Five shells and a trail of terror: The story behind the 2022 rocket attack in Termez

On July 5, 2022, five shells were fired from Afghan territory into the city of Termez. One of the shells landed on a sports ground in the yard of the Surkhandarya Regional Sanitary and Epidemiological Service (SES) building, while the other four struck residential houses. It has been established that the shells were launched into Uzbekistan under the direction of ISIL (“Islamic State”) commanders and executed by trained specialists. The group responsible had previously carried out several terrorist acts in Kabul in June 2022. Among its members were citizens of Uzbekistan.

One of the individuals involved in the shelling of Termez has been prosecuted. According to court documents reviewed by Kun.uz, Obid Saparov, born in 1978, traveled to Ufa, Russia, on June 11, 2013, for employment, where he worked on construction sites. During this time, he fell under the influence of a local representative of the extremist religious organization “Jihadists.”

In one of the rented apartments in Ufa, Saparov regularly listened to audio and video materials produced by the “Jundullah” propaganda studio affiliated with the international terrorist group “Islamic Movement of Turkestan.” These materials featured calls by Tohir Yuldoshev emphasizing that it was obligatory for every Muslim to migrate (hijrah), participate in “jihad” against non-believers in Arab lands to attain martyrdom, and join special military training camps in Afghanistan and Pakistan for implementing Sharia law.

In his initial interrogation, Saparov confessed that in 2013, he traveled with others (whose cases were separated into different proceedings) from Azerbaijan to Iran’s city of Zahedan by bus, and in March 2014, crossed into Mirali in Pakistan’s Waziristan region via Afghanistan to join the “Islamic Movement of Turkestan.” He adopted the alias “Khabbab.” It was confirmed that he participated in extremist, separatist, fundamentalist, and other banned organizations.

In June 2014, he underwent combat training at a military field camp belonging to the “Islamic Movement of Turkestan” in Pakistan’s mountainous Shawal area. Under the guidance of instructors with the aliases “Usama” and “Luqman,” he learned practical warfare tactics, including the use of weapons and explosive devices.

Between 2013 and 2015, Saparov lived in various camps in Pakistan and Afghanistan under the patronage of the Islamic Movement of Turkestan. He worked in the group's logistics center. In early 2016, after the organization split into various factions and ceased activities, Saparov joined the Khorasan Province branch of the international terrorist organization “Islamic State” in Afghanistan. Between 2016 and 2024, he lived in various regions of Afghanistan and Pakistan under ISIL’s support. Initially, he was tasked with welcoming new recruits and providing accommodation, later transitioning to work in the group’s media center.

Notably, during his time in the media center, Saparov made broadcasts on the organization’s Telegram-based radio channel, in which he openly called for overthrowing Uzbekistan's existing constitutional order and seizing power.

Following orders from the leadership of the “Islamic Movement of Turkestan,” Saparov participated in military operations between 2014 and 2016 in the residential areas of Mirali, Shawal, and Gomul in Pakistan and Faryab in Afghanistan, along with his associates. From 2016 to 2024, he was also involved in combat in Jalalabad, Kunduz, Mazar-i-Sharif, and Kabul.

Between May and July 2022, Saparov secretly stored five combat-grade shells, a large quantity of automatic weapons and ammunition, and components for manufacturing bombs and mines at his residence in Kabul in preparation for terrorist attacks. In June 2022, under the leadership of a man nicknamed “Tariq,” Saparov and others committed several terrorist acts in Kabul, including attacks on a Sikh temple, the Russian embassy, and several central city streets. These attacks resulted in civilian casualties and significant damage to property.

Saparov admitted during the investigation that he, along with unidentified individuals, participated in rocket attacks on Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. On July 5, 2022, around 17:00, five homemade 100mm caliber shells were launched into Uzbekistan using a 107mm multiple launch rocket system (MLRS). One shell landed on the sports field of the regional sanitary and epidemiological office in Termez, while the other four fell on residential homes.

In July 2022, while attempting to carry out another terrorist act in Kabul, members of the armed group were captured by the Taliban. Saparov managed to flee to Quetta, Pakistan, via Iran. On the night of September 20, 2024, he and his associates were arrested by Pakistani security forces and placed in a detention facility in Quetta. Other detainees included individuals from Andijan, Namangan, and Syrdarya. On January 24, 2025, they were extradited to Tashkent on a special flight operated by Uzbek law enforcement.

Saparov pleaded guilty in court.

“In March 2022, ISIL commanders ordered attacks to be carried out not only in Afghanistan but also in neighboring countries. A person nicknamed 'Ibrohim,' a citizen of Uzbekistan, stayed at my home for two days. I drove ‘Tariq’ and ‘Ibrohim’ to the Russian embassy in Kabul in my car, which contained improvised mines and explosive devices. Ibrohim blew himself up near the embassy and died. Another group member, a Tajik national named 'Abu Muhammad Tojikiy,' detonated himself at the Sikh temple in Kabul using similar explosives. Our group, led by Tariq, also carried out several other attacks in central Kabul. The explosives used in these acts were prepared at my residence,” Saparov said.

“Following instructions from ISIL commanders and under the supervision of military instructors, we also launched rockets into Uzbekistan and Tajikistan. In early July 2022, Tariq instructed me to deliver five combat rockets stored at my house to a person nicknamed ‘Hafizulloh Nurmuhammad ogli.’ I transported the shells to the designated location in Kabul. I later learned that these rockets were fired into Uzbekistan. My main task in the group was to deliver mines, explosives, and automatic weapons prepared at my home to the locations indicated by Tariq,” Saparov said in his testimony.

He expressed remorse for his actions and requested leniency from the court.

According to the court ruling, Obid Saparov was found guilty under multiple articles of the Criminal Code:

• Article 155 (Terrorism), Part 3, Clause “b”
• Article 155-2 (Travel/training for terrorist activities), Part 1
• Article 159 (Undermining the constitutional order of Uzbekistan), Part 3, Clause “b”
• Article 161 (Sabotage)
• Article 244-1 (Distribution or demonstration of materials threatening public safety/order), Part 3, Clauses “a” and “g”
• Article 244-2 (Involvement in banned extremist, separatist, or fundamentalist organizations), Part 1

Saparov was sentenced to 16 years in prison, combining punishments under these charges.

Background

On July 5, 2022, five rockets launched from Afghanistan landed in the Majnuntol neighborhood of Termez, Surkhandarya region. As the shells did not explode, there were no casualties. Four homes were slightly damaged, and the fifth shell was found on a football field. All explosives were safely defused by bomb disposal units.

At the time, a Taliban spokesperson stated that those responsible for the rocket attack from Afghan territory aimed to sow distrust between friendly nations – Uzbekistan and Afghanistan. He assured that those behind the attack were being sought.