Today, the countries of Central Asia face a wide range of global threats and challenges, including Afghanistan, biological weapons, and water issues, noted military expert Nurlan Dosaliev during the international conference: "The Future of Central Asian Countries in a Changing World 2024: Global Threats and Challenges. Allies and Adversaries in Solving Economic and Humanitarian Problems." The event was organized by the Center for Economic Initiatives "Oy Ordo" in partnership with the news agency "Eastern Express 24."
"Afghanistan is another geopolitical 'black hole.' Today, according to various estimates, there are between 16,000 and 25,000 militants concentrated in the northern provinces of Afghanistan, including ISIS fighters and other groups, the so-called 'black international,' including individuals from our republics. I'll tell you something else: until 1941, every Basmachi detachment fleeing from Central Asia had a British advisor who served as a liaison, providing money, weapons, and ammunition. He advised the Basmachis, and there was always a mullah present. We are surprised at how, in our time, zones are creating pyramids of radicals who convert our prisoners to radical extremism. This is an old method where, under the guise of religion, they produce sadists, militants, and so on. It was developed by the Anglo-Saxons over a hundred years ago," the expert explained.
He recalled that a month ago, U.S. presidential candidate Donald Trump officially stated that under President Obama, the U.S. made a mistake by participating in the creation of ISIS.
"But we know that the main beneficiaries of this project are the U.S. and the U.K. Therefore, from the side of our five republics, we should initiate an inquiry: are the militant forces concentrated in Afghanistan directed against our region's countries? Will they act against us? Will they threaten us or not?
What's happening in Ukraine? The West and East are locked in a deadly battle. But this understanding has not yet reached us. We are still suffering from the childhood disease of sudden independence. A common problem will sober us up, and God forbid it becomes a common disaster. It will be a sobering blow, and God forbid it is a knockout," emphasized N. Dosaliev.
He also pointed to another serious threat—the threat of a nuclear attack.
"During Soviet times, the capitals of our republics—Alma-Ata, Ashgabat, Dushanbe, Tashkent, and Frunze—were targets for nuclear strikes. I reviewed numerous documents but never found any mention that the U.S. notified us that we ceased to be targets for nuclear strikes. That is, we have no information: have we stopped being targets for American nuclear missiles or not? These days, Russia's non-strategic nuclear forces are conducting exercises in response to corresponding actions by the West in the theater called Ukraine. A few days ago, a U.S. Army representative stated that British special forces are operating in Ukraine. And their special forces conduct specific actions. As Napoleon once said, the general words of politicians are filled with small but significant things spoken by the military. Why did the Americans raise this issue, and why did Russian forces react instantly? Because the British special forces possess a unique item—a backpack nuclear charge of up to three kilotons. An infantryman carries it and detonates it with one button, and then you can't trace who, what, or how it happened," shared the military expert.
This year marks the 50th anniversary of an interesting document—the Doctrine of Selective Nuclear Strikes. Its author is former U.S. Secretary of Defense and former CIA Director James Schlesinger. The doctrine provides for not massive, but targeted nuclear strikes with a force of up to 300 kilotons. From there originates NATO's concept of Limited Nuclear War. For context, the bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki were 60 kilotons.
- This document is still in effect, no one has repealed it. Therefore, the question is very relevant for the entire Central Asia: have the digital coordinates that were entered into the missile guidance systems by the Americans been removed? Or not? Why don't we initiate a request for the U.S. government to answer us whether we have ceased to be a nuclear target or not? Why were the coordinates of our republics entered into the nuclear missile guidance systems at all? Understandably, major logistical hubs, Russian scientific centers, but why us? Because our peoples are not among the chosen nations close to the Western community," the speaker noted.
Another point, the U.S. Senate recently requested an assessment of the extent of damage from a nuclear explosion in space. And before that, they calculated all the damages from explosions on water—on the sea and ocean in their own territory. That is, they are actively preparing for nuclear war.
"In our region, there is a complete absence of a culture of assessing nuclear danger. Maybe because during the Union, nobody except Kazakhstan had nuclear weapons? But look around us, what is happening. Iran and Israel recently exchanged missile strikes. Both sides put their nuclear forces on alert. Now the entire Middle East, Asia, China are all putting their nuclear forces on alert, as well as civil defense systems in case of nuclear strikes. Why aren't we preparing? Our government needs to determine the readiness level of our bunkers. Bomb shelters during the Soviet period were created not only in case of missile and nuclear strikes but also as shelters in case of natural disasters, such as earthquakes," N. Dosaliev explained.
In turn, a participant from Uzbekistan, the director of the Center for Research Initiatives "Ma'no," Bakhtier Ergashev, expressed the opinion that "the question of nuclear strikes should be addressed to completely different people and countries."
"After the establishment of the nuclear-weapon-free zone in Central Asia in 1997, it was one of the most important things we were able to do together in 30 years. Five countries gave us assurances that neither Russia, nor China, nor England, nor France, nor the United States would launch a nuclear strike on our countries. Pakistan and India did not give us guarantees. And what worries me much more is when Iran obtains nuclear weapons, and this will happen in the next two years, Iran will not provide these guarantees either. That's the problem," B. Ergashev noted.
A somewhat different opinion regarding the reality of the nuclear threat was expressed by the head of the Institute for Research on Water Use Problems and Water-Energy Resources in Central Asia, Ernest Karibekov.
"If a conflict between the U.S. and China breaks out, they could very well drop a nuclear bomb on Central Asia because a significant portion of China's energy resources comes through our region. Therefore, the prospects of conflict with the use of nuclear weapons on our territory are quite real. Moreover, the likelihood that they will drop missiles on us is higher than that missiles will be directed at Russia or China because Moscow and Beijing will respond, and we are a 'nuclear-weapon-free zone,' we won't be able to respond," the speaker emphasized.
Source: CEI "Oy Ordo"
CentralasianLIGHT.org
May 25, 2024