India Might Pursue Anti-Terror Agenda At SCO Summit As ISIS Continues To Grow Footprint In Central Asia

Countering the growing threat of ISIS, which is establishing roots in Afghanistan and expanding its network into Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, and Iran while threatening to target India, will be a primary focus at the SCO Summit on 3-4 July in Astana, Kazakhstan.

Recent arrests of terrorists in Kyrgyzstan and earlier in Tajikistan have confirmed ISIS links originating from Afghanistan.

The Indian establishment is also closely monitoring the spread of ISIS in Eurasia and its potential impact on India. Recent ISIS literature targeting India has come to their attention.

The SCO Summit provides the Indian leadership an opportunity to engage with central Asian leaders and Russia, emphasising the need to counter terrorism and rising extremism. The SCO is the only organisation with a dedicated counter-terrorism centre.

India has intensified its counter-terror cooperation with Russia following the involvement of Tajik nationals with Pakistani connections in a deadly terror attack near Moscow.

Counter-terrorism is a high priority on India’s agenda with central Asian states. New Delhi is also vigilant against alleged Pakistani efforts to radicalise youth in central Asia.

The ISIS offshoot has been classified by the United Nations as "the biggest terrorist threat in Afghanistan and central Asia" and poses a major security challenge for countries bordering Afghanistan.

Radicalisation of central Asian youth is a concern not only for Russia and central Asia but also for India, according to security analysts.