Editor's Foreword

S-300 air-defence batteries, beyond those already
protecting Astana and Almaty; some of these are
planned for deployment in protection of energy infrastructure
against unspecified threats. Western assistance
has concentrated on enhancing peace-support
operations capabilities, Caspian security, language
training and developing professional NCOs, though
the latter effort suffered after the decision to increase
the number of conscripts. Kazakhstan’s Defence
Institute for Foreign Languages, formed in 2005, has
seen a haemorrhaging of trained linguists and has
reportedly suffered from internal corruption, undermining
its value.
In June 2009, a scandal relating to efforts to
procure Nayza, Aybat and Semser artillery systems
from Israel for the airmobile forces precipitated the
sacking of Defence Minister Daniyal Akhmetov; he
was replaced by Adilbek Zhaksybekov, the former
Table 29 Insurgent groups in Afghanistan and Pakistan
South and Central Asia
341
Kazakh ambassador to Moscow. Kazakhstan’s peacekeeping
brigade (KAZBRIG), which has received
considerable assistance and training from the US, UK
and NATO, is the country’s most capable formation,
and as such can present a misleading impression of
the overall effectiveness of its military. The annual
US, UK and Kazakh military exercise Steppe Eagle
in September 2009 provided another opportunity
to pressure Astana to agree to operationally deploy
elements of KAZBRIG to Afghanistan. Although
the decision has not been taken at a political level in
Astana, the structure has achieved a level of, albeit
not full, interoperability with NATO. The options
facing the Kazakh government, if it decided to send
troops to support ISAF, appeared limited to medical
or command elements, or to a company conducting
force-protection duties, stopping short of combat
operations.
Organisation/group Aims and remarks
TAliBAn AnD AFFiliATeS
Afghan Taliban Regain power in Kabul; foreign withdrawal from AFG. Estimated strength 10–20,000; led by Mullah Omar and
Quetta Shura. Presence predominantly in S. and E. AFG provinces. In main utilise low-level insurgent tactics but
have undertaken conventional engagement of int’l military forces in lightly protected outlying areas. Funding
through opium trade and donors (AQ included)
haqqani network Fight coalition forces in AFG as part of Afghan Taliban. Regain control of traditional bases in Khost, Paktia and
Paktika. Led by Sirajuddin Haqqani. Based mainly in N. Waziristan, PAK
hizb-e islami
Gulbuddin (hiG)
OTher inSUrGenT GrOUPS
Pakistan-based Baluch
liberation Army
(BlA)/Baluch People’s
liberation Front
(BPlF)/Popular Front
for Armed resistance/
Baluch Students
Organisation
Officially seeks foreign withdrawal from AFG; establish Islamic fundamentalist state. Two factions, Gulbuddin
Hekmatyar’s Hizb-e Islami in Nuristan and Khalis faction, part of the AFG Taliban. Affiliates of Hizb-e Islami
political faction (established 2005 and not officially associated with Hekmatyar), have won seats in the National
Assembly and are active in the Wolesi Jirga in Kabul
Independence for former Baluchistan encompassing S.W. PAK, IRN Sistan province and S.W. AFG. Liberation of
Baluch land; establishment of sovereign Baluch government. Interim demands are greater regional autonomy
and fairer distribution of Baluchi natural resources (gas/oil)
harkat-ul-Jihad-i- Pro-Pakistan Islamic groups; seek Kashmir’s accession to PAK. Main area of operation is Pakistan-administered
islami (huJi)/harkat Kashmir, though recent focus on AFG. HuA resulted from the amalgamation of HuJI and HuM. Majority of
ul-Mujahideen (huM)/ HuM’s capability now resides under JeM. Leader Maulana Masood Azhar. Support and fundraising networks
harkat ul-Ansar (huA)/ throughout EU
Jaish-e-Mohammed
(JeM)
lashkar-e-Tayiba Islamic fundamentalist group. Established 1989 following the move of Mujahadeen from AFG to fight in
(leT)/Jama’at ud Dawa Pakistan-administered Kashmir. JuD is LeT’s charitable and social arm. Led by Zakiur Rehman Lakhwi (arrested
(JuD)/Army of the following Mumbai attacks in 2008). Hafiz Saeed leader of JuD; has been under house arrest
righteous
lashkar-e-islam (Army
of islam)
Khyber-based. Led by Mangal Bagh. Increasingly active in PAK. Allegedly seeks Islamic state in PAK. Does not
align with AQ elements within Khyber. Allegedly maintains secure road link through Khyber Pass used to resupply
ISAF
South and
Central Asia