France Struggles to Infiltrate Tajik Community Amid Rising ISIS-K Threat Pre-Olympics

Tajik journalist Temur Varki received a concerning call from Paris police regarding the Tajik community in France after recent ISIS-K attacks. As France prepares for the Paris Olympics, authorities are ramping up efforts to gain intelligence from Central Asian migrants, focusing on potential threats from radicalized individuals within the community.

In late March, Tajik journalist Temur Varki was contacted by Paris police shortly after ISIS militants from Tajikistan allegedly committed a massacre in Moscow. The officers inquired about France's Tajik immigrant community, attempting to gather information. Varki, a political refugee in France, told the officers he knew a few Tajiks, but not any jihadists.

As the Paris Olympics approach, French security agencies are addressing intelligence gaps by establishing ties with Central Asian immigrants. This move follows two significant attacks this year by Tajik ISIS-K members, including a double suicide bombing in Iran and a mass shooting in Moscow.

Authorities are concerned about the potential for domestic attacks orchestrated by ISIS-K handlers based in other countries. France has increased outreach efforts in Tajik and other Central Asian communities, but experts warn that heavy-handed tactics might alienate these communities and prove counterproductive.

(With inputs from agencies.)