foir_3880
foir_3880
foir_3880
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FOI-R--<strong>3880</strong>--SE<br />
individually and collectively. Handling it requires addressing not only supply<br />
(Afghanistan) but also demand (Iran, Russia and Europe) and the transit in<br />
between (such as Central Asia). Central Asian regimes see Islamism as a security<br />
challenge, but they disagree on its nature and how to handle it. Islamism has<br />
mainly domestic roots, but is often wrongly linked to Afghanistan. Regional<br />
multilateral cooperation is weak since the regimes’ prefer bilateral relations or<br />
cooperation involving either major powers or international organisations.<br />
What are the perspectives for Afghanistan, Russia and China, outside actors that<br />
remain involved in Central Asia Afghanistan can be affected by unrest in<br />
Central Asia. China handles Afghanistan challenges bilaterally, through<br />
geographical buffers and cooperation in regional multilateral forums. Russia’s<br />
priorities in the region are Eurasian integration, combatting drugs trade and<br />
regional security.<br />
Keywords: Central Asia, Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan,<br />
Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Russia, China, NATO, ISAF, illegal drugs trade,<br />
militant Islamism, CSTO, Eurasian Union, SCO, regional co-operation.<br />
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