Kyrgyzstan's failed coup may have its origin in crisis involving Pakistani students

The genesis of the political crisis in Kyrgyzstan that threatened to snowball into a coup may have resulted from the student crisis that erupted in the Central Asian nation in May, said people familiar with the matter.

They said local political forces, opposed to the current PM, riding on the back of the crisis that witnessed a spat between Pakistan and Kyrgyzstan allegedly created a nexus with extremists from the outlawed Hizb ut-Tahrir to stage the coup which was thwarted on Friday,

Hizb ut-Tahrir is banned throughout Central Asia and has been accused by the governments of the region of terrorist activity or illegal import of arms into their countries. Recently, a few Kyrgyz citizens who had joined the banned group renounced their ideology.

The plan was allegedly to stage protests and create chaos near the Kyrgyz capital Bishkek and take over power on the country’s Independence Day on August 31, said the people. A large cache of arms was recovered from the coup plotters arrested by the local security forces.

The State Committee for National Security of Kyrgyzstan claimed that the plan was to organise mass sports games to attract youths from different regions and then utilise them in overthrowing power on August 31.

“The event was supposed to be attended by opposition leaders who would call on the crowd to march to Bishkek on foot. Prepared individuals were supposed to organise mass riots along the way, accompanied by violence, pogroms, arson, property destruction, shooting and resist the authorities,” said the State Committee for National Security of Kyrgyzstan.

The committee also claimed that the perpetrators planned to seize a sports shooting range to obtain weapons, which they intended to use against law enforcement and peaceful citizens. "Since the beginning of the year, the criminal group has held meetings with so-called ‘overseers’, purchased firearms and ammunition, and acquired necessary components for homemade explosives and tear gas, bulletproof vests, and other protective gear,” it said.

In recent months tensions have been increasing in Kyrgyzstan over the influx of foreigners and illegal immigration. Kyrgyzstan has had a history of protests, street violence and coups.

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. The ISIS offshoot 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.

In May, a spat ensued between Kyrgyzstan and Pakistan over students’ riot in Bishkek, ET had reported. The Kyrgyz government had then not only lodged protests with Pakistan but also issued a statement blaming the Pakistani media for spreading canards. The issue snowballed into a diplomatic crisis, forcing the Pakistani foreign minister and deputy PM to travel to Bishkek.