TAJIKISTAN: POPULATION CHANGES IN RESPONSE TO RESISTANCE ATTACKS?

In a series of statements in the last few days, the commands of Russia’s border guards and "peacekeeping" troops in Tajikistan and the Federal Border Service command in Moscow charge that insurgents of Tajikistan’s Islamic Revival Movement are concentrating opposite Russian and Tajik government positions in Badakhshan region and the Garm area, in preparation for offensive actions. According to intelligence sources cited by these statements, the insurgents aim to enable more guerrilla groups to cross into Tajikistan from Afghanistan. The Russian commanders are also accusing the resistance of intending to penetrate Russian positions to take hostages. A Russian regimental commander in Badakhshan acknowledged that his troops are "resettling" the population of an entire village (Amurtikham) to "safe areas," ostensibly to keep the villagers from falling "hostage" to the insurgents. (13)