Uzbekistan

[Jedburgh]

SWP Comments, 14 Apr 08: The Islamic Jihad Union: On the Internationalisation of Uzbek Jihadism

The Islamic Jihad Union (IJU), founded in 2002 after splitting off from the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU), has been trying since 2007 to boost its public image. Unlike the IMU, the largest militant organisation in Central Asia, it advocates the internationalisation of the "Holy War" and has joined forces with the Taliban in Afghanistan and with al-Qaida on the global level. It is a young and small organisation and together with al-Qaida has been training volunteers from Central Asia, Pakistan and Europe in the Pakistani region of Waziristan. Although so far the IJU seems to have had little influence in its native Uzbekistan, it has managed to recruit a group of Turks and Germans, some of whom planned attacks in Germany in 2007. It is still too early to speak of a trend, but should the IJU and al-Qaida succeed in recruiting greater numbers of young Turks and Germans of Turkish origin, the likelihood of attacks in Germany will increase......

[George L. Singleton]

Thanks to Ted and all others who have posted to this site topic about Islam today in the Stans and in Russia, too.

Our Bham MOAA Chapter a year or two back had a Montgomery USAF Reserve unit C-130 pilot speak to us about flying into and working out of one of the Stans in support of Afghantisan ops. Very good talk with slides.

The practical educational benefit via this and many other topics here on SWJ are invaluable and I can say at least in my case in this specific instance will shortly be to the attention and more educated by these SWJ comments of our member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, my friend Senator Jeff Sessions.

Keep up the good info which helps all from the lowest level in rank grunt in the field in SW Asia to our top policy makers in the US whether they be in Congress or the White House.

[davidbfpo]

A rare commentary on this country, prompted by the death of its "strongman", which starts with:

The death of Uzbek President Islam Karimov, the longest serving ruler in the post-Soviet space, has triggered concern about the stability of the Central Asian country. In power since 1989, Karimov’s authoritarian rule has undoubtedly contributed to relative stability, whilst also hindering the development of a robust economy and functioning civil society. The centralisation of power around Karimov and lack of effective, independent state institutions, means there are deep concerns about domestic stability following his death.

Link:vhttps://defenceindepth.co/2016/09/1...or-uzbekistan/

[davidbfpo]

An article from CTC's Sentinel on the impact of radicalisation in Central Asia, especially amongst Uzbeks. The Abstract says:

Abstract: Ethnic Uzbeks carried out terrorist attacks in Istanbul, St. Petersburg, Stockholm, and New York City in 2017, making it clear radicalization in the Uzbek and Central Asian global diaspora is a growing global security concern. There has been an increase in Uzbek-language terrorist propaganda, and terrorist groups dislodged from Uzbekistan have built up significant operations in Syria. These groups are exploiting grievances over autocratic regimes and corruption at home to recruit Central Asians and support global terrorist agendas. Central Asian operatives trained in Syria have already returned back to their home region to plot attacks and may pose a wider threat to international security.

Link:https://ctc.usma.edu/posts/violent-e...k-city-attacks