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An Isis fighter, who has called for jihad in an online video, was trained in counterterrorism tactics by the United States State Department, officials have confirmed.
Gulmurod Khalimov was an officer of the primary counterterrorism unit which responds to threats in Tajikistan, a State Department official said.
He and other members of his unit were recommended for the program by the Tajik government.
The program is intended to train candidates in modern counterterrorism tactics, so they can fight the kind of militants that Khalimov has now joined.
A State Department official said Khalimov was trained in crisis response, tactical management of special events, tactical leadership training and related issues.
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State Department spokesperson Pooja Jhunjhunwala said: "From 2003-2014 Colonel Khalimov participated in five counterterrorism training courses in the United States and in Tajikistan, through the Department of State's Diplomatic Security/Anti-Terrorism Assistance program."
In the online video, Khalimov says "Listen, you American pigs: I've been to America three times. I saw how you train soldiers to kill Muslims.
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