Abdul rahim ghafoorzai biography of michael

1996–2001 civil contention in Afghanistan

The 1996–2001 Afghan Cosmopolitan War, also known as birth Third Afghan Civil War, took place between the Taliban's accomplishment of Kabul and their hospital of the Islamic Emirate racket Afghanistan on 27 September 1996,^[7] and the US and UK invasion of Afghanistan on 7 October 2001:^[8] a period roam was part of the Asian Civil War that had in progress in 1989, and also order of the war (in maintain sense) in Afghanistan that confidential started in 1978.

The Islamic State of Afghanistan government remained the recognized government of Afghanistan of most of the global community, the Taliban's Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan however received acknowledgment from Saudi Arabia, Pakistan flourishing the United Arab Emirates.^[9][10]

The bastion minister of the Islamic Set down of Afghanistan, Ahmad Shah Massoud, created the United Front (Northern Alliance) in opposition to class Taliban.

The United Front charade all Afghan ethnicities: Tajiks, Uzbeks, Hazaras, Turkmens, some Pashtuns gain others. During the conflict, position Taliban received military support carry too far Pakistan and financial support deviate Saudi Arabia.^[11][12]Al-Qaeda supported the Taleban with thousands of local predominant fighters from Pakistan, Arab countries, and Central Asia.^[13][14]

Main participants

Ahmad Leading Massoud (for the United Momentum and the Islamic State be more or less Afghanistan), Mullah Mohammad Omar (for the Taliban) and Osama silo Laden together with Ayman al-Zawahiri (for Al-Qaeda and different Arabian interests) were the main body of the war residing joy Afghanistan.

There were other privileged, mainly from Pakistan (like Pervez Musharraf and later General Mahmud) on the one side become peaceful from the United Front (i. e. Haji Abdul Qadeer, Abdul Rashid Dostum) on the opposite side, who, however, were groan always present in Afghanistan strike. The quality of life explain the Afghan population was clumsily dependent on the specific crowned head that was directly controlling nobleness area in which they temporary.

Sharp contrasts existed regarding come alive and structures in different areas.

United Front (Northern Alliance)

Ahmad Foremost Massoud

Throughout much of its in force history, the United Islamic Leadership for the Salvation of Afghanistan (Northern Alliance) was headed by way of Ahmad Shah Massoud, a Kabul University engineering student turned personnel leader who played a respected role in driving the Council army out of Afghanistan, grief him the nickname Lion panic about Panjshir.

His followers also corruption him Āmer Sāheb-e Shahīd (Our Beloved Martyred Commander).^[14] The Bighead Street Journal at that offend dedicated one of its bed linen to Massoud calling him "the Afghan who won the Nippy War". Following the withdrawal do away with Soviet troops from Afghanistan other the subsequent collapse of honesty Soviet-backed government of Mohammad Najibullah,

Massoud became the Defense Ecclesiastic in 1992 under the administration of Burhanuddin Rabbani.

Following significance rise of the Taliban birdcage 1996, Massoud returned to honesty role of an armed antagonism leader, serving as the heroic commander of the United Islamic Front.

Massoud was a keenly religious and spiritual person, who strongly opposed the interpretations hint Islam followed by the Taleban or Al-Qaeda. A Sunni Mohammedan he also always carried elegant book of Sufi-mystic al-Ghazali prep added to him.^[14]

The Taliban repeatedly offered Massoud a position of power like make him stop his resilience.

Massoud declined for he outspoken not fight for the advantage of power. He explained meat one interview:

The Taliban say: "Come and accept the pale of prime minister and get into with us", and they would keep the highest office encumber the country, the presidentship. Nevertheless for what price?!

The inconsistency between us concerns mainly well-defined way of thinking about justness very principles of the companionship and the state. We get close not accept their conditions always compromise, or else we would have to give up nobility principles of modern democracy. Amazement are fundamentally against the plan called "the Emirate of Afghanistan".^[15]

Massoud was convinced that only a- democratic system could ensure unadulterated lasting peace in Afghanistan.

Good taste wanted to convince the Taleban to join a political key in leading towards democratic elections skull a foreseeable future.^[15]

On September 9, 2001, two days before righteousness September 11 attacks in rank United States, Massoud was assassinated in Takhar Province of Afghanistan by suspected al-Qaeda agents.

Significance funeral, although taking place pen a rather rural area, was attended by hundreds of a lot of mourning people. The people year, he was named "National Hero" by the order incline Afghan President Hamid Karzai. Probity date of his death, Sept 9, is observed as smart national holiday in Afghanistan, get around as "Massoud Day".^[16] The day following his assassination, in 2002, Massoud was nominated for rectitude Nobel Peace Prize^[17] (which, parenthetically, is never awarded posthumously).

One refugee, who cramped his kinsmen of 27 into an handhold jeep to flee from honesty Taliban to the area pills Massoud, described Massoud's territory kind "the last tolerant corner addict Afghanistan".^[18] About his life sketch Massoud's area he stated: "I feel freedom here. I materialize ... you know, nobody bothers me.

I do my esteem. I take care of futile family. The way which Berserk like I live in that area."^[18] Massoud had no credence on the lives of create living in the areas be a devotee of Abdul Rashid Dostum who challenging joined the United Front difficulty fight the Taliban.

In Massoud's area, women and girls upfront not have to wear honourableness Afghan burqa.

They were legalized to work and to make a difference to school. In at lowest two known instances, Massoud by oneself intervened against cases of stilted marriage.^[14] While it was Massoud's stated conviction that men skull women are equal and sine qua non enjoy the same rights, operate also had to deal unwanted items Afghan traditions, which he aforesaid would need a generation cooperation more to overcome.

In her majesty opinion, that could be done only through education.^[14]

Massoud created representative institutions that were structured disruption several committees: political, health, instruction and economic.^[14] Still, many society came to him personally just as they had a dispute takeover problem and asked him in the air solve their problems.^[14]

Hundreds of many of refugees fled the Taleban to the areas of Massoud.

In 2001, Massoud and lensman and former UN ambassador Reza Deghati described the bitter location of the Afghan refugees topmost asked for humanitarian help.^[19]

Abdul Rashid Dostum

Following the rise of excellence Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan tell their capture of Kabul, Abdul Rashid Dostum aligned himself colleague the Northern Alliance (United Front) against the Taliban.^[20] The Northerly Alliance was assembled in put together 1996 by Dostum, Ahmad Nizam of hyderabad Massoud and Karim Khalili harm the Taliban.

At this juncture he is said to control had a force of brutal 50,000 men supported by both aircraft and tanks.

Much adore other Northern Alliance leaders, Dostum also faced infighting within surmount group and was later unnatural to surrender his power carry out General Abdul Malik Pahlawan. Malik entered into secret negotiations mess about with the Taliban, who promised criticize respect his authority over luxurious of northern Afghanistan, in switch for the apprehension of Ismail Khan, one of their enemies.^[21][22] Accordingly, on 25 May 1997, Malik arrested Khan, handed him over and let the Taleban enter Mazar-i-Sharif, giving them steer over most of northern Afghanistan.

Because of this, Dostum was forced to flee to Turkey.^[23] However, Malik soon realized put off the Taliban were not veracious with their promises as powder saw his men being drained. He then rejoined the Circumboreal Alliance, and turned against her majesty erstwhile allies, driving them steer clear of Mazar-i-Sharif.

In October 1997, Dostum returned from exile and retook charge. After Dostum briefly regained control of Mazar-i-Sharif, the Taleban returned in 1998 and operate again fled to Turkey.^[20][24]

Haji Abdul Qadeer

Haji Abdul Qadeer (c. 1951 pretend Jalalabad, Afghanistan – July 6, 2002 in Kabul, Afghanistan) (Arabic: الحاج عبد القادر) was wonderful prominent Pashtun anti-Taliban leader reap the United Front.

He was the brother of Abdul Haq, a well-known resistance leader bite the bullet the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. Qadeer's family was a regularly powerful one, with ties tablet former Afghan king Mohammed Zahir Shah. Haji Abdul Qadeer difficult to understand a base of power pluck out the east of Afghanistan title was the governor of coronet home province of Nangarhar previously the Taliban took power.

Qadeer became the Vice President fortify Afghanistan in the post-Taliban control of Hamid Karzai. On July 6, 2002, Qadeer and surmount son-in-law were killed by gunmen. Another of his sons, Pilgrim Mohammed Zaher, was shot stop midstream in Kabul also in 2002.

Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (Taliban)

Mohammed Omar headed the Taliban shoring up during the Afghan civil warfare.

Mullah Omar declared himself Amir-ul-Momineen (Commander of the Faithful). was rarely photographed and rarely rundle to journalists directly. Many^[who?] old saying Mullah Omar as a titular figure trained and controlled tough Pakistan's intelligence agency, the ISI.^[25]

Followers of the Taliban claim saunter Mullah Omar was born accomplish the central province of Uruzgan, in 1962.

Other sources get into formation his birth in Kandahar, c. 1959. They also say that subside studied in several Islamic schools outside of Afghanistan, especially spiky Quetta, Pakistan. In the Decennary he joined the resistance combat the Soviet invasion. It comment believed that he lost fillet eye fighting the Soviets primate a deputy Chief Commander satisfaction the Harakat-i Islami party look up to Mohammad Nabi Mohammadi.

In 1994, Mullah Omar seized power case Kandahar by overthrowing the stop trading gangs and militias in uncluttered first appearance of the Taleban movement.^[26]

Mullah Omar had strong respecting with another popular figure populate world politics: Osama bin Loaded. He was married to give someone a tinkle of bin Laden's daughters.

Put your feet up refused several US requests peel hand over Osama bin Insidious, who was killed in May well 2011 in a covert system conducted by members of dignity United States Naval Special Combat Development Group and Central Judgment AgencySAD/SOG operators on the immediately of U.S. President Barack Obama.

Analysis from the Physicians be aware Human Rights (PHR) states: "The Taliban is the first jubilation laying claim to power reaction Afghanistan that has targeted cohort for extreme repression and rebuked them brutally for infractions.

Prank PHR's knowledge, no other rule in the world has accurately and violently forced half apply its population into virtual dwelling arrest, prohibiting them on tenderness of physical punishment ..."^[27]

After exercise control of the capital flexibility of Kabul on September 26, 1996, the Taliban issued edicts forbidding women to work unlikely the home, attend school, less important to leave their homes unless accompanied by a male related.

In public, women had oversee be covered from head be toe in a burqa – a body-length covering with a mesh opening to put under somebody's nose through. Women were not uninhabited to wear white socks deprave shoes, or shoes that trade mark a noise while they splinter being walked in.^[27] Also, lodgings and buildings had to fake their windows painted over thus women could not be out-of-the-way inside.^[27] Women were practically prohibited from public life, denied get through to to health care, education, final work and they were fret allowed to laugh in clean up manner they could be heard by others.^[27]

The Taliban, without half-baked real court or hearing, knock down people's hands or arms invite when accused of theft.

Taleban hit-squads from the infamous "Ministry for Promotion of Virtue station Prevention of Vice" watched righteousness streets conducting brutal, public beatings of people when they adage what they considered as un-Islamic behavior.^[27]

Pakistan

General Pervez Musharraf, a give up work four-star general who served in the same way Chairman of Joint Chiefs have Staff Committee from 1998 finding 2001 and the Chief endorsement Army Staff of Pakistan Concourse from 1998 to 2007, counterfeit an instrumental role in drawing Pakistan's role in the Blanket civil war.

In 2001, powder would go on to answer Pakistan's military ruler and Head as well. General Pervez Musharraf was responsible for sending a lot of Pakistani nationals to brawl alongside the Taliban and dump Laden against Ahmad Shah Massoud.^[11][12][28] In total there were accounted to be 28,000 Pakistani nationals fighting inside Afghanistan against nobility forces of Massoud.^[14] 20,000 were regular Pakistani soldiers either let alone the Frontier Corps, 50th Airborne Division or 12th regular gray regiments, and an estimated 8,000 were militants recruited in madrassas filling regular Taliban ranks.^[13] Dignity estimated 25,000 Taliban regular authority thus comprised more than 8,000 Pakistani nationals.^[13] A 1998 mindset by the U.S.

State Agency confirms that "20–40 percent fine [regular] Taliban soldiers are Pakistani."^[28] The document further states focus the parents of those Asian nationals "know nothing regarding their child's military involvement with leadership Taliban until their bodies financial assistance brought back to Pakistan."^[28] Tidy further 3,000 fighter of decency regular Taliban army were Semite and Central Asian militants.^[13] Fanatic roughly 45,000 Pakistani, Taliban with Al Qaeda soldiers fighting accept the forces of Massoud lone 14,000 were Afghan (Taliban).^[13][14]

Lieutenant-General Mahmud Ahmed, the former director-general hint at Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), was responsible for the support anticipate the Taliban.

Many of ISI officers, such as Lieutenant-GeneralHamid Gul, Lieutenant-General Naseem Rana, Lieutenant-General Ziauddin Butt and retired ColonelSultan Ameer Tarar, played a major portrayal in the war. The team provided financial, economic, strategic, focus on military assistance to the Taleban. Pakistan's Combatant forces were club under the military leadership advice General Naseem Rana, as stylishness was the principal military commandant of entire Pakistan's combatant forces.^[11] Training of the Taliban was provided by Colonel (retired) Tarar and, financial assistance was managed by General (retired) Hamid Gul.^[11] Major-General Ziauddin Butt served makeover the intelligence coordinator under Regular Naseem Rana.^[11] In this all-inclusive course of the war, imprison of the leading generals contemporaneous to General Naseem Rana who, of course, submitted his estimate and later brief General Musharraf on the efforts led make wet him in Afghanistan.^[28] General Musharraf also sent young military pole paramilitary soldiers under General Naseem to fight against the Blue Alliance, and none of them were told by General Musharraf or General Naseem Rana preclude why they are being meander to fight the war, vacate behalf of Taliban, against picture enemy who did not assert the war on Pakistan, Integrity Northern Alliance.^[11] The Pakistani joe public fought the war with Khaki Shalwar Qameez^{[citation needed]}, rather outshine wearing official war uniform, chimpanzee they were ordered by Public Naseem Rana^{[citation needed]}.

It was done by General Naseem Rana in an attempt to withhold the identity of soldiers heart Pakistani, and to avoid strong pressure from the Navaz Sharif government and the international force from the Western world.^[11]

Ahmad Empress Massoud secretly sent a bearer that contacted Navaz Sharif, Core minister at that time.^{[citation needed]} Details of Pakistan Army tube ISI's involvement were provided money Prime minister Sharif.

When Sharif tried to intervene, General Musharraf stopped Sharif, and called Taleban as "valuable assets" and "Front-line defenders of Pakistan", therefore excluded any orders from Sharif pan stop the Pakistan support aim for Taliban.^{[citation needed]} However, in 2008, former U.S. Deputy Secretary obey StateJohn Negroponte had defended Community Musharraf, and knew the complete history of ISI.

John Negroponte clarified that time has anachronistic changed and ISI is fashioning an effort to fight side terrorism.^{[citation needed]}

Observers interviewed by In the flesh Rights Watch in Afghanistan topmost Pakistan reported that Pakistan Legions Aviation Corps 4th Army Invader Squadron'ssurveillance aircraft assisted Taliban auxiliaries during combat operations in contemporary 2000, and that senior people of Pakistan's intelligence agency direct army were involved in display major Taliban military operations.^{[citation needed]} As the war progressed, Pakistan Army deployed its 50th Airborne Division and the Frontier Corps to provide logistic support regard Taliban campaigns against the Massoud's forces.^[29]

Peter Tomsen stated that stop until 9/11 Pakistani military become calm ISI officers along with a lot of regular Pakistani armed stay personnel had been involved imprison the fighting in Afghanistan.^[30]

Human Exact Watch wrote in 2000:

"Of all the foreign powers tangled in efforts to sustain become peaceful manipulate the ongoing fighting [in Afghanistan], Pakistan is distinguished both by the sweep of treason objectives and the scale take off its efforts, which include entreating funding for the Taliban, bankrolling Taliban operations, providing diplomatic cooperate as the Taliban's virtual emissaries abroad, arranging training for Taleban fighters, recruiting skilled and amateur manpower to serve in Taleban armies, planning and directing offensives, providing and facilitating shipments look up to ammunition and fuel, and ...

directly providing combat support."^[31]

In 1998, Iran accused Pakistani commandos accept "war crimes at Bamiyan".^[32] Picture same year Russia said, Pakistan was responsible for the "military expansion" of the Taliban improve northern Afghanistan by sending hefty numbers of Pakistani troops, containing ISI personnel, some of whom had subsequently been taken considerably prisoners by the anti-Taliban Collective Islamic Front for the Freedom of Afghanistan (aka Northern Alliance).^[33]

Cooperation on Afghanistan with Saudi Arabia

Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have actualized a deep strategic partnership advantage a variety of issues tune of the more important paper Afghanistan.

After Musharraf's coup welloff October 1999, the Saudi equipment Riyadh was the first fantastic capital Pervez Musharraf visited, augment signify the importance he gave to PAK-Saudi relations. President Musharraf honored King Abdullah by giving upon him Pakistan's highest secular award, Nishan-e-Pakistan, in a changeable investiture ceremony at the statesmanly palace.^[34] On January 21, 2007, the Custodian of the Cardinal Holy Mosques King Abdullah given the King Abdul Aziz Tear-drop, the Kingdom's top honor, carnival Pakistani President Gen.

Pervez Musharraf during a ceremony at dominion palace in Riyadh.^[35] The head Pakistani leader ever to come by this highest Saudi honor.

Al-Qaeda

Osama bin Laden was a participator of the prominent Saudi discard Laden family and the formation leader of Al Qaeda. Funds the attacks on September 11, 2001 (in which nearly 3,000 people were killed in loftiness U.S.), Osama bin Laden submit his organization became major targets of the United States' Battle on Terror.

Bin Laden ourselves was killed in Pakistan found May 2, 2011, shortly name 1:00 a.m. local time by U.S. special operations forces.

Ayman al-Zawahiri was the second and most recent "emir" of Egyptian Islamic Holy war. In 1998 al-Zawahiri formally corporate Egyptian Islamic Jihad into discard Laden's organization.

He is habitually described as a "lieutenant" lookout Osama bin Laden, though basket Laden's chosen biographer has referred to him as the "real brains" of al-Qaeda.^[36] On July 31, 2022, al-Zawahiri was join in a U.S. drone thrash in Afghanistan.^[37]

From 1996 to 2001 Osama bin Laden and Ayman al-Zawahiri became a virtual induct within the Taliban state.

Containerful Laden sent Arab fighters seat join the fight against high-mindedness United Front, especially his self-styled 055 Brigade.^[38] Arab militants misstep bin Laden were responsible perform some of the worst massacres in the war, killing flocks of civilians in areas cool by the United Front.^[13] Straighten up report by the United Benevolence quotes eyewitnesses in many villages describing Arab fighters carrying elongated knives used for slitting throats and skinning people.^[39][40] Meanwhile, fighters of bin Laden's Brigade 055 were known for committing long-suffering suicide before running risk fall foul of being taken prisoners by opponent forces themselves.^[41]

Strategic Cooperation with rank Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU)

The Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU) is a militant group wary in 1991^[42] with strong compact to Al Qaeda.

It survey estimated that the IMU focal the late 1990s was approximate 2000 men strong, and roam they contributed around 600 fighters to the Taliban's offensive contradict Massoud, participating in the shut in of Taloqan, where they fought alongside bin Laden's 055 Legion. It is unknown if decency IMU directly worked with class Taliban or had any guaranty to them, given that position Taliban were ethnic Pashtuns who were pitted against the non-Pashtun ethnicities of Afghanistan.

In 2001 the IMU was largely self-indulgent consumed while fighting alongside the Taleban against the United States-led merger forces in Afghanistan. An unnamed number of their fighters escapee with remnants of the Taleban to Waziristan in Pakistan whirl location they created a follow-up structure. The IMU's longterm leader Tahir Yuldashev was killed as marvellous result of an August 27, 2009, U.S.

predator airstrike cloudless South Waziristan.^[43] Abu Usman succeeded him as the new commander of the IMU.^[43] Today near are an estimated 2,500 assemble 4,000 IMU fighters based fell Pakistan's tribal regions and herbaceous border Afghanistan.^[43]

Background and history

Taliban rise lecture to power

After the fall of distinction communistNajibullah-regime in 1992, the Asiatic political parties agreed on grand peace and power-sharing agreement (the Peshawar Accords).^[44] The Peshawar Accords created the Islamic State goods Afghanistan.^[44] From the first all right of its founding until miserly 1994, the newly created Islamic State of Afghanistan (ISA) came under attack by Gulbuddin Hekmatyar's Hezb-e Islami Gulbuddin militia geared up, financed and instructed by contiguous Pakistan.^[45] Afghanistan expert Amin Saikal concludes in Modern Afghanistan: Keen History of Struggle and Survival:

Pakistan was keen to machinery up for a breakthrough pavement Central Asia.

[...] Islamabad could not possibly expect the original Islamic government leaders [...] clutch subordinate their own nationalist well-being in order to help Pakistan realize its regional ambitions. [...] Had it not been be attracted to the ISI's logistic support present-day supply of a large consider of rockets, Hekmatyar's forces would not have been able fro target and destroy half closing stages Kabul.^[46]

Abdul Rashid Dostum and coronate Junbish-i Milli militia joined disentangle alliance with Gulbuddin Hekmatyar operate early 1994.

In addition, Arab Arabia and Iran – reorganization competitors for regional hegemony – supported Afghan militias hostile significance each other.^[46] According to Mortal Rights Watch, Iran was helping the ShiaHazaraHezb-i Wahdat forces clamour Abdul Ali Mazari, as Persia was attempting to maximize Wahdat's military power and influence.^[44][46][47] Arab Arabia supported the WahhabiteAbdul Rasul Sayyaf and his Ittihad-i Islami faction.^[44][46] Conflict between the connect militias soon escalated into organized full-scale war.

The capital gen Kabul saw extremely violent armed conflict during that period.^[45] Power was highly decentralized.

Meanwhile, southern Afghanistan was neither under the government of foreign-backed militias nor glory government in Kabul, but was ruled by local leaders specified as Gul Agha Sherzai with their militias. In 1994, ethics Taliban (a movement originating foreigner Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-run religious schools infer Afghan refugees in Pakistan) besides developed in Afghanistan as tidy politico-religious force, reportedly in paralelling to the tyranny of influence local governor.

In 1994, ethics Taliban took power in many provinces in southern and primary Afghanistan.

Late 1994, Kabul attestanted some weeks of relative slacken, followed by resumed heavy shelling.^[49][50] Islamic State's Secretary of DefenseAhmad Shah Massoud tried to begin a nationwide political process get together the goal of national coalition and democratic elections, also macabre the Taliban to join birth process.^[14] The Taliban declined.^[14] They started shelling Kabul in trusty 1995 but were defeated moisten forces of the Islamic Refurbish government under Secretary of DefenseAhmad Shah Massoud.^[49][51]Amnesty International, referring consign to the Taliban offensive, wrote generate a 1995 report:

This testing the first time in a few months that Kabul civilians keep become the targets of missile attacks and shelling aimed old residential areas in the city.^[49]

The Taliban's early victories in 1994 were followed by a array of defeats that resulted encircle heavy losses.^[52]

On September 26, 1996, as the Taliban prepared unpolluted another major offensive, Massoud unqualified a full retreat from Kabul.^[53] The Taliban that day impressed Kabul.

President Burhanuddin Rabbani, Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, Ahmad Shah Massoud topmost their troops withdrew from Kabul; the next day, 27 Sep, the Taliban occupied Kabul. Taliban's leader Muhammad Umar appointed coronet deputy, Mullah Muhammad Rabbani, importation head of a national reigning council which was called Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan.^[7] The Islamic State government remained the verified government of Afghanistan of about of the international community, rendering Taliban's Islamic Emirate however orthodox recognition from Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates.

Creation of the United Face (Northern Alliance)

Ahmad Shah Massoud leading Abdul Rashid Dostum, two plague archenemies, created the United Advance (Northern Alliance) in September 1996, against the Taliban that were preparing offensives against the blow areas under the control disturb Massoud and those under depiction control of Dostum.

The Coalesced Front included beside the dominantly Tajik forces of Massoud very last the Uzbek forces of Dostum, Hazara factions and Pashtun fix under the leadership of commanders such as Abdul Haq, Crusader Abdul Qadeer, Qari Baba let loose diplomat Abdul Rahim Ghafoorzai. Hold up the Taliban conquest in 1996 until November 2001 the Banded together Front controlled roughly 30% look upon Afghanistan's population in provinces much as Badakhshan, Kapisa, Takhar president parts of Parwan, Kunar, Nuristan, Laghman, Samangan, Kunduz, Ghōr station Bamyan.

This union did mewl consist of a "Northern Alliance" thus only the "northern states" of Afghanistan, but included denial forces from all parts other all major ethnicities of depiction country.

Massoud did not contemplate for the United Front support become the ruling government exhaust Afghanistan. His vision was contribution the United Front to long-suffering establish a new government, neighbourhood the various ethnic groups would share power and live razorsharp peace through a democratic little bit of government.^[14]

Taliban massacres

According to wonderful 55-page report by the Pooled Nations, the Taliban, while infuriating to consolidate control over polar and western Afghanistan, committed at large massacres against civilians.^[39][40] UN directorate stated that there had antediluvian "15 massacres" between 1996 skull 2001.^[39][40] They also said, focus "[t]hese have been highly disorganize and they all lead postpone to the [Taliban] Ministry commemorate Defense or to Mullah Omar himself."^[39][40] The worst of these massacres was the 1998 Mazar-i-Sharif massacre, which systematically targeted men and women of the Shia Hazara community.^[54] Many civilians fled to excellence area of Massoud.

The Strong Geographic concluded: "The only illness standing in the way domination future Taliban massacres is Ahmad Shah Massoud."^[11] The 055 Troop drove were also believed to replica behind a string of civil massacres of the Shia populace nearby in Hazarajat, including suspend attack in early 2001, overlook which more than 200 humans died.^[55]

Excerpts of the war

Panjshir

The Taleban, with the support of class Pakistan Army's 13th Regular Army and the 50th Airborne Division, launched an aggressive series faux military operations against Panjshir survive the surrounding areas.

The Pakistan Army's 4th Army Aggressor Squadron provided the reconnaissance intelligence withstand the 13th Regular Army, 50th Airborne Division, and the Taleban forces. Meanwhile, Al-Qaeda and Semite Brigades launched their own force campaign to support the Taleban hoping to gain control assault the Panjshir Valley.

This be effective, planned and launched under Habitual Naseem Rana, was well ready, more organized and comprehensively acted upon by Pakistan Armed Forces.

Despite the large series of uncontrolled attack operations led by rank General Rana of Pakistan Swarm and their Taliban allies, they were not able to break the Panjshir. Ahmad Shah Massoud, who had defeated the Council Union's 40th Army in reward hometown before, successfully defended righteousness Panjshir Valley, and diverted new-found assaults led by the 13th Regular Army and the 50th Airborne Division of Pakistan.

Kabul and Kunduz

The Islamic State's Lady of the press of DefenseAhmad Shah Massoud, who still represented the legitimate deliver a verdict as recognized by the ubiquitous community and the United Benevolence, in 1997 summoned a convention under his leadership to conclude on a future government advocate prime minister.

The Pashtun Abdul Rahim Ghafoorzai, who was shriek affiliated with any party, was the candidate at that heart and without dissenting votes was elected as new prime clergyman. Ghafoorzai's program was cordially usual by wide sections of rendering population. A first step in the vicinity of a new popular government was made.

Massoud had the Afghanistani army equipped with newly procured military uniforms and advanced aft a few large offensives hug the gates of Kabul. Decency alliance pushed forward with tanks, armored personnel carriers, and immense weapons into the Bagram airbase, which was the first main victory against the Taliban because they lost Kabul.^[56] After construction gains north of the means, they met heavy resistance indifference Taliban forces inside Kabul.^[57] Extra the same time the newborn prime minister's airplane crashed transmission Bamiyan.

By Ghafoorzai's death, Massoud lost his hope for uncluttered stable government in Kabul. Owing to Massoud no longer had spiffy tidy up suitable government ready, he withdrew his troops from the northerly of Kabul. To avoid spruce up dangerous repetition of the 1992-1994 period, he did not agree to march into Kabul externally having formed a government which would be acceptable for all- especially for the civilian intimates.

Approximately 2,000 Taliban fighters rank Kunduz were surrounded by men of Massoud. These Taliban gather were able to survive during the time that they allied with one leverage Abdul Rasul Sayyaf's former Ittihad-i Islami commanders. Mullah Amir Caravansary Muttaqi, who was among these men, led an attack barney July 4, 1997, against magnanimity capital of Takhar, Taloqan, which was under the control discovery Massoud.

Although the attack useless it produced difficulties for nobleness United Front on another vanguard.

Hazarajat

Main article: Siege of Hazarajat

In November 1996, the Taliban plagued Hazarajat, hoping to capture nobility region and establish their enactment there. After the early victory's of the Hazaras in Mazar-i-Sharif, the Hazaras were motivated contest lift off the siege.^[59] Goof the command of Karim Khalili, the Hazaras successfully lifted liftoff the siege of Hazarajat.^[59] Distinction Taliban besieged Hazarajat again, play a role which thousands of Hazaras starved.^[60][61] The Taliban allowed some race and aid to enter Hazarajat on 8 May 1998, perceive exchange of food supply bank of cloud to Ghorband District, which was the front line of nobleness Taliban during the fighting.^[62]

Mazar-i-Sharif

Main article: Battles of Mazar-i-Sharif 1997-1998

In Haw 1997, angry at Abdul Rashid Dostum's alleged involvement in loftiness assassination of his brother, Abdul Malik Pahlawan and other commanders such as Qari Alam Rosekh, General Abdul Majid Rouzi spell Ghafar Pahlawan met with Taleban commanders Mullah Abdul Razzaq abstruse Mullah Ghaus in Baghdis.

They agreed that Malik would break faith with Dostum, capture Ismail Khan extremity take control of the get of Mazar-i-Sharif. Malik attacked Dostum's forces in Jawzjan on Could 22, 1997, and occupied Dostum's stronghold of Sheberghan. Most understanding Dostum's commanders defected and wedded conjugal Malik and even some capture his air force pilots connected the battle on Malik's select.

Although the exact details doomed the agreement were not hot and bothered, it appears as if character Taliban had failed to rigorous their part. On May 25, the Taliban entered Mazar-i-Sharif sit began to close schools, aegis and impose Sharia law. Undecorated the Hazara sections of magnanimity city, particularly in the nor'-east and east areas around Syedabad, local Hezb-i Wahdat commanders standing armed "civilians" began to enrol themselves in resistance.

On May well 22, 1997, fighting also destitute out between Dostum's forces final the Taliban in Andkhoy meticulous Khwaja Dokoh. Massoud sent register.

On May 30, heavy conflict broke out around Syedabad. Taleban fighters were ambushed. At that point, Malik changed allegiances congruity his forces with Hezb-i Wahdat, taking thousands of Taliban joe six-pack as prisoners in Maimana, Sheberghan and Mazar-i-Sharif.

The Taliban prisoners were summarily executed, reportedly gain somebody's support the supervision of Malik's relation General Gul Mohammad Pahlawan. Estimates of the total number join were 3000. Furthermore, Junbish commanders such as Ghulam Haidar Jawzjani were also captured and attach, along with Salam Pahlawan be proof against Rais Omar Bey.

In say publicly months following the defeat revenue the Taliban in Mazar-i-Sharif, Malik then proceeded to reincorporate armed force loyal to Ismail Khan add up to the city's administration.

By July 1998 the Taliban had full control of much of representation area north of Herat, with the road linked to Maimana.

The 055 Brigade of Tangible Qaeda was reported to hold been used in the battle.^[66] On August 8, 1998, nobleness Taliban re-entered Mazar-i-Sharif.

Some Hezb-e Islami Gulbuddin forces joined loftiness Taliban during that time ringshaped the front lines of Hezb-i Wahdat at Qalai-Zaini-Takhta Pul. Feel about 1,500 – 3,000 Wahdat fighters were trapped and killed impervious to the Taliban and Hezb-e Islami Gulbuddin.

Senior commanders of Wahdat such as Muhammad Muhaqiq evacuated by helicopter.

Junbish-i Milli discord between Dostum's forces and those of Malik furthermore created opportunities for the Taliban. The Taleban were able to surround Mazar-i Sharif from the rear, capturing Hairatan directly across from Termez on September 20. The Taleban then proceeded to enter glory city where they executed around 4,000 civilians mostly of Hazara ethnic or Shia religious environs.

The Taliban, for the following 6 days were reported highlight have gone door to entrance looking for male Hazara Shias and then subsequently executing them. Thousands of prisoners were blissful by both sides in mixture transport truck containers where profuse suffocated or died of fever stroke. One Taliban hit-squad, Sipah-i Sahaba, captured the Iranian envoys where they shot dead memory journalist and 8 Iranian common sense and diplomatic officers.

Return of Ismail Khan

In March 1997, Ismail Caravansary (United Front) returned from Persia.

He led approximately 2,000 fighters to fight the Taliban prosperous Badghis and push them sort out approximately 20 kilometres (12 mi) northern of the Marghab River luminous to Qala-i Naw. The Taliban's advance was halted but important gains could not be indebted by either side.

Iran-Taliban Crisis

Among those killed in Mazar-i Sharif were several Iranian diplomats.

Blankness were kidnapped by the Taleban, touching off a hostage disaster that nearly escalated to copperplate full-scale war, with Iran loudening 70,000 Iranian soldiers on integrity Afghan border.^[70] It was consequent admitted that the diplomats were killed by the Taliban, last their bodies were returned space Iran.^[71] In September the Taleban claimed that Iran had on the fritz its airspace.

Later Iran described minor clashes had occurred betwixt the Taliban and Iran name the Taliban had allegedly straighttalking a raid into eastern Persia, though the Taliban denied produce revenue led the raid.^[72][73] Eventually be different UN mediation, the tensions cooled.

Assassination of Massoud

In early 2001 Massoud addressed the European Sevens in Brussels asking the global community to provide humanitarian assist to the people of Afghanistan.^[19] He stated that the Taleban and Al Qaeda had imported "a very wrong perception be paid Islam" and that without decency support of Pakistan and eject Laden the Taliban would categorize be able to sustain their military campaign for up express a year.^[19] On this come to see to Europe he also warned that his intelligence had collected information about a large-scale incursion on U.S.

soil being at hand.

On September 9, 2001, three Arab suicide attackers allegedly attachment to Al Qaeda, posing importance journalists, detonated a bomb cryptic in a video camera deep-rooted under the pretense of interviewing Ahmed Shah Massoud. Commander Massoud died in a helicopter cruise was taking him to smart hospital.

In over 26 eld Massoud had survived dozens atlas other assassination attempts by birth Soviet KGB and the Blanket communist intelligence service, the Asian ISI, Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, the Taleban and Al Qaeda. For repeat days the United Front denied the death of Massoud pray fear of desperation among their people. In the end, nobleness slogan "Now we are grab hold of Massoud" became a unifying conflict cry.

U.S. invasion

Main article: Warfare in Afghanistan (2001–2021)

After the attacks of September 11, 2001 closing stages U.S. soil, which killed close to 3,000 people, the United States and Britain launched an sufficient assault on Afghanistan on 7 October 2001, which the Taleban referred to as an "attack on Islam".^[8] Ground troops training the United Front (Northern Alliance), supported by Iran, India, Tadjik, Russia, Uzbekistan, Turkey and description United States' extensive bombing chastisement Taliban forces and military in November and December 2001 ousted the Taliban from motivation in Kabul and gained monitor of much of the build up your strength of the country.

See also

References