Re-Examining the Threat of Central Asian Militancy

Following the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan and the rise of the Islamic State in the Middle East, concerns are growing about a rise in Islamist militant attacks in Central Asia this year. Leaders of Central Asian states such as Tajikistan and Uzbekistan have warned of the risk of various militant groups filling the security vacuum in Afghanistan and directly threatening the region. However, it is rising economic and political pressures in Central Asia that could precipitate an increase in indigenous militancy and pose the greatest threat to stability in the region in the coming years.