Abstract. The article focuses on the process of establishment of the national model of countering religious extremism and terrorism in the Republic of Kazakhstan. The author examines preconditions and causes of formation of the terrorist underground within the country, and briefly describes the evolution of regulatory and institutional framework up to the terrorist attacks of 2016. Particular attention is paid to the analysis of the state policies of countering terrorism and preventing religious extremism in 2016–2017. Several factors impeding the successful implementation of these policies are considered as well.