The structural reasons for Tajikistan's vulnerability to instability and radicalization will likely persist, and could be exacerbated by a looming succession, underscoring continued security risks for neighboring states and the wider region. On July 3, leaders of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) gathered in Astana, Kazakhstan, for their annual summit. Security was of particular resonance this year given the growing terrorism and stability threats emanating from the Taliban-led Afghanistan, which have garnered greater attention after several Tajik citizens linked to Afghanistan-based Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP) attacked the Crocus City Hall near Moscow on March 22. To this end, on July 4, SCO states announced the establishment of an anti-drug center and the upgrading of a regional anti-terrorist structure into a universal security center that will respond to the entire spectrum of security threats in Dushanbe, Tajikistan. But statements leading up to the summit demonstrated continued tensions between SCO member...
