Imam Bukhari Jamaat
| Imam Bukhari Jamaat | |
|---|---|
| Uzbek: Imom Buxoriy Katibasi | |
 Logo of the Imam Bukhari Battalion  Flag of the Imam Bukhari Battalion | |
| Founder | Salahadin al-Uzbeki |
Leaders | Salahadin al-Uzbeki † (2017)[1][2] Abu Yusuf al-Muhajir (2017-present) |
| Dates active | 2012[3] – present |
| Allegiance |  Afghan Taliban (claimed by the group since 2017, denied by the Taliban)[4] |
| Ideology | Islamism Salafi jihadism[5][6] Turkestani-Nationalism[3] |
| Size | 500-1000 |
| Part of | Army of Conquest[7] Taliban (denied by the Taliban) |
| Wars | Syrian Civil War
War in Afghanistan (2001–2021)[4] Islamic State–Taliban conflictRepublican insurgency in Afghanistan |
The Imam Bukhari Jamaat (Uzbek: Imom Buxoriy Katibasi, also Katibat Imam al Bukhari) is a Jihadist group composed of primarily Uzbeks and formed in Afghanistan,[3] having fought in both the War in Afghanistan and Syrian Civil War, as well expressing loyalty to the Taliban movement.[1] The group originally operated only in Syria, where it is allied with other jihadist organisations such as al-Nusra Front and Ahrar ash-Sham, and alongside these other groups it makes up the Army of Conquest, which overran much of Idlib province in north Syria in 2015.[7] Since late 2016, the group has also began to fight against Afghan National Security Forces, and has claimed to have set up training camps in northern Afghanistan.[4]
It is likely that some members of the Syrian branch, have become part of the Syrian transitional government's new 84th Division.[11]
The group is named after Imam Bukhari, a 9th-century Islamic scholar who was from Bukhara in modern-day Uzbekistan.[12]
Leadership
[edit]The group was led by an individual known as Sheikh Salahuddin, before his assassination in Idlib Governorate.[13][14]
Activity
[edit]KIB has been operating in Syria and Afghanistan since at least 2015. In Syria, the group supported Al-Nusra Front and in Afghanistan the group supported the Taliban for their conquest to takeover Afghanistan. The origins of the group lie in Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan.[citation needed]
Organization
[edit]The Syrian and Afghan branches of KIB have sworn allegiance to Mullah Akhundzada of the Taliban in 2017.[4] The group was also suspected to have supported the Taliban during the Taliban offensive in 2021.[citation needed]
Syrian transitional government
[edit]Following the fall of the Assad regime, the formation of the Syrian transitional government, and the integration of foreign jihadist fighters into the 84th Division, it is likely that members of Imam Bukhari Jamaat were also incorporated into the division, according to the FDD's Long War Journal.[11]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- 1 2 "Main Uzbek Militant Faction In Syria Swears Loyalty To Taliban". Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. 12 November 2014. Retrieved 15 October 2015.
- ↑ "Al Qaeda affiliated Uzbek leader assassinated in Syria". Long War Journal. 30 April 2017. Retrieved 10 May 2017.
- 1 2 3 Uran Botobekov (23 February 2018). "Katibat Imam al Bukhari Renewed its Ideological Doctrine of the Jihad". Modern Diplomacy. Retrieved 20 June 2025.
- 1 2 3 4 Caleb Weiss (9 February 2017). "Uzbek jihadist group claims ambush in northern Afghanistan". Long War Journal. Retrieved 10 February 2017.
- ↑ Uran Botobekov (23 February 2018). "Katibat Imam al Bukhari Renewed its Ideological Doctrine of the Jihad". Modern Diplomacy. Retrieved 18 February 2026.
- ↑ Roggio, Bill (12 December 2024). "Hayat Tahrir al Sham's terror network in Syria". Long War Journal. Retrieved 26 March 2025.
- 1 2 3 "Taliban-Aligned Uzbek Suicide Bomber Attacks Shi'ite Village In Syria". Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. 21 September 2015. Retrieved 15 October 2015.
- ↑ "Turkistan Islamic Party shows fighters on frontlines in northwestern Syria | FDD's Long War Journal". Long War Journal. Retrieved 15 June 2023.
- ↑ "Over 150 killed in Aleppo fighting". Long War Journal. 19 February 2015. Retrieved 15 October 2015.
- ↑ "Jihadists celebrate in key Idlib city after defeating Syrian regime". Long War Journal. 27 April 2015. Retrieved 15 October 2015.
- 1 2 Sharawi, Bill Roggio & Ahmad (22 May 2025). "Syrian military integrates Al Qaeda-linked terror group into its ranks". FDD's Long War Journal. Retrieved 15 October 2025.
- ↑ "Uzbek jihadist group releases footage from Syrian training camp". The Long War Journal. 3 June 2014. Retrieved 16 November 2015.
- ↑ Weiss, Caleb (30 April 2017). "Al Qaeda affiliated Uzbek leader assassinated in Syria". The Long War Journal. Retrieved 25 January 2018.
The assassination of Salahadin al Uzbeki was first reported by Hay'at Tahrir al Sham (HTS), al Qaeda's joint venture in Syria. HTS' Al Eba News Agency reported that "the infiltrator who assassinated Salahadin, the emir of Katibat al Bukhari, and his companions has been arrested in Ariha, Idlib today."
- ↑ Paraszczuk, Joanna (12 November 2014). "Main Uzbek Militant Faction In Syria Swears Loyalty To Taliban". Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. Retrieved 24 January 2018.
The video, which includes a speech by the Imam Bukhori Jamaat's leader, known only as Sheikh Salahuddin, sheds light onto the deep ties between some Uzbek militants in Syria and extremist networks in Afghanistan and Pakistan.
External links
[edit]- http://buhoriy.com Archived 2015-12-14 at the Wayback Machine
