India closely monitors the proliferation of Hizb ut-Tahrir ideology emanating from Central Asia.

The recent arrest of six individuals in Chennai, who are believed to sympathize with Hizb ut-Tahrir, has heightened concerns within India’s security agencies. They fear that the group may attempt to expand its influence in India. Hizb ut-Tahrir is already outlawed in numerous countries across the Middle East and Central Asia.
The authorities in Chennai had launched a crackdown against extremist cells in May and arrested six Hizb ut-Tahrir sympathisers along with literature and propaganda material supporting the group’s ideology, ET has learnt.

ISIS from Afghanistan is extending its network into Tajikistan, while Kyrgyzstan intensifies its crackdown on Hizb ut-Tahrir. Authorities in Kazakhstan have recently taken action against extremists in various regions. Additionally, it has been reported that three Kyrgyz nationals, affiliated with a foreign radical group, were arrested recently with the help of Russian security services.

ET has learnt that the Kazakh authorities recently detained several radicals in four regions of the country—Astana, Shymkent, Atyrau and Zhambyl. This included a foreign national.

All of them are suspected of spreading terror activities and radical propaganda, besides recruiting people for these purposes, sources said. During the searches, a large amount of religious extremist literature and other material evidence were confiscated from them, they added. The Kyrgyz authorities had between March and May detained several members of Hizb ut-Tahrir from across the country and confiscated weapons and literature from them.In June, Kyrgyzstan stated that it had arrested 15 suspected supporters of ISIS—a growing concern in Central Asian countries following a March attack in Moscow. An ISIS offshoot—Islamic State in Afghanistan known as Khorasan—has been classified by the United Nations as “the biggest terrorist threat in Afghanistan and Central Asia” and is one of the main security challenges for countries in the region that border Afghanistan.

The Indian security establishment is keeping a close watch on growth of extremist ideology in Central Asia (known for its tolerance and pluralism) that may impact India.

India maintains strong counter-terrorism cooperation with all Central Asian nations and has influenced a decisive response to cross-border terrorism and radicalism at the recent SCO Summit in Astana.

In the coming months, New Delhi is expected to intensify counter-terror partnership with the Central Asian states.