Draft:Abdul Rashid Dostum
| Abdul Rashid Dostum | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Name | Abdul Rashid Dostum |
| Other Names | Marshal Dostum |
| Personal Details | |
| Birth Place | Khwaja Du Koh District, Jowzjan Province, Afghanistan |
| Brith Date | {{{birth_date}}} |
| Death Place | {{{death_place}}} |
| Death Date | {{{death_date}}} |
| Religion | Islam (Sunni) |
Abdul Rashid Dostum is a politician, military commander (Marshal), and leader of the National Islamic Movement of Afghanistan. From 2014 to 2020 CE, he served as the First Vice President of Afghanistan in the government of Mohammad Ashraf Ghani. Dostum is one of the most influential and controversial political and military figures in Afghanistan over the past four decades, and has experienced various roles, including cooperation with the communist government, fighting against the Mujahideen and the Taliban, and cooperation with foreign forces.
Biography
Abdul Rashid Dostum was born in 1954 CE (1333 SH) in Khawaja Du Koh District, Jowzjan Province, into a farming family. His father was named Haji Abdul Rahim and his mother Anbar Shah. He studied up to the seventh grade and then dropped out, engaging in farming during his childhood. In 1979 CE (1358 SH), Dostum was hired as a worker at the Shibirghan Oil and Gas Company and worked there for three years. During this period, he was recruited into the People's Democratic Party of Afghanistan (Parcham faction). Afterwards, he worked as a state security soldier and gradually rose in rank. In 1986 CE (1365 SH), with the help of Sayyid Akram (the then provincial secretary) and by order of the Russians, he formed the 53rd Infantry Division and became its commander, being granted the rank of General. During the years of the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, Dostum transformed from a trade union leader into a leader of an Uzbek-based militia group fighting in support of the communist government backed by the former Soviet Union. In the 1980s CE (1360s SH), Dostum served as a general in the communist army of Afghanistan and fought against the Afghan mujahideen. After the fall of the communist government, he became an independent warlord and the head of the Committee of Uzbeks of Afghanistan.
Civil Wars and Fall of Kabul
Dostum's men played a significant role in 1992 CE (1371 SH) after the fall of Kabul. With about 4,000 to 5,000 soldiers, along with Ahmad Shah Massoud (Tajik), he fought against Gulbuddin Hekmatyar (Pashtun) and at that time took control of Qala-e Balahisar, Marjan Hill, and Kabul Airport. However, in 1994 CE, he joined Gulbuddin Hekmatyar and acted against the Tajik government of Burhanuddin Rabbani and Ahmad Shah Massoud. He is accused by many people in Afghanistan of war crimes and the killing of civilians during the Afghan civil wars. Following these wars, more than 50,000 civilians were killed in Kabul alone, and a massive wave of migration from Afghanistan began.
Rise of the Taliban and Cooperation with the US
With the rise to power of the Taliban in 1998 CE (1377 SH), Dostum was forced to leave Afghanistan and went to Turkey. He later returned to Afghanistan and, with the aim of joint struggle against the Taliban, met with Ahmad Shah Massoud and became one of the prominent commanders of the Northern Alliance. He managed to retake the city of Mazar-i-Sharif from Taliban control. After the killing of Ahmad Shah Massoud in September 2001 CE (Shahrivar 1380 SH), Dostum showed no opposition to the succession of Mohammad Qasim Fahim and cooperated with US forces in the collapse of the Taliban. Forces under Dostum's command, along with other militias of jihadist groups, played a significant role in the victory of the US attacks aimed at overthrowing the Taliban.
After the Fall of the Taliban
After the collapse of the Taliban and the formation of the new government in Afghanistan, Dostum was appointed as the head of the Supreme Military Council and representative of Hamid Karzai in northern Afghanistan, and later promoted to the position of Deputy Minister of Defense. He participated in the 2004 CE (1383 SH) presidential election and obtained 10 percent of the votes, but in the new government, he was introduced as the Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of Afghanistan. However, this post was subsequently suspended by the Attorney General of Afghanistan after Akbar Bay (head of the Council of Turkmen of Afghanistan) claimed he was kidnapped and beaten by Dostum's men. This allegation soured his relations with the Hamid Karzai government and led to the siege of his house in Kabul by police.
First Vice President
In the 2014 CE (1393 SH) presidential election, Dostum was elected as Vice President alongside Sarwar Danish as deputies of Ashraf Ghani and managed to secure the majority of Uzbek and Turkmen people's votes in favor of Ashraf Ghani. After the formation of the National Unity Government, Dostum's role in the government became very pale, causing numerous criticisms from him against the President and the Chief Executive Officer (Abdullah Abdullah).
Allegations and Recent Events
In Qous 1396 SH (November 2017 CE), Ahmad Ishchi (one of Dostum's political opponents) claimed that Dostum and some of his soldiers had beaten him. This allegation led to a case being opened against him. Dostum left Afghanistan on 29 Ordibehesht 1396 SH (19 May 2017 CE) on the pretext of illness and went to Turkey for treatment. He returned to Afghanistan after 14 months on 31 Tir 1397 SH (22 July 2018 CE) and, along with Ata Muhammad Nur, Mohammad Mohaqiq, and Salahuddin Rabbani, formed a coalition named "Coalition for Salvation for Afghanistan" against the National Unity Government.
Martyrdom of Imam Khamenei
Following the occurrence of the Ramadan War and the martyrdom of Imam Khamenei [citation needed], he stated: The demise of Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Ali Hosseini Khamenei, this great figure, in the field of global politics and Islamic issues is a cause of great concern and regret[1].
See also
Notes
References
- Complete Biography of "Abdul Rashid Dostum", Mizan Website, Published 15 December 2019 (CE). Retrieved 18 May 2026 (CE).