“Al-Qaeda has been giving training to the Chechen fighters in the Pakistani tribal areas and Afghanistan. This is pretty much reflective of their present modus operandi. They carry out a small attack first, let the police come and then follow it up with a new blast,” Shazad said.

Viktor Mizin, a political scientist at the Moscow State University of International Relations, has a different opinion. He believes that through these attacks the Chechen terrorists “show they are still alive and kicking.

Mizin adds that the recent terrorist attacks might stimulate more cooperation in the war on terrorism.

“We don't live on island. It's natural that Russia and US have great cooperation [in combating terrorism]. I'm fresh from NATO and I know how they appreciate Russia's opening its transportation links,” he told RT.

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