Economic struggles in Tajikistan create recruitment opportunities for militants

Tajikistan’s worsening economic crisis has created fertile ground for extremist recruitment, particularly by groups like ISIS, according to news reports. High unemployment, poverty, and political strife have left many young people vulnerable to exploitation by armed groups offering financial aid and promises of a better future.

Reports indicate that over 2,000 Tajik citizens joined ISIS in Syria and Iraq between 2014 and 2019, with Tajiks comprising half of ISIS’s Khorasan branch, according to The New York Times.

Key recruitment drivers include poverty, political repression, and religious pressures, as the group lures individuals with promises of financial stability and religious freedom.

Analysts note, however, that ISIS’s recruitment strategy often relies on material rather than ideological motivations, which weakens its internal cohesion and long-term influence. This fragility may contribute to the group’s declining power over time.