Country Report on Terrorism 2024 - Chapter 4 - Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU)

Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan

Aka:  IMU.

Description:  The Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU) was designated as an FTO on September 25, 2000.  IMU was established to overthrow the Uzbekistani government and establish an Islamic state.  Since 2014, however, the group has mostly recruited members from other Central Asian states and Europe.  Despite IMU’s stated objective to set up an Islamic state in Uzbekistan, the group operates in northern Afghanistan, where it previously fought against international forces.  Several IMU members are also suspected of having traveled to Syria to fight with terrorist groups.

IMU has had a more than a decade-long relationship with al-Qa’ida, the Taliban, and Tehrik-e- Taliban Pakistan.  Top IMU leaders integrated themselves into the Taliban’s shadow government in Afghanistan’s northern provinces when the Taliban battled the Afghan government.  In 2015, IMU leader Usman Ghazi publicly announced the group’s shift of allegiance to ISIS and has since cooperated with the Islamic State’s Khorasan Province.  In 2016, a faction of IMU announced its continued commitment to the Taliban and al-Qa’ida, marking a split with Ghazi and the rest of the group.  Numerous IMU members, including Ghazi himself, were subsequently reported to have been killed as a result of hostilities between ISIS and IMU’s former Taliban allies.

Activities:  IMU did not claim responsibility for any attacks in 2024.

Strength:  IMU was estimated to have up to 700 members, including family members.

Location/Area of Operation:  Afghanistan, Pakistan, Syria, Türkiye, and Central Asia.

Funding and External Aid:  IMU received support from a large Uzbekistani diaspora, terrorist organizations, and donors from Europe, the Middle East, and Central and South Asia.

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