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

New Delhi: 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.