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Afghanistan: Taliban spring offensive and increasing threat to Central Asia

OSH, Kyrgyzstan (TCA) — In Afghanistan, the Taliban has regained a foothold and launched the spring offensive codenamed “operation Omari,” after the name of its late leader Mullah Muhammad Omar. This will certainly nullify the peace efforts of the quadrilateral coordination group of China, the US, Pakistan and Afghanistan for reaching a direct dialogue between Kabul and the Taliban. The spring offensive will certainly escalate violence and further destabilize the country. Such development on the ground, with the Afghan government’s role in state management reduced by ever intensive fighting, may turn foreign intervention from a last option into the only option. With Afghanistan falling again into chaos, terrorism may spread to neighboring countries of Central Asia and probably China’s western Xinjiang region.   Continue reading

OSCE supports training of Kyrgyz journalists on countering violent extremism

BISHKEK (TCA) — Some sixty journalists on April 22 completed a series of OSCE-supported training courses in Osh and Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, on challenges related to reporting on religious beliefs and violent extremism. Continue reading

Afghanistan: terrorism or war all moving closer to Central Asia

OSH, Kyrgyzstan (TCA) — Right across the Tajik border and under the very noses of Russian and Indian military based near the frontier, it is all-out war again in the northeast of Afghanistan and there is a pretty good chance that Afghan government troops will bite the dust in the absence of American, or eventually Russian, Indian and/or Chinese air support. Only days after the Taliban announced its “spring offensive” throughout Afghanistan, the much-feared extremists already keep the initiative both in the southwest and the northeast. Only resumed infighting between extremist forces could bring some relief for a disenchanted population in the region. Continue reading

ISIS acting quietly to expand presence in Afghanistan — Russian envoy

KABUL (TCA) — The loyalists of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) are acting quietly in Afghanistan as the terrorist group plans to use the country for wider expansion, Khaama Press Afghan News Agency reported last week citing Zamir Kabulov, the Russian presidential envoy for Afghanistan. Continue reading

Stratfor’s Global Intelligence: Week of April 4, 2016

BISHKEK (TCA) — The Times of Central Asia presents to its readers Stratfor’s Global Intelligence, a weekly review of the most important events that happened in the world — from Europe to Middle East to Russia to Central Asia to Afghanistan to China and the Americas. Continue reading

Security cameras, metal detectors to be installed in Tajik mosques

DUSHANBE (TCA) — Authorities in Tajikistan will install security cameras and metal detectors in all mosques in the country’s capital, Dushanbe, the office of the city mayor said on March 29. Continue reading