IMU might foment unrest in Bishkek

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BISHKEK – Usmon Odil, who replaced the late Tahir Yuldashev as chief of the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU), has called for jihad against those responsible for killing Uzbeks in southern Kyrgyzstan.

“This is a blood-soaked tragedy, one of a series of sordid plots against Muslims, organised by a government of heretics. May Allah have Muslims make the right decision and be able to take the path of jihad,” Odil said in a video address.

Kyrgyzstan regards this as a call for jihad against civilians and is taking precautions to protect the public.

“We have intelligence that individual IMU militants are already in Bishkek,” State National Security Service Director Keneshbek Duishebayev stated to Central Asia Online. “But no matter who heads the IMU, we are able to resist it.”

He did not detail preventative measures, citing security.

Political scientist Yevgeniya Nuranskaya called the threats just words, but said, “We cannot allow a gang of criminals to intimidate the entire country.”

Toktogul Kakchekeyev and a number of other analysts told Central Asia Online that Odil’s call for jihad is solely a political effort to rally the movement, which is now divided into three camps. One has established its own movement, Islamic Jihad; another is fighting for the Taliban in Afghanistan; and the third maintains its old objective of overthrowing Central Asian governments.

IMU member confirms plans were discussed

IMU member Hamit, who refused to give his last name for reasons of personal safety, confirmed the chance of violence in Kyrgyzstan. He has been living in Bishkek for several months because the IMU planned to organise riots in the city, he said.

“I came because they told me that IMU people were being transferred to Bishkek,” he said. “No one has contacted me since I arrived here. The people either left or disappeared.”

Hamit emphasised he came to recruit, not to fight.

“I heard that the movement’s leaders cannot come to an agreement. Usmon Odil wants to wage a war, but Mullah Abdullah won’t get in touch with anyone,” Hamit said.

Farruhi Sugdi, a Tajik scholar of terrorism in Central Asia, called the IMU’s situation unenviable.

“This movement may split into several more parts and acquire a local-group character, whose influence on the situation in the region will be quite minimal,” he predicted. “With the death of Tahir Yuldashev, the flow of financial assistance to the IMU from the Taliban in Pakistan and Afghanistan and from jihadist organisations in Arab countries will decrease.”

Kyrgyz-Russian Slavic University political scientist Marat Kazakpayev agreed. He affirmed that the IMU suffered severe combat losses in South Waziristan and split. “But I think that … it may turn its attention to Kyrgyzstan. It may start some activities to show (its strength),” Kazakpayev said.