU, has disappeared – or may be not? From recent events it is easy to observe that Al-Qaeda is absorbing the global jihad conglomerate into its own ranks. This includes Daesh, apparently considered too exposed to be of further use, and of course the Taliban, making the danger toward Central Asia all the more acute. Continue reading

Killing of Taliban leader reduces likelihood of Afghan peace talks

BISHKEK (TCA) — The death of Afghan Taliban leader Mullah Mansour, who was killed in a U.S. drone attack in the southwestern Pakistani province of Balochistan on May 21, reduces the likelihood of Afghan peace talks in six-month outlook, according to the new analysis on the event and its implications, prepared by Omar Hamid, Head of Asia Analysis, IHS Country Risk. Continue reading

Afghanistan: the reality behind the rhetoric

BISHKEK (TCA) — As Pakistan on May 18 hosted a new round of four-nation peace talks aimed at reviving long-stalled negotiations between the Taliban and the Afghan government, we are republishing this article originally published by Stratfor:    Continue reading

Daesh (IS) and criminal syndicates after the gold of Central Asia

LONDON (TCA) — Recent reports from various sides concerning the increasing lack of cash flow for Daesh (IS) in the Near East due to difficulties in its Turkish oil smuggling chain add a new dimension to the already existing threat of extremist forces’ concentration in Afghanistan bordering the southern republics of Central Asia. Ever increasing assessments of the area’s world-class gold mining reserves must have drawn the attention of gang leaders of Taliban, Al-Qaeda and Daesh looking for alternative baits and a motive behind their “spring offensive” in Afghanistan and beyond. Continue reading

Afghanistan’s mining industry controlled by terrorists and gangs

OSH, Kyrgyzstan (TCA) — Precious metals and stones, along with ferrous and non-ferrous metals, worth according to some estimates up to 3 trillion dollars are waiting under Afghanistan’s soil to be exploited. But to do so appears to be a remote dream at best for mining entrepreneurs given what happens on the ground rather than beneath it, leaving mining activity to thugs and terrorists whose variety in Afghanistan is hardly less rich. Continue reading

Uzbek president speaks on Afghan peace talks, Uzbek export to Russia

TASHKENT (TCA) — Uzbekistan President Islam Karimov believes that instability in Afghanistan may gradually spread to other countries of the Central Asia region and that Russia should be involved in peace talks in Afghanistan. Continue reading