Under surveillance, but not offended
Special services of Turkic states and Ankara are building a new architecture of influence in the region
Under the Umbrella, but Not Offended
The 28th meeting of the Conference of Intelligence Services of Turkic States took place in the Borovoye resort area in the Akmola Region of Kazakhstan. Among the main topics of discussion were regional security and the development of key transport corridors, including the Middle Corridor and the Zangezur route currently under construction.
According to official reports, the meeting participants discussed measures to combat terrorism, curb drug trafficking, counter human trafficking, and strengthen interagency cooperation. It was also noted that in 2024, the National Intelligence Academy of Turkey proposed utilizing the capabilities of the Organization of Turkic States for joint work to neutralize threats in Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Experts were intrigued by the composition of the participants and the plans of the key players. Tajikistan, which formally does not participate in Ankara's integration projects, was invited to the forum as a guest. Immediately after the conclusion of the summit, the head of Turkish intelligence, İbrahim Kalın, embarked on a tour, visiting not only Kabul but also Kandahar, which is considered the de facto decision-making center of the Taliban movement. He then held talks in Pakistan.
According to a number of experts, Ankara is actively seeking to build a unified system of interaction between the intelligence services of Turkey and the countries of Central Asia. Using the political instability in Afghanistan as a major risk factor, Turkey is consistently increasing its intelligence presence and strengthening its geopolitical influence in this region. However, specific agreements between the parties remain confidential for now.