1 history
1.1 initial operations in central asia
1.2 expansion taliban-ruled afghanistan
1.3 overthrow of taliban , retreat pakistan
1.4 return afghanistan , later events
history
initial operations in central asia
in 1999 series of explosions in capital tashkent orchestrated in unsuccessful attempt on karimov s life. karimov placed blame on radical wahhabi islamists, , imu in particular – attribution remains disputed, , possible assassination attempt work of rival political , regional elites. irrespective of responsible, result escalation in karimov s suppression of islam, particularly in traditionally observant fergana valley – move increased number of fleeing uzbekistan join namangani , imu in tavildara valley.
later year imu conducted first verifiable operations, incursion batken region of southern kyrgyzstan – region populated ethnic uzbeks, , lying between tavildara in tajikistan , fergana valley in uzbekistan. insurgents seized mayor of osh (the regional capital) , extorted ransom ill-prepared kyrgyz government in bishkek, helicopter transport them afghanistan. further incursions batken followed, 1 raid seeing number of japanese geologists kidnapped – although denied japan, subsequent release followed significant ransom payment.
these raids had major impact in central asia, , resulted in considerable international pressure on tajikistan, not least karimov, expel imu base in tavildara valley. irpt persuaded former ally namangani abandon tavildara in late 1999. controversially, namangani , fighters flown tajikistan northern afghanistan in russian military helicopters – move enraged karimov, claimed russians aiding imu in attempt undermine uzbekistan.
expansion taliban-ruled afghanistan
in afghanistan yuldeshev able exploit contacts had made on earlier travels negotiate freedom of operation taliban, in return providing them assistance in battle massoud s northern alliance. imu established offices , training camps, , began expanding recruitment of disaffected uzbeks.
it estimated in 2000 imu approximately 2000 strong, , in spring contributed around 600 fighters taliban s offensive against massoud, participating in successful siege of taloqan, fought alongside bin laden s 055 brigade. imu provided taliban useful degree of deniability – under pressure china expel uighur militants taliban sent them north imu s camps.
by summer of 2000 western , cis intelligence sources claim imu equipped more advanced weaponry such sniper rifles , night-vision goggles, , had been supplied pair of heavy transport helicopters bin laden. namangani led imu fighters tavildara valley in tajikistan, , there launched multipronged attacks batken in kyrgyzstan, , northern uzbekistan, close tashkent.
in august 2000 imu kidnapped 4 u.s. mountain-climbers (tommy caldwell, beth rodden, jason “singer” smith, , john dickey) in kara-su valley of kyrgyzstan, holding them hostage until escaped on 12 august. in response, united states classified imu foreign terrorist organization.
once again raids followed strategic retreat tavildara, , once again international pressure on tajik government saw namangani agree him , men being flown russians afghanistan, arrived in january 2001.
by 2001 connections between imu , taliban had become more overt – media reported namangani had been appointed deputy defence minister in taliban government, taliban did not deny. in spring imu again supplied taliban 600 fighters renewed campaign against massoud, while in batken in kyrgyzstan number of sleepers armed previous year executed series of attacks.
overthrow of taliban , retreat pakistan
following attacks of september 11, 2001 , american-led invasion of afghanistan, imu largely destroyed while fighting alongside taliban, namangani being killed in november 2001 u.s. airstrike in northern afghanistan. in march 2002, yuldashev , many imu members believed have fought against coalition forces during operation anaconda in afghanistan s shahi kot valley, suffering heavy casualties before retreating tribal areas of pakistan.
members of imu began settling down in region, starting families , becoming involved in local business. group developed close ties members of taliban , al-qaeda had taken refuge in region, serving bodyguards senior commanders. tensions grew locals however, uzbeks accused local taliban leader maulvi nazir of disrespecting local customs, killing tribesmen, , involving in local feuds. in 2007, fighting broke out between nazir’s fighters , uzbeks, resulted in hundreds of casualties on both sides , expulsion of imu of south waziristan.
many of retreating imu members sheltered local militant commander baitullah mehsud, , when mehsud turned against pakistani state , formed tehrik-i-taliban pakistan (ttp) in 2007, imu cooperated closely him. alliance between 2 groups continued after hakimullah mehsud succeeded baitullah ttp leader in 2009, imu , tehrik-i-taliban pakistan carried out joint attacks on pakistani state , formed combined unit called ansar al-aseer, goal of freeing militant islamist prisoners held in pakistani prisons. close ties formed militant haqqani network following august 2009 killing of yuldashev in drone strike, imu s new leadership relocated group haqqani strongholds of mir ali , miranshah in north waziristan.
return afghanistan , later events
the imu became increasingly active in afghanistan , regularly cited terrorist threat governments within , outside of region. imu fighters first started become active in afghanistan in 2007, fighting in taliban insurgency against afghan , isaf troops. 2010 imu began expand presence northern afghanistan, particularly in ethnic uzbek areas in , around takhar province. imu commanders in northern afghanistan integrated taliban s shadow government, exercising governance in areas afghan government s presence weak.
in june 2014, pakistan armed forces began major military campaign against militant groups in north waziristan, in wake of imu , ttp s attack on jinnah international airport. there media reports in following months many imu fighters , families fled these military operations , moved afghanistan.
imu leader usman ghazi declared group s support islamic state of iraq , levant (isil) in september 2014, continued cooperate closely taliban in afghanistan, according afghan government sources. in march 2015, group of imu militants in northern afghanistan, led sadulla urgenji, released video in stated no longer view taliban s mullah omar leader , pledged allegiance isil s abu bakr al-baghdadi. followed video in july 2015, in sheikh muhammad ali, identified imu’s spiritual leader, swears allegiance isil. in august 2015, video released group in leader, usman ghazi, leads imu fighters in taking oath of allegiance isil , abu bakr al-baghdadi. ghazi stated group should considered fighters isil s afghanistan branch, wilayat khorasan. following pledge of allegiance, taliban launched offensive against imu , forces loyal dissident taliban commander mansoor dadullah in zabul province, inflicting heavy casualties , wiping out group s presence in province.
in june 2016, new faction of imu announced itself, denouncing isil , expressing loyalty taliban , al qaeda.
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