Central Asian countries, due to their strategic location, face unique challenges in countering terrorism. The return of foreign terrorist fighters (FTFs) and the rise of new recruitment opportunities pose serious threats to national, regional, and global stability. While Member States in the region have made significant strides in counter-terrorism, gaps remain in legal frameworks, inter-agency coordination, and the effective use of technology in investigations.
In order to address this urgent threat, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) is implementing a project on "Strengthening criminal justice capacities to detect, investigate and prosecute terrorism and foreign terrorist fighters related offences, through increased knowledge and inter-regional cooperation in Africa, Middle East and Central Asia countries," through specific national and regional activities.
Under this project and with funding from the Peace and Security Sub-Fund of the United Nations Peace and Development Trust Fund, UNODC held a regional Expert Group Meeting to address the pressing challenges of terrorism and FTFs in Central Asia.
The two-day event took place in Astana on 11–12 March 2025 and brought together 52 participants from across the region.
The meeting aimed to strengthen the criminal justice responses to terrorism in line with the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy and UN Security Council resolutions, by enhancing understanding of the challenges related to terrorism and FTFs; facilitating dialogue and knowledge-sharing among law enforcement and criminal justice experts; exploring solutions, including legislative reform and capacity-building; and developing recommendations for policymakers to strengthen counter-terrorism efforts.
In the opening session, Ambassador Stanislav Vasilenko of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan highlighted the significance of UNODC cooperation, stating: “Central Asian countries, in collaboration with UNODC, have achieved significant progress in the repatriation and reintegration of citizens returning from conflict zones. Kazakhstan has been particularly proactive in combatting terrorism, adhering to UN resolutions and aligning its national legislation accordingly. The humanitarian operations "Zhusan" and "Rusafa" resulted in the return of hundreds of citizens, including vulnerable women and children. Rehabilitation remains a key priority, with specialized centers established to facilitate reintegration. Kazakhstan is prepared to share its successful strategies and lessons learned. Further, Mr. Nurlan Uajanov, Chief of the Anti-Terrorist Centre under Kazakhstan's National Security Committee, provided an overview of national counter-terrorism efforts.
A representative from the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) of the Republic of Tajikistan emphasized the critical role of international cooperation and multi-stakeholder engagement stating that "effective coordination between international agreements, institutions, and partners, coupled with the involvement of religious experts, psychologists, cybersecurity specialists, and civil society, is crucial for both compliance and prevention of extremist activities. Combating terrorism is a societal responsibility, not solely a task for special services. Continuous improvement in cybercrime and cyber-terrorism expertise is also essential."
Echoing this sentiment, a representative from the General Prosecutor's Office of the Kyrgyz Republic asserted, "the fight against terrorism cannot be limited to criminal prosecution. We must address and eliminate the underlying conditions that foster radicalization and recruitment into extremist networks."
Adding to this, a representative from the MIA of the Republic of Uzbekistan stressed the importance of prevention emphasizing that "today, we are discussing not only terrorism as a crime, but also its prevention. Radicalization is a gradual process influenced by economic, social, and educational factors. Failure to address these issues will expose future generations to the same threats. Uzbekistan prioritizes preventive work, particularly with youth, to enhance religious and media literacy."
Delegates from the four participating countries highlighted the need for a comprehensive, multi-faceted approach to counter-terrorism, involving law enforcement, financial institutions, criminal justice officials, cybersecurity specialists, and civil society. They stressed that combatting terrorism is a shared responsibility, requiring joint efforts to reduce threats and ensure regional security.
Participants also emphasized the importance of addressing the root causes of radicalization, and discussed ongoing repatriation efforts, as well as the need for enhanced regional cooperation, information-sharing, and joint operations. Training for law enforcement in modern counter-terrorism techniques, including digital forensics, was identified as a key priority.
This meeting concluded emphasizing the necessity for continued collaboration and innovation to effectively counter terrorism and the FTF phenomena in Central Asia.
