Kyrgyzstan highly exposed to Afghan, Pakistan extremist groups

Religious situation in Kyrgyzstan is stable but large-scale operations in Pakistan and Afghanistan make extremists look for alternative places of their activities outside these countries. Malikov fears that radicals, forced out of Pakistan and Afghanistan, will find hideout in Fergana valley where they can be supported by impoverished population.

“Kyrgyzstan loses its status of safe harbor,” the expert said. He does not exclude that external forces will try to add Kyrgyzstan to the unstable countries’ list. In order to avoid it, Malikov advices state authorities to turn to the Kyrgyz Muslim community for help. “One cannot counter religious extremism without support of Islam,” the doctor said.

The expert is sure that the Muslim community is ready to support state anti-extremist efforts. But the state, in its turn, should abandon repressive measures not to provoke radicalization of the believers.

“The state should use all anti-extremism methods of ideological counterstrategy on the basis of involvement of Islamic forces, official clergy, religious leaders and civil society,” Malikov said.