Northern Alliance
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The United Islamic Front for the Salvation of Afghanistan (UIF, Jabha-yi Muttahid-i Islami-yi Milli bara-yi Nijat-i Afghanistan), also known as the Northern Alliance (term used by the Western media), was a military-political umbrella organization created by the Islamic State of Afghanistan in 1996.
The organization united various Afghan groups fighting against each other to fight the Taliban instead. In late 2001, with extensive assistance from U.S. air support and United States Special Forces, the UIF succeeded in retaking most of Afghanistan from the Taliban.
Despite fears of a return to the chaos similar to that of the Afghan Civil War (1992-1996), the UIF largely accepted the new order.
Organization and history
The Mujahideen who had formerly defeated the Communist government and had formed the Islamic State of Afghanistan came under attack from Taliban and in 1996 lost the capital to the Taliban. It was at this junction that the Mujahideen resorted to the creation of UIF because Rashid Dostum as well as other warlords who belonged to various tribes but to no specific political party did not want to recognize the Islamic State of Afghanistan as a legal entity, so the defeated government devised a military strategy to utilize these forces while not offending their political views.
Although recognised by most foreign nations as the legal Government, it only controlled around 30% of Afghanistan. President Burhanuddin Rabbani was the national head of the United Islamic Front, however the central government had little power and personnel changes were frequent. The exception to this was the post of Defence Minister, which was held by Ahmed Shah Massoud and Mohammed Fahim. Before the 9/11 attacks; Russia, the Central Asian nations of the Commonwealth of Independent States, India, Turkey and Iran were giving aid to UIF. However Pakistan, the People's Republic of China, Saudi Arabia and UAE were supporting the Taliban.
Three ethnic groups dominated the UIF, the Tajiks, who make up 27% of Afghanistan's population and are the second largest ethnic group, and the Hazara and the Uzbeks, who each make up about 9% of the population. From the Taliban conquest 1996 until November 2001 the UIF controlled roughly 30% of Afghanistan's population. UIF controlled provinces like Badakshan, Kapisa, Takhar and parts of Parwan, Kunar, Nuristan, Laghmaan, Samangan, Qunduz, Ghor and Bamian, all in the north of the country (hence the name 'Northern Alliance'). Throughout the campaign against the Taliban, the Northern Alliance's fortunes fluctuated, but neither side succeeded in gaining a major advantage.
The political leader of the alliance was Burhanuddin Rabbani, however he was little more than a figurehead for the military commanders. Ahmed Shah Massoud served as the UIF's Minister of Defence and was by far its most visible and powerful figure. He personally commanded around 10,000 of the UIF's estimated 40,000 troops. Massoud's were also the best trained and best equipped troops the UIF had. Several other important military leaders controlled different factions within the alliance, including Abdul Rashid Dostum, General Mohammed Fahim, and Ismail Khan. General Dostum had the right to nominate the defense, foreign affairs and four other ministers, and was the military commander in northern Afghanistan.
On September 13 2001 it was confirmed that Ahmed Shah Massoud had died, following an attack by Al-Qaeda assassins posing as journalists four days earlier on September 9. Mohammed Fahim, the second ranking Tajik commander succeeded Massoud a few days later. In November and December of 2001, the UIF was successful in advancing to control much of the country, including the capital Kabul. This was facilitated by extensive bombing of Taliban forces and military infrastructure by the United States during the U.S.-led attack on Afghanistan.
Factions
The UIF was composed of roughly five of the factions of Mujahideen fighters. Iran and Turkey considered there to be seven factions in total. These groups were:
- Islamic Party of Afghanistan - Jamiat-I Islami-yi Afghanistan - Made up of mainly Persian-speaking Tajiks, led by Burhanuddin Rabbani. In later years as the capital was lost and the situation was largely military, Rabbani had little influence compared to Defence Ministers Ahmed Shah Massoud and Mohammed Fahim, who were also members of the Party.
- Islamic Unity Party of Afghanistan - Hizb-I Wahdat-I Islami-yi Afghanistan - Made up of Shia Hazaras, once led by the martyred Abdul Ali Mazari and later by Mohammed Mohaqiq and Karim Khalili, supported by Iran
- National Islamic Movement of Afghanistan - Junbish-I Milli-yi Afghanistan - Made up of Uzbeks and former communists, led by Abdul Rashid Dostum, supported by Turkey
- Islamic Movement of Afghanistan - Harakat-i-Islami-yi Afghanistan - Shia, led by Ayatollah Muhammad Asif Muhsini
- Islamic Union for the Liberation of Afghanistan - Ittihad-I Islami Bara-yi Azadi - Pashtun, led by Abdul Rasul Sayyaf
Many members, including much of the leadership were ethnic Tajiks, Uzbeks and Hazara - ethnic minorities in Afghanistan. Remnants of the former Soviet-backed communist government also made up a subsantial portion of the Northern Alliance.
Legacy
The United Front was extremely influential in the transitional Afghan Government of Hamid Karzai. Notably, Mohammed Fahim became the Vice President and Minister of Defence, Yunus Qanuni became the Minister of Education and Security Advisor and Dr Abdullah became the Foreign Minister. Most foreign observers expected this dominance to continue and for Fahim or Qanuni to be selected as Karzai's Vice President in the 2004 elections. However, Karzai instead selected Ahmad Zia Massoud, younger brother of the former United Front leader Ahmad Shah Massoud. Karzai easily won the 2004 Presidential election with 55.4% of the vote, followed by three former leaders of the UIF, Quanuni (16.3%), Mohammed Mohaqiq (11.7%) and Abdul Rashid Dostum (10%).
The majority of the alliance is now part of the United National Front (Afghanistan) which is led by Rabbani and includes many former leaders of the UIF such as Parliamentary Speaker Yunus Qanuni, Mohammed Fahim, Dostum, and Vice President Ahmad Zia Massoud. The United National Front has positioned itself as a "loyal" opposition to Karzai. A number of former UIF members are however loyal to Karzai, notably Abdul Sayyaf.
Much of the military strength of the UIF has now been absorbed into the Afghan National Army or disarmed[citation needed]. The existence and strength of the Afghan National Army has significantly reduced the threat of the former UIF elements attempting to use military action against the new government. However, most of the senior officers are former members of the UIF, including General Bismillah Khan.
Criticism
Much criticism has been leveled against the United Islamic Front for alleged breaches of human rights, by both Afghani and international groups. The influence allied warlords have in their territories where they make their own, often draconian, laws is one factor. Human Rights Watch has released documents alleging internal displacement and executions, widespread rape, arbitrary arrests and "disappearances" targeted against the civilian population.[1]
See also
External links
- Northern Alliance FAS
- Who are the Northern Alliance? BBC 13 November, 2001
- Afghanistan's Northern Alliance BBC 19 September, 2001,
- Human Rights Watch on the UIF crimes
