Kerry dangles opportunity of US investment, security cooperation, to nations of Central Asia

US Secretary of State John Kerry speaks to staff at the US Embassy on Monday Nov. 2, 2015 in Astana, Kazakhstan. US Secretary of State Kerry begins the third leg of a five nation tour of Central Asia in Kazakhstan, where he is scheduled to meet with high level political and cultural leaders. ( Brendan Smialowski / Pool via AP) (The Associated Press)

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, right, arrives for a meeting with Turkmenistan's President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov at the Oguzkhan Presidential Palace in Ashgabat Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2015. (Brendan Smialowski/Pool Photo via AP) (The Associated Press)

Turkmenistan President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov background talks, during a meeting with US Secretary of State John Kerry, at the Oguzkhan Presidential Palace in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2015. U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry ventured Tuesday to a place few world leaders and even fewer journalists or human rights monitors ever see, dangling the opportunity of greater U.S. investment, expanded security cooperation and a strategic counterweight to nearby Russia and China if the government improves its human rights record. (Brendan Smialowski/Pool Photo via AP) (The Associated Press)

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry is venturing into Turkmenistan, dangling the opportunity of greater U.S. investment, expanded security cooperation and a strategic counterweight to nearby Russia and China if the government improves its human rights record.

Kerry arrived after making a similar offer in Tajikistan, which followed the script he used in weekend pitches in Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan. Speaking Monday at Kazakhstan's Nazarbayev University, he addressed the challenge facing Central Asia's governments, particularly as they respond to the threat of expanded Islamic State activity.

He said fears about extremist organizations don't give authorities "a license to use violence indiscriminately." Kerry's audience included the Kazakh prime minister, senators, foreign diplomats and students.