A report in a Pakistani daily noted that Uzbek militant commander Abdur Rehman has succeeded as the new chief of IMU. [1]
Tahir Yeldshev, in his late 30s, became the head of the IMU after the death of Juma Namagani in fighting against the U.S.-led coalition forces in Afghanistan in late 2001 or early 2002. Yeldshev, who led the Uzbek militants based in Pakistan, had been the right hand man of Baitullah Mehsud, the chief of Pakistani Taliban who was killed in a U.S. drone attack on August 5, 2009.
The IMU has not confirmed Tahir Yeldshev's killing, but unidentified Pakistani security officials have now told the Pakistani media that the Uzbek commander was killed in a U.S. drone attack on August 27, 2009. [2]
His reported killing is significant for several reasons: first, he was the key leader of the Uzbek militants in Waziristan tribal region and it is yet to be seen whether his successor can be an effective leader; second, his killing comes at a time several top Taliban commanders have been killed in Waziristan region; third, the Pakistani military is about to launch an operation against the Taliban militants in South Waziristan district.
In an editorial, titled "Uzbek Militants in Pakistan Pose Threat to Stability of the Region," the Afghan newspaper Afghanistan Times recently assessed the threat posed by Uzbek militants based in Pakistan.
Following are some excerpts from the editorial: [3]
"The Presence of [Uzbek] Militants from Central Asia and Other Countries [in Pakistan's Waziristan Region] is a Big Danger for Security of the Region"
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"A member of Upper House of Pakistan from Pakhtunkhwa province [Pakistan's North West Frontier Province] recently told a session of the house that there were around 5,000 Uzbek militants fighting the Pakistan Army in Waziristan. These militants not only fight against the government of Pakistan but enter Afghanistan also, said Habibullah Khan, an MP from Pakhtunkhwa. He also said that these militants entered Pakistan through Islamabad airport, but the ISI [Inter-Services Intelligence of Pakistan] had neglected it. In fact, this Pakistani MP re-asserted what the government of Afghanistan has long said about the presence of foreign fighters and their activities in Pakistan.
"During the Soviet era, a large number of foreign fighters from Central Asia, Middle East and other countries came to Pakistan's tribal areas to participate in the war against Soviet forces in Afghanistan. These fighters were supported by the U.S., Saudi Arabia and Pakistan. After the fall of the Soviet-backed regime of Kabul some of them returned to their countries but the majority of these militants settled in the [Federally Administered] Tribal Areas [of Pakistan along the Afghan border] and after the takeover of the Taliban regime took part in fight against Northern Alliance [anti-Taliban political group in Afghanistan].
"After the fall of Taliban regime in 2001, they sheltered the leaders of Taliban in their camps in [Federally Administered] Tribal Areas. In addition to that, these militants helped Taliban reorganize their forces and wage fight against foreign troops in Afghanistan. Currently thousands of these militants live in Pakistan and control wide areas in Waziristan. Despite several military operations by Pakistani Army [in Pakistan's tribal region in recent years], they are conducting their activities very effectively and without any disruption.
"Northern Afghanistan Can Become a Launching Pad for Militants' Attacks Against Central Asian Countries"
"The Afghan government has several times called on Pakistan's government to get rid of these militants. So far, Pakistani Army has not been able to eliminate or even weaken them. Recently, there were rumors that these militants, after entering Afghanistan, settle in northern provinces of the country. Apparently the purpose of these movements is to prepare themselves for conducting disruptive activities in northern neighbors of Afghanistan [such as in Uzbekistan] and destabilize Central Asia.
"If these rumors are correct and timely action is not taken by the governments of Afghanistan and Pakistan, northern Afghanistan can become a launching pad for militants' attacks against Central Asian countries. In that case, not only Afghanistan and Pakistan but Central Asian nations will find themselves in the middle of chaos.
"Having said this, we can conclude that presence of militants from Central Asia and other countries is a big danger for security of the region. These militants, if given opportunity to flourish, will extend their activities to the Central Asian countries. It is important for the Pakistani government to effectively crack down on them. Afghan government and international forces also must make efforts to hinder cross-border activities of these militants."
Endnotes:
[1] The News, Pakistan, September 30, 2009.
[2] Daily Times, Pakistan, October 2, 2009.
[3] Afghanistan Times, Afghanistan, September 15, 2009. The text has been slightly edited for clarity.
