Foreign fighters from the Caucasus (mainly Chechens) in Syria against a background of Al-Qaeda flags (http://fisyria.com, August 3, 2013).
Characteristics and implications
1. This study examines the foreign fighters from various countries and regions in Asia fighting against the Syrian regime. The study shows that most of the foreign fighters from Asia are fighting in the ranks of organizations affiliated with Al-Qaeda and the global jihad. A small number fight in the ranks of other rebel organizations. This is a follow-on to the Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center’s in-depth study about foreign fighters in Syria from countries and regions in the Middle East, Asia and the West.[1]
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2. The number of non-Arab foreign fighters from Muslim countries and regions in Asia, who joined the ranks of the rebels in Syria, is estimated by us at 600-700 (out of about 7,000 to 8,000 foreign fighters fighting against the Syrian regime). Notable among them are operatives from Chechnya and the North Caucasus and, to a lesser extent, from Pakistan and Turkey.In addition, there are foreign fighters in Syria from Azerbaijan, Dagestan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Afghanistan, Indonesia and other Muslim countries, numbering from a few to several dozen. Muslims from non-Muslim countries in Asia, such as China and India, have also joined the rebels, mainly alongside the jihadi organizations. |
3. Notable among the foreign fighters from Asia who joined in the fighting in Syria are skilled operatives with military-terrorist experience from two regions:
A. Chechnya and the Caucasus – there are some 200-250 Chechen fighters in Syria, some of them affiliated with the Caucasian Emirate, a Caucasian network that maintains ties with Al-Qaeda and the global jihad.They include highly motivated fighters with combat experience who participated in the uprising against Russia in the1990s. Most of the Chechen operatives joined the Al-Nusra Front and the Islamic State in Iraq and al-Sham (hereinafter: “ISIS”). Several of them attained senior command ranks and some senior commanders were killed in battle. A large portion of the Chechen operatives fight in a separate military unit by the name of the Army of Emigrants and Supporters, affiliated with the Al-Nusra Front[2], comprising mainly foreign fighters. Some of the operatives in this unit left following a rift between ISIS and the Al-Nusra, and joined ISIS.
B. Pakistan– in Syria there are many dozen (up to around 100) Pakistani foreign fighters. Prominent among them are members of the Taliban who joined Al-Qaeda and the global jihad in Syria. Also prominent are operatives of a Pakistani terrorist organization by the name of Lashkar-e-Jhangvi (the Army of Jhangvi), a radical Sunni organization that “specializes” in fighting against Shiites. In addition, there are more than 200 Turkish foreign fighters in Syria, some of Kurdish extraction. Most of them join organizations affiliated with Al-Qaeda and the global jihad or Kurdish militia separatists in northern Syria fighting for Kurdish autonomy.
4. The following table summarizes the various estimates of the number of foreign fighters from Muslim countries in Asia:
|
Number
|
Country / Region |
Estimated number of foreign fighters |
Remarks
|
|
1 |
Chechnya (Russia) and North Caucasus |
250-200 |
According to a Russian source and the commander of the Free Syrian Army, among others |
|
2 |
Azerbaijan |
Scores |
|
|
3 |
Tajikistan |
A fewindividuals |
|
|
4 |
Dagestan |
Nearly twenty |
|
|
5 |
Kyrgyzstan |
Nearly twenty |
|
|
6 |
Kazakhstan |
A few dozen |
|
|
7 |
Pakistan |
Between scores and 100 |
Statements by Taliban leaders that hundreds of Pakistani fighters have been sent to Syria are exaggerated, in our opinion. |
|
8 |
Afghanistan |
A few individuals |
In our opinion, statements by spokesmen for the Syrian regime that hundreds of Afghans are fighting in Syria are exaggerated. |
|
9 |
Indonesia |
A few dozen |
|
|
10 |
Turkey |
More than 200, some of Kurdish extraction |
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5. In addition, Muslim foreign fighters from non-Muslim Asian countries have joined the ranks of the rebels: scores (up to 100) of members of the Sunni Muslim minority in China (the Uyghurs); a small number of Muslim foreign fighters from India and one Japanese foreign fighter. Most of these foreign fighters joined organizations affiliated with Al-Qaeda and the global jihad.
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6. The foreign fighters from Asian countries, fighting in the ranks of the Al-Nusra Front and other jihadi organizations, constitute a potential risk to their Asian countries of origin, the countries and regions bordering on them, and to Western countries as well. The reason is that these foreign fighters, having acquired operational experience and combat skills and having undergone processes of jihadization and Islamic radicalization during their stay in Syria, are expected to return to their countries of origin and join existing terrorist infrastructures. Some may even set up new terrorism and subversion infrastructures, which will operate locally and internationally, possibly under the guidance of the leadership of Al-Qaeda and the global jihad. |
The structure of the study
7. This study presents the distribution of the Asian foreign fighters by countries and regions, as follows:
A. Chechnya and the Caucasus
1) Overview
2) The Army of Emigrants and Supporters – the Chechen military unit
3) Portrait of Umar the Chechen, the senior Chechen commander
4) Information about Chechen operatives
5) Photographs of Chechen operatives
6) The position of Russia and the Chechen leadership
B. Azerbaijan
1) Overview
2) Information about Azeri foreign fighters
3) Photographs of Azeri operatives
C. Dagestan
D. Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan
1) Overview
2) Information about foreign fighters from Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan
3) The position of the local authorities
E. Kazakhstan
F. Pakistan
1) Overview
2) Information about foreign fighters from Pakistan
3) The position of the local authorities
G.Afghanistan
H. Indonesia
I. Turkey
1) Overview
2) The city of Adıyaman as a center for recruiting Turkish foreign fighters
3) Information about Turkish foreign fighters
4) The position of the local authorities
J. Foreign fighters from non-Muslim countries
1) China
a) Overview
b) Information about foreign fighters from China
c)The position of the local authorities
2) Japan
3) India
[2] See the Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center’s study (December 2013): “Foreign fighters in Syria:This past year saw a marked increase in the involvement of foreigners in the fighting against the Syrian regime. Most join Al-Qaeda- and global jihad-affiliated organizations, gain military experience, and undergo radicalization and jihadization. They are liable to import terrorist and subversive activities to theircountries of origin when they return (the "Afghanistan model").” We are now working on an additional in-depth study about foreign fighters from the Arab world.
[3] In Arabic, Jaish al-Muhajirin wal-Ansar, i.e., The Army of Emigrants and Supporters.
