Ladies and gentlemen,

This event is important and significant. First of all, I would like to thank the host for the invitation. I especially appreciate the People’s Republic of China’s initiative to establish the Global Public Security Cooperation Forum (Lianyungang).

The global security situation is continuing to worsen. According to international research data, 2022 and 2023 mark the two years with the highest frequency of conflicts since the end of World War II. The threat of terrorism is on the rise, with deaths caused by terrorism increasing by 22% compared to the previous year.

In the current context, Kazakhstan continues to actively combat terrorism and violent extremism. According to information released by the National Security Committee of the Republic of Kazakhstan, two major terrorist attacks were prevented in the first half of 2024. Last year, our security forces detained 122 individuals suspected of involvement in terrorist activities. These figures reflect the high level of professionalism among our colleagues.

Our government is actively engaged in global and regional security initiatives. In this context, Kazakhstan’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev proposed establishing a UN Regional Sustainable Development Goals Center for Central Asia and Afghanistan in Almaty. We have doubled the scholarships for Afghan citizens pursuing higher education and made practical contributions to internet infrastructure for Afghan schools. Furthermore, we actively support student exchange programs to expand educational opportunities for Afghan citizens and others in the region.

Kazakhstan is facing challenges in assisting foreign combatants in reintegrating into society, especially those who participated in military actions in Syria and Iraq. These individuals pose a potential threat due to their combat experience and possible radical ideologies. To address this issue, Kazakhstan has implemented rehabilitation and reintegration programs for the wives and children of returning militants through various non-governmental organizations.

I, along with my colleagues in Kazakhstan’s law enforcement agencies, understand the importance of research in terrorism prevention. We are dedicated to addressing issues related to terrorism, extremism, and drug trafficking, and have established a non-governmental organization called the “Anti-Terrorism Committee”.

We have a clear mission—to unite citizens, society, and government institutions to create an effective system for addressing modern threats, particularly in preventing terrorism and extremism. This involves developing educational programs and providing training to help individuals take appropriate actions in emergency situations.

In 2023, we conducted research with law enforcement personnel to gain a comprehensive understanding of their perspectives on the Kazakhstan riots of 2022. This research helped us make recommendations for preventing police escalation of behavior. Additionally, the research on the promotion of militarism and the spread of extremism online has greatly enhanced our understanding of information warfare.

We are developing educational programs to prevent the radicalization of young people, which include teaching appropriate responses to terrorist threats, fostering critical thinking, and strengthening their attachment to the homeland through organized military patriotic education for children and youth. These initiatives aim to instill a sense of respect, enhance trust in law enforcement agencies, and build a reserve of personnel for those agencies.

We are establishing regional specialized media to combat terrorism, extremism, and drug trafficking, actively collaborating with journalists to promote methods for addressing these issues to the public. We are also committed to supporting all colleagues in sharing relevant information in this field.

I believe that today’s meeting will mark a new step toward building a safer world. We must unite to effectively address modern challenges and make our region a model of stability and cooperation.

Thank you.

Amanzhol Urazbayev, Chairman of Republican Public Association “The Counter-Terrorism Committee”