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Police Commander From Tajikistan Appears in ISIS Video Police Commander From Tajikistan Appears in ISIS Video
(about 9 hours later)
MOSCOW — A senior police commander from Tajikistan who vanished last month has reappeared in an online video, saying he had defected to join the Islamic State group in Syria.MOSCOW — A senior police commander from Tajikistan who vanished last month has reappeared in an online video, saying he had defected to join the Islamic State group in Syria.
The development on Thursday raised concerns of growing extremism in Tajikistan, a former Soviet republic that Russia supports as a bulwark against militant Islamism.The development on Thursday raised concerns of growing extremism in Tajikistan, a former Soviet republic that Russia supports as a bulwark against militant Islamism.
The officer, Col. Gulmurod Khalimov, was the commander of the elite OMON division of the Tajik national police. In the video, shot in high definition at an unnamed location, the colonel is seen declaring his intention to wage jihad in Central Asia.The officer, Col. Gulmurod Khalimov, was the commander of the elite OMON division of the Tajik national police. In the video, shot in high definition at an unnamed location, the colonel is seen declaring his intention to wage jihad in Central Asia.
Wearing a black turban and holding a sniper rifle, Colonel Khalimov says in the video that he had traveled to the United States three times and received training there from Blackwater, the security company that was once a major contractor for the American government in Iraq and elsewhere. (The company is now known as Academi.) Wearing a black turban and holding a sniper rifle, Colonel Khalimov says in the video that he traveled to the United States three times and received training there from Blackwater, the security company that was once a major contractor for the American government in Iraq and elsewhere. (The company is now known as Academi.)
“Listen, you dogs, the president and ministers, you don’t know how many of the guys here, our brothers, are waiting to return to Tajikistan to revive Shariah law,” Colonel Khalimov said in the video, addressing the president of Tajikistan, Emomali Rakhmonovov. “We are coming to you with slaughter, inshallah.” “Listen, you dogs, the president and ministers, you don’t know how many of the guys here, our brothers, are waiting to return to Tajikistan to revive Shariah law,” Colonel Khalimov said in the video, addressing the president of Tajikistan, Emomali Rakhmonov. “We are coming to you with slaughter, inshallah.”
Mr. Rakhmonov has ruled Tajikistan since 1992, and brooks little dissent. His secular government has confronted extremism, but has also cracked down on ordinary expressions of Islamic belief, like head scarves and public prayer.Mr. Rakhmonov has ruled Tajikistan since 1992, and brooks little dissent. His secular government has confronted extremism, but has also cracked down on ordinary expressions of Islamic belief, like head scarves and public prayer.
Mr. Rakhmonov has been aided by Russia, which maintains a military base in Tajikistan that a senior Russian official recently called an “outpost” against the spread of terrorism. Russia has given Tajikistan hundreds of millions of dollars in aid, and has held extensive military exercises in the country, including war games in May in which six countries’ forces simulated repelling a terrorist attack from neighboring Afghanistan.Mr. Rakhmonov has been aided by Russia, which maintains a military base in Tajikistan that a senior Russian official recently called an “outpost” against the spread of terrorism. Russia has given Tajikistan hundreds of millions of dollars in aid, and has held extensive military exercises in the country, including war games in May in which six countries’ forces simulated repelling a terrorist attack from neighboring Afghanistan.
About 2,000 to 4,000 fighters from Central Asia are estimated to have gone to join the Islamic State, but Colonel Khalimov is a highly unusual defector: a successful, distinguished officer who was responsible for defending his country from militants and rioters.About 2,000 to 4,000 fighters from Central Asia are estimated to have gone to join the Islamic State, but Colonel Khalimov is a highly unusual defector: a successful, distinguished officer who was responsible for defending his country from militants and rioters.
Poverty is often cited as a factor in the radicalization of Islamic State recruits, but Mr. Khalimov’s case pointed instead to a different driver: a repressed but growing religiosity among Tajiks of all classes, including the elite.Poverty is often cited as a factor in the radicalization of Islamic State recruits, but Mr. Khalimov’s case pointed instead to a different driver: a repressed but growing religiosity among Tajiks of all classes, including the elite.
“I don’t think that we should be surprised,” said Deirdre Tynan, the Central Asia project director for the International Crisis Group who is based in Bishkek, the capital of neighboring Kyrgyzstan. In both Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan, she said, “there is an element of doubt in people within the civil and security services about what is the trajectory of their countries.”“I don’t think that we should be surprised,” said Deirdre Tynan, the Central Asia project director for the International Crisis Group who is based in Bishkek, the capital of neighboring Kyrgyzstan. In both Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan, she said, “there is an element of doubt in people within the civil and security services about what is the trajectory of their countries.”
Ms. Tynan said that many people in the region followed developments in the Middle East closely, and that there was substantial support for imposing Shariah, the legal code of Islam based on the Quran, and for the idea of a caliphate.Ms. Tynan said that many people in the region followed developments in the Middle East closely, and that there was substantial support for imposing Shariah, the legal code of Islam based on the Quran, and for the idea of a caliphate.
“Since the Islamic State has become this global phenomenon, and certainly a social media phenomenon, we have seen groups hitch their carts to it,” she said.“Since the Islamic State has become this global phenomenon, and certainly a social media phenomenon, we have seen groups hitch their carts to it,” she said.
Aleksei V. Malashenko, an expert on religion and security in Central Asia for the Carnegie Center in Moscow, said that Mr. Khalimov’s announcement could inspire more defections. “I am afraid that he may open a path for people to follow him,” Mr. Malashenko said in a telephone interview.Aleksei V. Malashenko, an expert on religion and security in Central Asia for the Carnegie Center in Moscow, said that Mr. Khalimov’s announcement could inspire more defections. “I am afraid that he may open a path for people to follow him,” Mr. Malashenko said in a telephone interview.
Officials in Tajikistan have not commented on the video, and the Interior Ministry did not answer telephone calls on Thursday.Officials in Tajikistan have not commented on the video, and the Interior Ministry did not answer telephone calls on Thursday.
As Colonel Khalimov reeled off threats in the video directed at Tajikistan and at Russia, he added one for the United States: “We will come to your cities, to your homes, and we will kill you.”As Colonel Khalimov reeled off threats in the video directed at Tajikistan and at Russia, he added one for the United States: “We will come to your cities, to your homes, and we will kill you.”