The Tajik Governments Struggle To Exert Greater Control Over Military Has Implications for Islamic Insurgency
Tajikistan has become a target of criticism, as Islamic insurgents continue to test the defense capabilities of Central Asian governments. Tajik leaders have vigorously denied accusations that the insurgents are exploiting political and economic instability in Tajikistan. At the same time, officials admit that attempts in recent months to promote a greater degree of security have encountered only limited success.
Media reports, as well as officials in neighboring Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan, have derided Tajikistan for being the weak link in the Central Asian security system. According to some media accounts, Tajikistan is home to insurgent bases. Others have accused members of the former United Tajik Opposition (UTO) with participating in raids into Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan. The insurgents are believed to belong to the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan, which is struggling to topple the Uzbek government of President Islam Karimov.
The accusations against Tajikistan come at a time when tension is mounting in the region. Despite repeated claims that the insurgency had been contained, the government of Uzbekistan on August 29 formally requested military and technical assistance from Russia. Meanwhile, the Interfax news agency noted on August 29 a "sharp deterioration" of the situation along the Afghan-Tajik border. And in a separate report, Interfax described the security environment along the Tajik-Kyrgyz border as "worsening."
Tajik leaders have clearly been stung by the criticism. On August 28, Tajik Minister for Emergency Situations Mirzo Ziyevyev vehemently denied that any insurgent bases were located in the country. He similarly dismissed charges that former UTO members had joined the insurgents. A large number of UTO supporters are from Tajikistan's Islamic Renaissance Party. The UTO was the main opposition group that fought against the government of Imomali Rakhmonov during the Tajik civil war from 1992-97.
Officials in Dushanbe have been more muted when discussing the domestic security environment. With Tajikistan struggling to recover from the economic and political consequences of the civil war, organized criminal activity, including weapons and narcotics trafficking, has flourished.
Government efforts to promote security have focused in large part on overhauling the country's armed forces. Far from acting as a guarantor of security, Tajikistan's military has been linked to a wide variety of illicit activities. Indeed, some units reputedly act as organized criminal gangs, carving out spheres of influence and engaging in trafficking, robbery and racketeering.
The centerpiece of the military reorganization effort was a May 15 decree issued by Tajik President Imomali Rakhmonov that sought to end so-called contract military service by the end of August. Contract-soldiers, the majority of whom are former UTO fighters, have been associated with criminal activity.
So far, the government has encountered trouble in meeting its demobilization timetable. A major factor in the delay is the stiff resistance offered by some military commanders. One influential general, Suhrob Kasymov, has publicly condemned Rakhmonov's reorganization plans. Another factor is the government's inability to follow through on commitments to provide jobs or higher educational opportunities for demobilized soldiers.
A severe budgetary shortfall is hampering the Labor and Employment Ministry's ability to implement programs designed to ease the transition of demobilized soldiers to civilian life. Of the 1.2 billion Tajik rubles envisioned in the ministry's operating budget, the government has allocated only about 600 million Tajik rubles (about $307,000).
On August 15, the Ministry of Labor and Employment received a list of almost 1,600 soldiers who were to receive transition assistance. However, one high-ranking official at the Labor Ministry admitted privately that the government aid programs could not cover a large number of contractors, who were expected to remain on active duty.
In conjunction with the military reorganization, the government initiated a crackdown against criminal activity in the armed services, in particular the unauthorized use of weapons by military personnel. Since May, over 1,000 members of the armed forces have been arrested on a variety of criminal charges, according to Prosecutor General of Tajikistan Bobojon Bobokhonov. In one ruling on August 10, Tajikistan's Supreme Court sentenced the chief of the guard at Khujand airport, Nazirmad Qurbonov, to death.
In spite of the wave of arrests, President Rakhmonov has indicated that the crackdown has been only a partial success. At an August 21 meeting of the country's top law enforcement officials, Rakhmonov said many military units continued to engage in illegal activities.
The Tajik government's ability to exert full control over the military could have broad ramifications for the Islamic insurgency. A more cohesive and responsive military would significantly enhance the domestic security environment, and permit Tajikistan to play a more active role in regional anti-insurgency efforts. In addition, reformed armed forces could make it more difficult for Islamic militants to utilize Tajikistan as a transit route for raids into Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan.
Marat Mamadshoyev is a correspondent for the Asia-Plus news agency in Tajikistan.
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