The Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan IMU in Pakistan

Posted on 19 January 2008. Tags: Central Asia, IMU, Pakistan, Uzbekistan

The implications of the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU) threats to Pakistan–in FATA. Before 9/11 the Taliban-IMU nexus was destabilizing Uzbekistan. After 911 the Uzbek fighters sought refuge in FATA. Originally there was sympathy for the IMU. However after the couple of years, the IMU was infiltrated by RAW which turned its guns on the Pakistan Army.

The ongoing operation in Swat and FATA is to purge these foreign inspired aliens from Pakistani soil

The Ferghana Valley, now is Uzbekistan has many links to the Subcontinent. Zahiruddin Babur, the founder of the Mughal Empire was born in Ferghana and lies buried in Kabul.

After the October revolution of 1917, Lenin and later Stalin forcibly inculcated the Central Asian Republics of Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, and Tajikistan.

The USSR offered them a confederation and the right to secede. However Islam was abolished in the name of ‘secularism”, mosques were banned and Muslim practices were illegal. The central Asian republics kept the faith alive. In the 80s many of these Muslims were conscripted and to fight the Afghans. They were impressed by the Afghan fighters. One such former Russian trooper was Juma Namangani.

Uzbeks Juma Namangani, and Tohir Yuldashev were inspired by Babur. In 1998, they formed The Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU), a militant group that wants to eliminate Soviet and Russian influences from Uzbekistan and the other former Central Asian republics.

The IMU objective is to overthrow President Islam Karimov of Uzbekistan, and to create an Islamic state.

In 1999 and 2000 the IMU launched a series of audacious raids into Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan from Tajikistan and Taliban-controlled areas of northern Afghanistan. These raides alarmed Russia and China and they formed the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. These raids also alarmed the USA and are considered one of the main reasons for the devastating attack on Afghanistan

The IMU and the Taliban were on the verge of eliminating the Northern Alliance which was supported by India, Russia and Iran. In 2001 Afghan bombing started. The IMU was specifically targeted and dispersed into the countryside along with the Taliban. Namangani was killed but. Yuldeshev and a large number of fighters escaped.

The IMU now is making statements against the Pakistan government according the Adnkronos International, which is an Italian news agency formed in 2003 to report news of the Middle East. The IMUs support for the Red Mosque confirms foreign connections to the Red Mosque terrorists. There are reports that the IMU has been infiltrated by Indian, and anti-Pakistan elements.

Islamic movement of Uzbekistan and Uzbek militants in North Waziristan, Qadri Tahir Yaldeshiv, in a video message, according to Adnkronos International. He also urged Muslims to avenge the Lal Masjid operation in July 2007 that left more than 100 militants and hardcore madrassa students dead, the German news agency said.Yaldshiv also talked about the need for strict Sharia law in Pakistan.

“Pakistan came into being in the name of Islam, therefore Islam should be enforced in the country.”The Uzbek commander is not popular among pro-Taliban militants in North Waziristan. Hundreds of his men were killed early last year in an offensive by local tribal fighters led by Mullah Nazir.The rivalry was renewed last week when suspected Uzbek militants attacked two pro-Taliban offices in North Waziristan, killing eight.

There are reports that local tribesmen have assembled an army of hundreds to avenge the killings.The government of Pakistan has to discuss the actions of the Uzbek residents with Uzbekistan. This cross-border terrorism should not go unpunished.

Are these threats from the IMU against real? Have these ”statements” orchestrated misinformation to get Pakistan to retaliate against the Uzbeks and discredit the IMUs struggle against Russia?

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