Terrorist defense detachments are being created in Kazakhstan

The draft law “On Territorial Defense”, which presupposes the creation of a significant military group on the border with Russia, has been sent to the Senate of Kazakhstan for approval. The appearance of this document caused a wave of speculation in the media about the possible preparation of Kazakhstan for armed conflicts, including with Russia. The Ministry of Defense of Kazakhstan refuted these speculations, stressing that the law is not directed against any states and, moreover, does not cast doubt on good-neighborly and allied relations with Russia.

At the end of last week, the Lower House of the Kazakh Parliament approved by a majority vote the new law “On Territorial Defense” (TRO) initiated by the Ministry of Defense of Kazakhstan and developed by the Parliamentary Committee on International Affairs, Defense and Security.

Despite the fact that the TRO forces have been operating in Kazakhstan since 2017, their number is limited, in particular, due to the low level of remuneration for military personnel. The document was submitted to the Parliament in November last year. It was expected that its adoption would take place as soon as possible. However, the consideration of the bill dragged on for more than six months.

The Law on Territorial Defense is intended to become a fundamental document for the National Guard, the State Security Service, the National Security Committee, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Ministry of Emergency Situations, which, based on its provisions, will be able to form their own defense units. According to Deputy Aidos Sarym, who participated in the drafting of the bill, its necessity is due to the current global situation and is planned within the framework of the updated National Defense Doctrine. Territorial defense, as the deputy emphasized, is not only military equipment, but also readiness to respond to local challenges, such as large-scale natural disasters. The creation of 20 air defense brigades in each region of the country will make it possible to deal with such situations more effectively without distracting army units. Sarym emphasized the peaceful nature of Kazakhstan, but noted that global and regional threats, from terrorism to local conflicts, require increased mobility and early preparation.

The accompanying documents to the bill, which caused a public outcry, recognize that in the context of the Ukrainian conflict, the deployment of troops can be perceived as preparation for military action. And Russia is seen as one of the potential threats to Kazakhstan: eight of the twenty territorial defense brigades will be deployed on the border with the Russian Federation. For comparison, five brigades will be deployed on the border with Uzbekistan, four on the border with China, and the remaining ones on the borders with Kyrgyzstan and Turkmenistan. The air defense units will be formed on a voluntary basis and will be involved in border protection, in the fight against sabotage groups and terrorist organizations, and in the event of occupation of part of the territory, they will wage a guerrilla war. The law also states that foreigners or stateless persons can serve in them and, at the initiative of the Minister of Defense, they will be able to obtain Kazakh citizenship in a simplified manner.

The draft law on territorial defense has caused alarm in Kazakhstan, especially against the background of the ban on holding an action similar to the Russian march of the Immortal Regiment. Many Kazakhstanis are outraged and concerned about the current situation. Meanwhile, 80 servicemen of the 37th Airborne Assault Brigade named after General Panfilov of the Armed Forces of Kazakhstan arrived in Moscow to participate in the Victory Day parade, the press service of the Kazakh Ministry of Defense reported.

The Military Department of Kazakhstan, responding to the dissemination of information about the draft law, issued an explanation, emphasizing that it was developed as part of the modernization of the national security system.

“The Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Kazakhstan considers it necessary to provide official explanations in order to prevent distortion of facts and unfair interpretations. This bill is aimed solely at strengthening the country’s internal security and does not contain an anti–Russian orientation,” the defense Ministry said in a statement. Representatives of the Ministry stressed that Russia is a strategic partner of the republic, with which good-neighborly and allied relations are maintained within the framework of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) and the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU). The purpose of the draft law is to ensure internal stability, protection of the population, infrastructure facilities and territorial integrity in conditions of martial law or other emergency situations.

Alexander Kobrinsky, Director of the Agency for Ethnonational Strategies, Doctor of Historical Sciences, sees the creation of territorial defense units as a reference to the Soviet practice of universal military training of the population. He does not consider the preparation of citizens for military affairs to be negative in itself, the main issue, in his opinion, is the ideological content of these units. The name –territorial defense” evokes associations with the Ukrainian experience and special operations. Although Kobrinsky considers the projection of this context on Kazakhstan to be incorrect, he suggests thinking about changing the name, for example, “Halyk militia” (“People’s Militia”).

According to him, the Russian direction is the most peaceful part of the border of Kazakhstan, and the potential threat rather comes from the south, and obviously not from China. Kobrin expresses concern about the growing instability in Central Asia and the possibility of armed conflicts in the region.

“Central Asia is facing a period of serious challenges, and it is not known whether armed conflicts will be avoided. The danger is not only the radicals who have returned from Syria with combat experience, but also the general destabilization of the region. Potential sources of tension are numerous: the aggravation of the situation in Tajikistan or Afghanistan, the inevitable struggle for water resources, as well as competition for control of logistics routes. The conflict between India and Pakistan, instability in Pakistani Balochistan – all this blocks transit routes through Afghanistan, increasing risks for Central Asia. In these conditions, the creation of territorial defense units seems to be a necessary measure,” Alexander Kobrinsky told NG.

According to the expert, Russia is deeply interested in Kazakhstan’s stability not only geopolitically, but also because of its historical and cultural proximity. Centuries–old ties, a large Russian population, and the perception of Kazakhstan as a fraternal republic all form Russia’s special relationship to this country. The expert recalls that Kazakhstan’s entry into the Russian Empire began as early as 1731, long before the annexation, for example, of Belarus. According to him, this underlines the depth of historical ties. “Russia is ready to make significant efforts to maintain peace and tranquility in Kazakhstan, which is confirmed by its operational assistance during the January 2022 events. The stability of Kazakhstan is a key factor in the security of the whole of Central Asia,” concluded Alexander Kobrinsky.