On behalf of the Counter-Terrorism Committee, CTED conducted a six-day assessment visit to the Republic of Tajikistan from 19 to 24 February 2017 to discuss Tajikistan’s implementation of Security Council resolutions 1373 (2001), 1624 (2005), 2178 (2014) and 2242 (2015). The discussions focused on legislation and judicial practice, counter-financing of terrorism, law enforcement, border control, international cooperation, and countering violent extremism that leads to terrorism, as well as on the role of women in countering terrorism and violent extremism and the need for rule-of-law-based responses.
The delegation welcomed Tajikistan’s recent adoption of the National Strategy on Countering Extremism and Terrorism for 2016-2020 and its Action Plan, and discussed with the Government ways to ensure their effective implementation, including through the engagement of all sectors of the society.
The delegation also visited Dushanbe international airport and a border crossing point on the Tajik-Afghan border to discuss matters relating to border control and management.
Tajikistan reaffirmed its strong commitment to countering terrorism in all its aspects, including foreign terrorist fighters and returnees; the links between terrorism and transnational organized crime, including illegal trafficking of drugs, arms and humans; and abuse of the Internet and social media for terrorist purposes. Tajikistan estimates that at least 1,000 nationals have travelled to conflict zones in Syria and Iraq. A sizable number of nationals have also joined terrorist groups active in the Afghanistan/Pakistan border area. Those groups include the Taliban, the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (also known as the Islamic Movement of Turkestan), and regional cells of ISIL. It is reported that terrorist and extremist groups have recruited from among the large Tajik diaspora and labour migrants abroad.
The visiting delegation was also informed about measures taken to address these issues, including by addressing the conditions conducive to terrorism, improving capacities to bring terrorists to justice, and strengthening international and regional cooperation.
In addition to CTED experts, the delegation included representatives of the Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team of the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolutions 1267 (1999), 1989 (2011), and 2253 (2015) concerning ISIL (Da’esh) and Al-Qaida and associated individuals, groups, undertakings and entities; the Expert Group of the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1540 (2004); UN Women; the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO); the International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL); the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE); the Eurasian Group on Combating Money-Laundering and the Financing of Terrorism (EAG); the Anti-Terrorism Centre of the Commonwealth of Independent States (ATC-CIS); the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) and the Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (RATS SCO).