Title: Central Asia
is new hotspot for fundamentalists
Author:
Publication: The Times
of India
Date: April 4, 2000
After burning their fingers
in Chechnya, Afghanistan and Pakistan, trained mercenaries are seeking
fresh pastures to export their brand of 'fundamentalism', with Tajikistan,
Kazhakastan and Kyrgyztan, emerging as the their new hotspots.
Novosti, reporting from
the Kazhak capital, Astana, where defence ministers of the 'Shanghai group'
- comprising Russia, Tajikistan, Kazhakastan, Kyrgyztan and China - held
discussions recently on the lurking danger said, a few hundred of these
extremists have already concentrated in these regions of Central Asia.
Kyrgyztan's national
security council chief Bolot Zhanuzakov, talking to mediapersons said,
"Soon the strength of these Afghanistan- trained terrorist could reach
the 5,000 figure".
Earlier, a few hundred
of the Central Asian fundamentalists, mostly Uzbeks and Tajiks, had reached
up to the Kyrgyz capital, Bishkek, during president Boris Yeltsin's visit
there, the agency adds.
Meanwhile, with flames
of ethnic violence reaching its own borders, China has joined ranks with
Russia and the three other former Soviet republics to face the growing
menace.
Harping on the 'Shanghai
group' strength, formed two years ago, all five have once again voiced
their resolve to fight the threat unitedly.
The group was formed
to settle their border disputes and check the growth of fundamentalism
from Afghanistan under the Taliban.
After the meeting, an
official of the group said the latest meeting of the 'Shanghai group' has
targeted the recent concentration of mercenaries and their local abettors
who were using religion to fan ethnic hatred. (UNI)
