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Kazakhstan’s president blames "outer interference" for terror attacks in Tajikistan

Tajikistan’s law enforcers continue a mission to detain an armed group headed by former Deputy Defense Minister Abdukhalim Nazarzoda, sheltering in the Ramit Gorge
 Kazakhstan’s President Nursultan Nazarbayev and Tajikistan’s President Emomali Rakhmon ITAR-TASS/Mikhail Klimentyev
Kazakhstan’s President Nursultan Nazarbayev and Tajikistan’s President Emomali Rakhmon
© ITAR-TASS/Mikhail Klimentyev

DUSHANBE, September 14. /TASS/. The recent terror attacks in Tajikistan were organized with involvement of forces from outside the country, Kazakhstan’s President Nursultan Nazarbayev said on Monday during his visit to Tajikistan.

"They are attempting Tajikistan, trying to get through, to destabilize," he told a news conference following the talks with Tajikistan’s President Emomali Rakhmon. "The recent events inside the country must have resulted from outside interference."

"We are aware of all those problems and know that here Tajikistan is like an outpost [in fighting terrorism and extremism in Central Asia - TASS]," he said. "Our law enforcers and special services should cooperate."

TASS reported earlier that Tajikistan’s law enforcers continue a mission to detain an armed group headed by former Deputy Defense Minister Abdukhalim Nazarzoda, sheltering in the Ramit Gorge. Nine police officers have been killed as a result of the rebels' attacks and 12 others have been wounded, Tajikistan’s Interior Ministry said.

Tajik prosecutor general’s office initiated a criminal case against Nazarzoda, the former defense minister, on charges of high treason, terrorism, organizing an extremist group and sabotage. Similar charges were brought against Nazarzoda’s "closest supporter" Colonel Dzhunaidullo Umarov, who took active part in setting up a criminal group and attacking policemen in Dushanbe and Vakhdat. The prosecutor general’s office also said Nazarzoda possessed a "big business" and dozens of illegally privatised assets."

Over the years of civil war in Tajikistan in 1992-1995, Nazarzoda, dubbed Khalim, was a field commander of the Tajik armed opposition. After a peace deal was signed in June 1997, Nazarzoda was commissioned to the Tajik army under the program of reintegration of former opposition gunmen. In 2014, he was promoted to the rank of Major General and appointed deputy defense minister. He was dismissed from the post by President Emomali Rakhmov on Friday, September 5, for "committing a crime."