Abdul Rashid Dostum
Abdul Rashid Dostum | |
---|---|
عبدالرشید دوستم | |
First Vice President of Afghanistan | |
In office 29 September 2014 – 19 February 2020 | |
President | Ashraf Ghani |
Preceded by | Yunus Qanuni |
Succeeded by | Amrullah Saleh |
Personal details | |
Born | Junbish-e Milli (from 1992) | 25 March 1954
Nationality | Afghan |
Nickname | Pasha (پاشا) |
Military service | |
Allegiance | Afghanistan
|
Branch/service | Junbish-e Milli |
Battles/wars | See battles |
Abdul Rashid Dostum (
An ethnic
Following the
After the fall of the Taliban, he joined interim president
Dostum is a controversial figure in Afghanistan.
Early life
This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (October 2014) |
Dostum was born in 1954 in
Career
Dostum began working in 1970 in a state-owned gas refinery in
As a
Soviet–Afghan War
By the mid-1980s, he commanded around 20,000 militia men and controlled the northern provinces of Afghanistan.[22] While the unit recruited throughout Jowzjan and had a relatively broad base, many of its early troops and commanders came from Dostum's home village. He left the army after the purge of Parchamites, but returned after the Soviet occupation began.[20]
During the
Due to his efforts in the army, Dostum was awarded the title "Hero of the Republic of Afghanistan" by President Najibullah.[25]
Civil war and northern Afghanistan autonomous state
Dostum's men would become an important force in the
Dostum then left Kabul for his northern stronghold
Taliban era
Following the rise of the
Much like other Northern Alliance leaders, Dostum also faced infighting within his group and was later forced to surrender his power to General Abdul Malik Pahlawan. Malik entered into secret negotiations with the Taliban, who promised to respect his authority over much of northern Afghanistan, in exchange for the apprehension of Ismail Khan, one of their enemies.[31][32] Accordingly, on 25 May 1997, Malik arrested Khan, handed him over and let the Taliban enter Mazar-e-Sharif, giving them control over most of northern Afghanistan. Because of this, Dostum was forced to flee to Turkey.[33] However, Malik soon realized that the Taliban were not sincere with their promises as he saw his men being disarmed. He then rejoined the Northern Alliance, and turned against his erstwhile allies, driving them from Mazar-e-Sharif. In October 1997, Dostum returned from exile and retook charge. After Dostum briefly regained control of Mazar-e-Sharif, the Taliban returned in 1998 and he again fled to Turkey.[24][34]
Operation Enduring Freedom
Dostum returned to Afghanistan in May 2001 to open up a new front before the U.S.-led campaign against the Taliban joined him, along with Commander Massoud,
On 24 November 2001, 15,000 Taliban soldiers were due to surrender after the Siege of Kunduz to American and Northern Alliance forces. Instead, 400 Al-Qaeda prisoners arrived just outside Mazar-i-Sharif. After they surrendered to Dostum, they were transferred to the 19th century garrison fortress, Qala-i-Jangi. The next day, while being questioned by CIA officers Spann and David Tyson, they used concealed weapons to revolt, triggering what became the Battle of Qala-i-Jangi against the guards. The uprising was finally brought under control after six days.[39]
Dasht-i-Leili massacre
Dostum has been accused by Western journalists of responsibility for the suffocating or otherwise killing of Taliban prisoners in December 2001,[40] with the number of victims estimated as 2,000. In 2009, Dostum denied the accusations and US President Obama ordered an investigation into the massacre.[41]
Karzai administration
In the aftermath of Taliban's removal from northern Afghanistan, forces loyal to Dostum frequently clashed with
Dostum served as deputy defense minister the early period of the Karzai administration. On 20 May 2003, Dostum narrowly escaped an assassination attempt.[42] He was often residing outside Afghanistan, mainly in Turkey. In February 2008, he was suspended after the apparent kidnapping and torture of a political rival.[43]
Time in Turkey
Some media reports in 2008 stated earlier that Dostum was "seeking political asylum" in Turkey[44] while others said he was exiled.[45] One Turkish media outlet said Dostum was visiting after flying there with then Turkey's Foreign Minister Ali Babacan during a meeting of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE).[46]
On 16 August 2009, Dostum was asked to return from exile to Afghanistan to support President Hamid Karzai in his bid for re-election. He later flew by helicopter to his northern stronghold of Sheberghan, where he was greeted by thousands of his supporters in the local stadium. He subsequently made overtures to the United States, promising he could "destroy the Taliban and al Qaeda" if supported by the U.S., saying that "the U.S. needs strong friends like Dostum."[47]
Ghani administration
On 7 October 2013, the day after filing his nomination for the 2014 general elections as running mate of Ashraf Ghani, Dostum issued a press statement that some news media were willing to welcome as "apologies": "Many mistakes were made during the civil war (…) It is time we apologize to the Afghan people who were sacrificed due to our negative policies (…) I apologize to the people who suffered from the violence and civil war (…)".[48]
Dostum was directly chosen as First Vice President of Afghanistan in the April–June 2014 Afghan presidential election, next to Ashraf Ghani as president and Sarwar Danish as second vice president.
In July 2016, Human Rights Watch accused Abdul Rashid Dostum's National Islamic Movement of Afghanistan of killing, abusing and looting civilians in the northern Faryab Province during June.[49][50] Militia forces loyal to Dostum stated that the civilians they targeted – at least 13 killed and 32 wounded – were supporters of the Taliban.[50]
In November 2016, at a buzkashi match, he punched his political rival Ahmad Ischi, and then his bodyguards beat Ischi. In 2017, he was accused of having Ischi kidnapped in that incident and raped with a gun on camera during a five-day detention, claims that Dostum denies but that nevertheless forced him into exile in Turkey.[51][52]
On 26 July 2018, he narrowly escaped a suicide bombing by
On 30 March 2019, Dostum again escaped an expected assassination attempt while traveling from
On 11 August 2021 during the Taliban's nationwide offensive, Dostum, along with Atta Muhammad Nur, led the government's defence of the city of Mazar-i-Sharif.[55] Three days later, they fled across Hairatan to Uzbekistan. Atta Nur claimed that they were forced to flee due to a "conspiracy".[56] Both men later pled allegiance to the National Resistance Front of Afghanistan, the remaining remnants of the collapsed Islamic Republic of Afghanistan.[57] Dostum, Atta, Yunus Qanuni, Abdul Rasul Sayyaf and some other political figures formed the Supreme Council of National Resistance of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan in opposition to the new Taliban regime in October 2021.[58]
Political and social views
Dostum is considered to be
We will not submit to a government where there is no whisky and no music.
He viewed the
Personal life
Dostum is more than 183 centimetres (6.00 ft) tall and has been described as "beefy". He generally prefers to wear a Soviet-style camouflage military uniform, previously having worn KLMK, having a trademark bushy moustache.[60][18]
Dostum was married to a woman named Khadija. According to Brian Glyn Williams, Khadija had an accidental death in the 1990s which broke Dostum as he "really loved his wife". Dostum eventually remarried after Khadija's death.[61]
He named one of his sons Mustafa Kamal, after the founder of the modern Turkish republic,
Dostum is known to drink
In popular culture
- Navid Negahban portrays Dostum in the 2018 film 12 Strong.[64]
- Dostum appears as a playing card in the board game A Distant Plain.[65]
See also
References
- ^ "Big fish among the Afghan warlords". The Washington Times. 12 October 2008. Archived from the original on 25 December 2018. Retrieved 6 March 2012.
Gen. Dostum, 54
- ^ Harnden 2021, p. 54.
- ^ Esfandiari, Golnaz (2 March 2005). "Afghanistan: Powerful Commander Gets High-Ranking Military Post". Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. Archived from the original on 21 July 2021. Retrieved 21 July 2021.
- ^ Partlow, Joshua (23 April 2014). "He was America's man in Afghanistan. Then things went sour. Now Abdurrashid Dostum may be back". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on 4 January 2018. Retrieved 4 January 2018.
- ^ "The Return of the Kingmaker: Afghanistan's General Dostum Ends his Exile".
- ^ a b c Riedel, Bruce (30 November 2001). "The Warlord Who Defines Afghanistan: An Excerpt from Bruce Riedel's 'What We Won'". Brookings Institution. Archived from the original on 10 January 2022. Retrieved 21 July 2021.
- ^ hdl:10945/3592. Archived(PDF) from the original on 28 October 2020. Retrieved 23 February 2023.
- ^ a b c d Cockburn, Patrick (1 December 2001). "Rashid Dostum: The treacherous general". The Independent. London. Archived from the original on 8 March 2021.
- ^ a b c d Pugliese, David (10 May 2007). "Former Afghan warlord says he can defeat Taliban". CanWest News Service. Archived from the original on 21 May 2008. Retrieved 22 April 2008.
- ^ "Factional Fighting Escalates in Afghanistan". Voice of America. 9 October 2003. Archived from the original on 21 July 2021.
- ^ Ansar, Massoud (8 June 2020). "Sources Report Rift over Marshal Rank for Dostum". TOLOnews. Archived from the original on 17 August 2021. Retrieved 23 February 2023.
- ^ Putz, Catherine (13 July 2017). "Kabul's Dostum Problem". The Diplomat. Archived from the original on 21 July 2021. Retrieved 21 July 2021.
- ^ "Profile: General Rashid Dostum". BBC News. 25 September 2001. Archived from the original on 8 April 2009. Retrieved 18 March 2009.
- .
- ^ a b MacKenzie, Jean (17 July 2009). "Hero on horseback, or mass murderer?". The World. Archived from the original on 21 July 2021. Retrieved 21 July 2021.
- ^ Mashal, Mujib (16 May 2020). "Afghan Power-Sharing Deal Would Promote General Accused of Rape". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 2 July 2020. Retrieved 20 July 2020.
- ^ "Afghanistan's most feared warlord says sorry to victims of conflict". The Telegraph. Archived from the original on 21 July 2021. Retrieved 21 July 2021.
- ^ a b Shariff, Omar (3 April 2014). "Afghanistan's most feared warlord". Gulf News. Archived from the original on 21 July 2021. Retrieved 21 July 2021.
- ^ "International Criminal Court judges consider Afghanistan war crimes inquiry". BBC News. 2 February 2018. Archived from the original on 6 August 2020. Retrieved 20 July 2020.
- ^ a b "Abdul Rashid Dostum". GlobalSecurity.org. Archived from the original on 1 March 2009. Retrieved 18 March 2009.
- ^ "Dostum Calls for Political Settlement to Conflict". TOLOnews. Retrieved 2 May 2024.
- ^ a b "Profile: General Rashid Dostum". BBC News. 25 September 2001. Archived from the original on 8 April 2009. Retrieved 18 March 2009.
- ^ Marshall, p. 3
- ^ a b c d e "Abdul Rashid Dostum". Islamic Republic of Afghanistan. Archived from the original on 10 March 2009. Retrieved 18 March 2009.
- ISBN 9780810878150.
- ^ Vogelsang 2001, p. 324.
- ^ Kakar, M. Hassan (1995). Afghanistan: The Soviet Invasion and the Afghan Response, 1979-1982. Berkeley: University of California Press. Archived from the original on 11 May 2008. Retrieved 23 February 2023.
- ^ Anthony Davis, 'The Battlegrounds of Northern Afghanistan,' Jane's Intelligence Review, July 1994, p.323-4
- ^ a b Vogelsang 2001, p. 232.
- ^ The Last Warlord: The Life and Legend of Dostum, the Afghan Warrior Who Led US Special Forces to Topple the Taliban Regime by Brian Glyn Williams, 2013
- ^ Johnson, Thomas H. (July 2004). "Ismail Khan, Herat, and Iranian Influence". Strategic Insights. III (7). Center for Contemporary Conflict. Archived from the original on 11 August 2004. Retrieved 20 March 2007.
- ISBN 2-07-042468-5; p. 75
- ISBN 1-56025-438-6.
- ^ UN Security Council report. "La situation en Afghanistan et ses conséquences pour la paix et la sécurité internationales". Human Rights Internet. Archived from the original on 30 September 2007. Retrieved 20 March 2007.
- ^ Harnden 2021, p. 78.
- ^ Robert Young Pelton (2007). "The Legend of Heavy D & the Boys:In the Field With an Afghan Warlord". National Geographic Society. Archived from the original on 6 April 2008. Retrieved 22 April 2008.
- ^ "ODA 595". PBS. 2007. Archived from the original on 29 April 2008. Retrieved 22 April 2008.
- ^ Harnden 2021, p. 132.
- ^ Harnden 2021, p. 275.
- ^ Gall, Carlotta (11 December 2001). "Witnesses Recount Taliban Dying While Held Captive". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 18 July 2009. Retrieved 1 May 2010.
- ^ "Obama orders probe of alleged mass grave". NBC News. 12 July 2009. Retrieved 10 May 2024.
- ^ "Dostum, Abdul Rashid". Afghan Biographies. Archived from the original on 23 February 2023. Retrieved 16 January 2017.
- ^ Wafa, Abdul Waheed (3 February 2008). "Afghan police lay siege to home of former warlord". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 30 July 2018. Retrieved 21 October 2018.
- ^ "Dostum seeking asylum in Turkey – media reports[permanent dead link]," Quqnoos.com, 6 December 2008, retrieved 6 December 2008
- ^ "Afghan general Rashid Dostum flies to exile in Turkey Archived 12 October 2014 at the Wayback Machine," Deutsche Presse-Agentur via earthtimes.org, 4 December 2008, retrieved 6 December 2008
- ^ "Afghan warlord in Turkey but not in exile, official says[permanent dead link]," Today's Zaman, 5 December 2008, retrieved 6 December 2008
- ^ Motlagh, Jason; Carter, Sara A. (22 September 2009). "Afghan warlords will fight if U.S. gives weapons". The Washington Times. Archived from the original on 7 June 2011. Retrieved 23 September 2009.
- ^ Bezhan, Frud (8 October 2013). "Former Afghan Warlord Apologizes For Past 'Mistakes'". Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. Archived from the original on 28 April 2016. Retrieved 28 April 2016.
- ^ "Afghanistan: Forces Linked to Vice President Terrorize Villagers". Human Rights Watch. 31 July 2016. Archived from the original on 9 December 2021. Retrieved 11 October 2022.
- ^ a b "Taliban kills 24 police in two days". The Australian. 1 August 2016.
- ^ "Afghan VP 'punches, kidnaps' rival at traditional sporting event". The New Arab. 28 November 2016. Archived from the original on 18 May 2018. Retrieved 18 May 2018.
- ^ Mashal, Mujib; Rahim, Najim (18 July 2017). "Afghan Vice President's Return Thwarted as Plane Is Turned Back". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 1 January 2022. Retrieved 4 January 2018.
- ^ "Afghan Vice President Dostum Escapes Suicide Attack; 14 Others Killed". Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. 22 July 2018. Archived from the original on 14 November 2018. Retrieved 21 October 2018.
- ^ Sahak, Abdul Matin (30 March 2019). "Afghan vice president narrowly escapes death for a second time". Reuters. Archived from the original on 30 March 2019. Retrieved 30 March 2019.
- ^ Varshalomidze, Tamila; Siddiqui, Usaid (11 August 2021). "Afghan leader rallies forces in Taliban-besieged northern city". Al Jazeera English. Archived from the original on 10 January 2022. Retrieved 11 September 2021.
- ^ "Afghan militia leaders Atta Noor, Dostum escape 'conspiracy'". Reuters. 14 August 2021. Archived from the original on 14 August 2021. Retrieved 15 August 2021.
- ^ Lucas, Scott (6 September 2021). "Afghanistan: The warlords who will decide whether civil war is likely". The Conversation. Archived from the original on 20 January 2022. Retrieved 11 September 2021.
- ^ "Islamic Emirate Reacts to Newly-Formed 'Resistance Council'". TOLOnews. 23 October 2021. Archived from the original on 22 November 2021. Retrieved 22 November 2021.
- ^ Williams, Brian Glyn (6 July 2016). "The State Department Insults the Afghan Vice President (And All Afghan Uzbeks)". HuffPost. Archived from the original on 12 May 2017. Retrieved 4 January 2018.
- ^ a b "The peace-seeking missile profile general abdul rashid dostum". The Herald. Glasgow. 1 December 2001. Archived from the original on 21 July 2021. Retrieved 21 July 2021.
- ^ "Author Says Dostum Is Not A Blood-thirsty Warlord". Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. 16 July 2014. Archived from the original on 21 July 2021. Retrieved 21 July 2021.
- ^ a b Kardas, Saban (8 December 2008). "Dostum Says He Is Not in Exile in Turkey and Remains a Potent Force in Afghanistan". Jamestown Foundation. Archived from the original on 21 July 2021. Retrieved 21 July 2021.
- ^ "Afghanistan's Warlord-Turned-VP Abdul Rashid Dostum Fights for Fitness". NBC News. 10 December 2014. Archived from the original on 21 July 2021. Retrieved 21 July 2021.
- ^ Kroll, Justin (17 November 2016). "Chris Hemsworth's Afghanistan War Drama 'Horse Soldiers' Adds 'Homeland's' Navid Negahban". Variety. Archived from the original on 5 February 2017. Retrieved 16 January 2018.
- ^ Train, Brian; Ruhnke, Volko (2013). ""A Distant Plain: Insurgency in Afghanistan" Playbook" (PDF). GMT Games. p. 38. Archived (PDF) from the original on 9 October 2022. Retrieved 12 July 2018.
Bibliography
- Harnden, Toby (2021). First Casualty: The Untold Story of the CIA Mission to Avenge 9/11. Little, Brown and Company. ISBN 9780316540964.
- ISBN 0-631-19841-5.
External links
This article's use of external links may not follow Wikipedia's policies or guidelines. (January 2018) |
- General Abdul Rashid Dostum's official website
- Article on Abdul Rashid Dostum on Islamic Republic Of Afghanistan (.com)
- Profile: General Rashid Dostum – BBC News
- Biography about Dostum
- CNN Presents: House of War
- Afghanistan Mass Grave: The Dasht-e Leili War Crimes Investigation
- As possible Afghan war-crimes evidence removed, U.S. silent
- Obama Calls for Probe into 2001 Massacre of Suspected Taliban POWs by US-Backed Afghan Warlord – video by Democracy Now!
- Eyewitness account from National Geographic war reporter Robert Young Pelton