A Profile of Gulmurod Halimov: Islamic State’s New Minister of War

A Profile of Gulmurod Halimov: Islamic State’s New Minister of War

According to Iraqi media outlets citing unnamed security officials, in early September Islamic State (IS) appointed the former commander of Tajikistan’s paramilitary police (OMON), Gulmurod Halimov, to the position of IS’ military leader (аlsumaria.tv [Baghdad], September 3). Halimov is alleged to have replaced former “Minister of War” Abu Umar al-Shishani, who was killed by a coalition airstrike in July. Halimov, who defected to IS in May 2015, appears to be playing an increasingly central role in the jihad in Syria and Iraq. On September 29, 2015, the U.S. State Department classified Halimov a “Specially Designated Global Terrorist.” In August 2016, it described him as a “key leader” of IS and offered a reward of $3 million for information on his whereabouts (State Department, August 30).

Early Life

Gulmurod Halimov was born in 1975 in the mountainous region of Varzob, 25 kilometers to the north of Tajikistan’s capital city Dushanbe. During the country’s civil war, which was fought between 1992 and 1997, he was a member of the Presidential Guard. In 1996 he joined the OMON, Tajikistan’s paramilitary police (Faraj [Dushanbe], May 18, 2015). He graduated from the Higher Academy of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Tajikistan and also spent time studying military tactics in Moscow in 2003 (Ozodagon [Dushanbe], May 28, 2015). Following this, he was promoted to the rank of colonel. Between 2003 and 2014, he visited the United States on at least three occasions to complete counterterrorism training sponsored by the State Department and Department of Defense [RFE/RL [Prague], May 30, 2015). A State Department spokesman confirmed that he had also participated in two training exercises in Tajikistan. As well as being highly trained, Halimov also had counter-insurgency experience. He was a veteran of government campaigns against former opposition commanders in the Rasht valley between 2009 and 2011, and in Khorog in 2012. Following the operation in Khorog, he was promoted to the position of OMON commander in September 2012.

Defection to Islamic State

Raised when Tajikistan was still part of the Soviet Union, he started praying regularly in 2001. However, according to his relatives, he was not particularly pious (Radio Ozodi [Dushanbe], May 28, 2015). On April 23, 2015, Halimov failed to show up at work. He left his passport and his phone was switched off. Rumors began circulating that he had left the country [TajInfo [Dushanbe], May 8, 2015). According to one rumor, he had flown to Moscow on May 2 and was arrested in Turkey a few days later. Local media reported that his friends had noticed a change in his behavior; he began talking about the need for jihad (Asia Plus [Dushanbe], May 19, 2015). Officials neither confirmed nor denied these rumors [Radio Ozodi [Dushanbe], May 20, 2015). On May 28, 2015, Halimov ended speculation by announcing that he had defected to IS. In a video produced by Furat Media, IS’ Russian-language media service, Halimov called for the four million Central Asian migrants working in Russia to “stop working for infidels” and join the caliphate (YouTube, May 28, 2015). He also condemned the authoritarian president of Tajikistan, Emomali Rahmon, warning that “we are coming to you with slaughter.” Halimov also spoke about his training experiences in the United States. “Listen, you American pigs: I’ve been to America three times. I saw how you train soldiers to kill Muslims,” he declared.

The Tajik government attempted to contain the story, blocking social networking sites where the video could be shared. Restricting knowledge of Halimov’s defection proved impossible. In early June, the Tajik prosecutor filed a criminal case against the colonel, accusing him of treason, participation in a criminal group and illegal participation in armed conflicts in other countries. On June 1, INTERPOL issued a Red Notice for his extradition back to Tajikistan (INTERPOL [Brussels], June 1, 2015). His brother Saidmurod, also an OMON officer, condemned his defection (Radio Ozodi [Dushanbe], May 30, 2015]. In a second video, released in June 2015, Halimov threatened to behead Saidmurod and also made threats against Hoji Mirzo, a Tajik cleric had openly criticized IS (EurasiaNet, June 19, 2015; Asia Plus, June 18, 2015).

On June 22, 2015, Arab news agencies reported that Halimov had been killed by a Syrian airstrike in al-Muhasan, in Deir es-Zor Governate [Asia Plus [Dushanbe], June 23, 2015). Shortly after that, a photo appeared on the social media showing Halimov in a hospital bed wearing a cast [AsiaPlus [Dushanbe], June 23, 2015]. Following the incident, Halimov was relatively absent from the social media, in contrast to other prominent Tajik fighters such as Mohammed al-Tojiki and Nusrat Nazarov (see Militant Leadership Monitor, February 28, 2015). In January 2015, Tajik Minister of Interior Ramazon Rahimzoda claimed that Halimov was disabled following the airstrike [Asia Plus [Dushanbe], January 25). Rahimzoda claimed that “Islamic State no longer need him.”

Military Commander of Islamic State?

Yet the latest developments indicate that Halimov is still an active member of the jihad. Married with eight children, his second wife Humairo joined him in Syria in February 2016, bringing four of his children with her (Fergana News [Moscow], February 16).  Bringing over his family suggests that Halimov plans to stay in Syria in the long term. Halimov has also reminded the Tajik government that he still exists. In September, some Tajik servicemen received threatening text messages allegedly from Halimov (RFE/RL [Prague], September 6). In the messages, he promised to “congratulate” them on the 25th anniversary of Tajikistan’s independence, celebrated on September 9. This came at the time when rumors of his appointment to a senior position in IS emerged.

Neither Halimov himself, foreign intelligence services nor IS have confirmed his appointment. While the appointment of a Tajik to lead Islamic State’s war effort may appear strange at first glance, Halimov is ideally placed to lead Islamic State’s military operations. With extensive training and experience with low-intensity conflict, Halimov is even more qualified for the post than his predecessor al-Shishani, who served as a sergeant in the Georgian army during the 2008 war with Russia. Halimov received training in both Russia and the United States, two of Islamic State’s primary enemies.

Halimov is fluent in Russian and Tajik. Russian is the second most popular language spoken by IS recruits after Arabic. According to the latest official figures, 1,400 citizens of Tajikistan have travelled to Syria and Iraq, with most joining IS (Radio Ozodi [Dushanbe], May 21). They have joined between 5,000 and 8,000 other Russian-speaking jihadists fighting in the region. This accounts for between one-fifth and one-third of IS’ estimated military strength (White House [DC], February 4). The Russian security services estimated that IS has up to 500 recruiters working in Moscow alone and up to 10,000 Russian-language speaking supporters on social media (RIA Novosti [Moscow], June 19, 2015). Over four million Central Asian migrants live in Russia. Many migrants work in menial jobs, living in harsh conditions. IS messaging calls on them to stop working for “infidels” and join the Caliphate. Recruiters are active in gyms, mosques and bazaars (Meduza [Moscow], June 30, 2015). Once in Syria and Iraq, Central Asians have taken on a range of roles, from leading suicide attacks to working as drivers and patrolling the streets to enforce Sharia. Halimov’s appointment indicates how highly regarded Russian-speaking fighters have become.

It could be that the IS leadership has not announced his appointment so as to prevent him from becoming a target. With the deaths of Shishani, spokesman al-Adnani, and Minister of Information al-Fayad in recent months, the group is aware of the dangers of being identified as a leader of the movement.

Conclusion

The appointment of a highly trained military commander to lead Islamic State’s war effort comes at a time when Islamic State is losing ground in Iraq and Syria and the flow of fighters into the region is waning. U.S. intelligence estimates indicate that as few as 50 fighters cross into Syria each month, down from a peak of 2,000 in 2014 (Washington Post [DC], September 9). Islamic State has lost 14 percent of its territory in the first half of 2016 (IHS Janes [London], July 10). Halimov will take on the difficult task of attempting to turn the tide. Despite his experience, this may prove beyond his abilities.