Imam Bukhari Jamaat
The Imam Bukhari Jamaat (Uzbek: Imom Buxoriy Katibasi, also Katibat Imam al Bukhari) is an Islamist Salafi group fighting in the Syrian Civil War and the War in Afghanistan, composed of primarily Uzbeks, and 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.[4] 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.[3]
Imam Bukhari Jamaat
Salahadin al-Uzbeki
2017-present
500-1000
The group is named after Imam Bukhari, a 9th-century Islamic scholar who was from Bukhara in modern-day Uzbekistan.[13]
Leadership[edit]
The group was led by an individual known as Sheikh Salahuddin, before his assassination in Idlib Governorate.[14][15]
Organization[edit]
The Syrian and Afghan branches of KIB have sworn allegiance to Mullah Akhundzada of the Taliban in 2017.[3] The group was also suspected to have supported the Taliban during the Taliban offensive in 2021.