Kazakhstan has seen relatively little terrorism in comparison to its Central Asian neighbors that border the Afghan conflict zone.
However, Adilbek Dzhaksybekov, mayor of the capital, Astana, urged vigilance following the November 2015 terrorist attacks in Paris and warned that the country has been targeted for major attacks that were disrupted by security forces.
In the summer of 2015, Kazakhtan’s security forces broke up an extensive terrorist conspiracy in Astana, according to a Eurasianet.org report. “Anti-terror questions are now coming to the fore,” Dzhaksybekov said at a meeting of law enforcement. “The National Security Committee uncovered, literally four months ago, a major clandestine and well-equipped group that was planning terrorist acts in Astana.”
Scores of alleged extremists and members of the security forces died in the wave of attacks in 2011-2012. In the most serious incident, seven people were killed when a gunman went on a rampage in the southern city of Taraz.
Eurasianet says Kazakh authorities believe several hundred Kazakh citizens are fighting for Daesh in Syria and Iraq. Daesh has used propaganda videos to target Kazakh speakers.
Kazakhstan’s neighbors have been on alert as well. Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty reported a security crackdown in Uzbekistan in which about 150 suspected extremists were rounded up; the Kyrgyz Republic said Daesh elements were involved in a shootout with security forces in 2015; and Tajikistan has said the terrorist group tried to provoke an uprising in September 2015.
Eurasianet.org, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty