[RFE/RL] Secretary of State Kerry is seeking to reassure Tajikistan, an Afghan neighbor concerned about the spread of Islamism, that the U.S. remains committed to Central Asian security. After talks with Tajik President Emomali Rahmon in Dushanbe, Kerry said he "emphasized the United States' commitment to work with Tajikistan and other countries...to strengthen border security."Later, Kerry held talks with Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov in Ashgabat, completing his first trip around the region in more than two years as Secretary of State.
On November 2 in Kazakhstan, Kerry praised President Nursultan Nazarbaev for his leadership in resisting Islamism but warned that the threat of terrorism is no excuse for suppressing democracy and dissent.