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Only local special forces are taking part in the counter-terrorist operation in Kazakhstan, Sputnik International quoted State Secretary Erlan Karin as saying on Monday.

"Only the Kazakh special forces - Arystan, Arlan, Berkut, as well as the forces of the Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Kazakhstan, which are clearing out terrorist groups and criminal formations, are involved in the counter-terrorist operation itself. Therefore, the decision to call in the CSTO peacekeeping contingent is aimed primarily at protecting the sovereignty and strengthening the integrity of Kazakhstan," Karin said on his Telegram channel.

He added that the peacekeepers of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) will only be helping with protecting vital facilities in some regions.

At least 164 people were killed and more than 5,000 detained during violent upheaval in Kazakhstan last week, as unrest swept the nation and the death toll ticked even higher, according to CNN.

Deadly protests that erupted in in the Central Asian country in recent days have seen the government resign and the declaration of a state of emergency as troops from the Russia-led military alliance have been deployed to help contain the unrest.