Background
On Feb. 14, 1989, the last Soviet soldiers left Afghanistan. Expectations were high that in a few months, if not weeks, the puppet government of President Mohammed Najibullah would fall. Not until three years later, in April 1992, did the communists lose power to a loose-knit group called the Northern Alliance.
This was an alliance in name only. Even before the communists were ousted, the "alliance" members were fighting among themselves. What kept their internal civil war at a low ebb was their common enemy in Kabul.
Once the alliance took over, the civil strife intensified. In 1995, a new force espousing a strict interpretation of Islam, swept from the southwest and, in September 1996, threw the "alliance" out of Kabul. Eventually, the Taliban controlled approximately 85 percent of the country. In large measure, the Taliban advance was facilitated by Afghanistan's human geography — few large cities, low population density — and the nature of its wars, in which the small size of 'armies" precludes continuous "front lines" or defenses in depth and long lines of communication become susceptible to interdiction. Moreover, by 1995, the population was weary of war, and the Taliban promised an end to fighting even if the price was the imposition of an unforgiving regime.
The New Realities
In November 2001, with the aid of U.S. air power, new equipment, ammunition stocks, and other supplies, the reinvigorated Northern Alliance (also called the United Front) launched an offensive that in one week led to the capture of every major town in Afghanistan other than Kunduz in the north and Kandahar, the seat of Taliban strength, in the southwest.
Clearly, this swift military advance has outrun the political process of trying to piece together a new multi-ethnic government that could end the fighting, disarm and demobilize most of the militias and integrate the remaining forces into a single security force, and in general restore stability and begin rebuilding the country's civil sector and economy with international support.
Even with full international support, it was never going to be easy. There are more than 35 different languages spoken in the country and at least 13 anti-Taliban parties. Approximate ethnic make-up of the main groups is: Pashtun, 38 percent; Tajik, 25 percent; Hazara, 19 percent; Uzbek, 6 percent; with minor ethnic groups constituting 12 percent. Add to these divisions the tens of semi-autonomous "field commanders" who each control a few hundred to a few thousand men, and who feel they should have some say in any new arrangement, and the job seems overwhelming.
Who are the "powers" in Afghanistan with whom the international community must deal? They come from nine main ethnic groups and constitute military commanders and political party or faction leaders. The list is derived from a number of past and current news sources as well as other publications.
Political Parties/ Personalities
Northern Alliance: Originally (1992) a loosely coordinated grouping of forces associated with Ahmad Shah Masood, Abdul Rashid Dostam, and the Iranian-backed Hezb-e Wahdat political faction.
Southern Council of Afghanistan: announced Nov. 13, 2001, as the "ruling" body in Jalalabad after the city was seized from the Taliban. Succeeded by a council of elders called the Eastern Shura, which has proclaimed itself the government in Jalalabad.
Hezb-e Wahdat: pro-Shi'ite party backed by Iran. Its military wing is contesting control of Herat with forces commanded by Ismail Khan.
Abdullah Abdullah: Northern Alliance acting foreign minister.
Burhannuddin Rabbani: Afghan president deposed in 1996 by the Taliban. Ethnic Tajik; heads the Jamiat-e-Islami faction.
Haji Bashar: Member of the Noorzai tribe, the largest Pashtun tribe. Appointed as administrator of Kandahar.
Haji Gardezi: Leader of the Southern Council (Jalalabad area).
Hamid Karzai: Popolzai tribal leader (Kandahar region), associated with former king Zahir Shah. Attempting to get Taliban to leave Kandahar.
Humid Kara: Royalist supporter in Kandahar region.
Maulawa Islam Mohammed: Governor of central Bamian province who switched allegiance to the Northern Alliance.
Mohammed Fahim: Northern Alliance defense minister. Ethnic Tajik. Succeeded Ahmad Shah Masood who was assassinated Sept. 9, 2001.
Yunis Khalis (aka Mawlawi Mohammed): Northern Alliance member vying to assume leadership of Jalalabad area (Nangarhar Province). Ethnic Pashtun (age 82) and former mujahidin commander.
Yunis Qanuni: Northern Alliance interior minister.
Zahir Shah: Former king (age 86) deposed in 1973. Has been living in Rome.
Zaman Ghun Shareef: Leader of Eastern Shura faction. Vying for control of Jalalabad.
Military Field Commanders
Abdul Qadir: Field commander allied to Yunis Khalis in Jalalabad region. Former governor of Jalalabad (1992-1995).
Abdul Rashid Dostam: Ethnic Uzbek. Originally allied with the pro-communist government of President Najibullah. In January1994, he switched allegiance with from Rabbani to Hikmatyar. Ran six northern provinces as a personal fiefdom until May 1997, when he was betrayed by his nominal ally Abdul Malik. When Malik turned on the Taliban, Dostam briefly regained his former position before subordinates switched sides, forcing Dostam to flee in 1998. He returned to Afghanistan in early 2001 and was one of the main commanders when Mazar-e Sharif fell in November.
Atiqullah Baryalai: Northern Alliance field commander near Konduz.
Gulbuddin Hikmatyar: Ethnic Pashtun. Fundamentalist and nominal prime minister under Rabbani. Headed the Hezb-e Islami party. During the anti-Soviet campaign, he resented being dependent on the United States, a non-Islamic and non-Afghan power center. From his current exile in Iran, reportedly has offered the Taliban information about hidden arms caches in Afghanistan that contain Stinger surface to air missiles.
Haji Ibrahim: Achakzai tribal leader and field commander who had been residing in Pakistan.
Haji Mohammed Mohaqiq: Northern Alliance field commander.
Haji Mohammed Zaman: Prominent field commander near Jalalabad.
Hasrat Ali: Seized Kunar province (in southeast) when Taliban withdrew. Loyal to former Jalalabad governor Haji Abdul Qadir.
Mohammed Dawood: Northern Alliance field commander near Kunduz.
Ismail Khan: Former governor of Herat and military field commander.
Karim Khalili: Commander of an ethnic Hazara (Shi'ite) force.
Usta Mohammed Atta: Northern Alliance commander, now "mayor" of Mazar-e Sharif.
Other figures
Abdul Khaliq: Noorzai tribal leader attempting to get the Taliban to leave Kandahar.
Arif Khan: Southern Pashtun tribal leader.
Gul Agha Sherza: Pashtun leader. Former governor of Kandahar and veteran of the anti-Soviet struggle. Ally of Pashtun tribal leader Mohammed Anwar. Attempting to get Taliban to leave Kandahar.
Mansour Naderi: Ally of Abdul Dostam against the Soviets in the 1980s.
Mawlawee Rasoul Sayaif: Ethnic Pashtun. Fundamentalist deputy to Rabanni in early 1970s. Received support from Saudi Arabia until he faded from the scene in 1995.
Mohammed Anwar: Pashtun tribal leader.
Saeed Anwari: Shi'ite leader.
Sardar Mohammed Akram: Achakais tribal leader attempting to get the Taliban to leave Kandhar.
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