Comments on: Talking the IMU in Northern Afghanistan http://registan.net/index.php/2009/06/28/talking-the-imu-in-northern-afghanistan/ Central Asia News -- All Central Asia, All The Time Sun, 12 Feb 2012 23:53:13 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Turgai Sangar http://registan.net/index.php/2009/06/28/talking-the-imu-in-northern-afghanistan/comment-page-1/#comment-380669 Turgai Sangar Thu, 02 Jul 2009 11:48:21 +0000 http://www.registan.net/index.php/2009/06/28/talking-the-imu-in-northern-afghanistan/#comment-380669 Christian: bingo. Christian: bingo.

]]> By: Christian B http://registan.net/index.php/2009/06/28/talking-the-imu-in-northern-afghanistan/comment-page-1/#comment-380638 Christian B Mon, 29 Jun 2009 17:04:22 +0000 http://www.registan.net/index.php/2009/06/28/talking-the-imu-in-northern-afghanistan/#comment-380638 Re GP's claim in the previous comment: If the IMU controls 70% of the drugs trafficked through Uzbekistan then "IMU" must stand for "friends of the government of Uzbekistan," which the IMU (what remains) is most certainly not. Re GP’s claim in the previous comment:

If the IMU controls 70% of the drugs trafficked through Uzbekistan then “IMU” must stand for “friends of the government of Uzbekistan,” which the IMU (what remains) is most certainly not.

]]> By: Mr.D http://registan.net/index.php/2009/06/28/talking-the-imu-in-northern-afghanistan/comment-page-1/#comment-380635 Mr.D Mon, 29 Jun 2009 03:14:35 +0000 http://www.registan.net/index.php/2009/06/28/talking-the-imu-in-northern-afghanistan/#comment-380635 Yes, I subscribe to what your friend in Balkh has indicated. Uzbek fighters identifying themselves as "IMU" fighters have created advisory cells in northwestern Badghis province, with at least six such individuals in charge of training small unit tactics and bomb-making techniques. Narcotics, a slight issue in the unstable districts (and controlled by the Taliban) of Balamurghab and Ghormach has risen this year to over 800 hectares, up from last year's estimated 550 hectares. Take it for what it's worth, but Gretchen Peter's investigation suggests the IMU is not only heavily involved in drug trafficking, but controls nearly 70% of the narcotics flow through Uzbekistan. This could be another reason Uzbek criminals or “fighters" are poking their heads around the desolate hills of Badghis. One such region to watch nearby is Faryab's Shirin Tagab district, not far from the provincial capital. Beginning last year, villagers and government forces have exchanged a violent tit-for-tat that has left dozens killed, including district level officials such as the NDS and Police Chief. The Taliban were also targeted, sometimes by the help of locals, who helped kill the Taliban's "shadow" deputy governor and others. It appears the violence escalated after local elders reported a ten-ton weapons and rockets cache located in the district to ISAF authorities. Afterward, the Taliban increased their attacks throughout the district in an apparent revenge for losing such as large weapons depot, although this is only speculative. Additionally, some "spectacular" attacks have been recorded in Jawzjan this year as indicated by the Balkh friend above, including high level assassinations of all sorts and the targeting of aid workers and cell phone towers. Kunduz is particularly worrisome, especially as the Taliban continue to consolidate their forces within a 10-15 mile radius around Kunduz City. If any amount of NATO supplies is expected to be driven through Tajikistan across the US Army Corps of Engineer's constructed ($37 million) bridgeway, then the Taliban northeast of Kunduz City will become a major hinderance to the current mission. Germany currently has 667 troops stationed in Kunduz province, that's nearly one soldier for each of the province's schools which are also being systematicaly targeted by the Kunduz Taliban (10 have been shut down so far according to provincial authorities). Not long ago, reports whirled around describing 2 Uzbek fighters thought to be "IJU" operatives being arrested in the Kunduz area. Unfortunately the northern territories of Afghanistan do not get the amount of attention, both in a security and analytical sense that it needs. Thanks for posting your friend’s timely comments and for updating the specter of the “IMU.” Yes, I subscribe to what your friend in Balkh has indicated. Uzbek fighters identifying themselves as “IMU” fighters have created advisory cells in northwestern Badghis province, with at least six such individuals in charge of training small unit tactics and bomb-making techniques. Narcotics, a slight issue in the unstable districts (and controlled by the Taliban) of Balamurghab and Ghormach has risen this year to over 800 hectares, up from last year’s estimated 550 hectares. Take it for what it’s worth, but Gretchen Peter’s investigation suggests the IMU is not only heavily involved in drug trafficking, but controls nearly 70% of the narcotics flow through Uzbekistan. This could be another reason Uzbek criminals or “fighters” are poking their heads around the desolate hills of Badghis.

One such region to watch nearby is Faryab’s Shirin Tagab district, not far from the provincial capital. Beginning last year, villagers and government forces have exchanged a violent tit-for-tat that has left dozens killed, including district level officials such as the NDS and Police Chief. The Taliban were also targeted, sometimes by the help of locals, who helped kill the Taliban’s “shadow” deputy governor and others. It appears the violence escalated after local elders reported a ten-ton weapons and rockets cache located in the district to ISAF authorities. Afterward, the Taliban increased their attacks throughout the district in an apparent revenge for losing such as large weapons depot, although this is only speculative.

Additionally, some “spectacular” attacks have been recorded in Jawzjan this year as indicated by the Balkh friend above, including high level assassinations of all sorts and the targeting of aid workers and cell phone towers. Kunduz is particularly worrisome, especially as the Taliban continue to consolidate their forces within a 10-15 mile radius around Kunduz City. If any amount of NATO supplies is expected to be driven through Tajikistan across the US Army Corps of Engineer’s constructed ($37 million) bridgeway, then the Taliban northeast of Kunduz City will become a major hinderance to the current mission. Germany currently has 667 troops stationed in Kunduz province, that’s nearly one soldier for each of the province’s schools which are also being systematicaly targeted by the Kunduz Taliban (10 have been shut down so far according to provincial authorities). Not long ago, reports whirled around describing 2 Uzbek fighters thought to be “IJU” operatives being arrested in the Kunduz area.

Unfortunately the northern territories of Afghanistan do not get the amount of attention, both in a security and analytical sense that it needs. Thanks for posting your friend’s timely comments and for updating the specter of the “IMU.”

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