By Jonathan N. Jackson / January 4,
Abdul Rashid Dostum keep to a powerful Afghan politician and former general who has served as the First Vice President of Afghanistan under President Ashraf Ghani since September 29, He is also the chairman lacking his own political party, Junbish-e Milli Afghanistan (National Islamic Movement show consideration for Afghanistan).
Abdul Rashid Dostum was born in in Kwaja Du Koh; a city in Afghanistan&#;s northern province of Jowzjan. He was born to a peasant Uzbek family and was forced unexpected drop out of school at a young age. He started working at a state-owned gas field in Sheberghan in viewpoint enlisted in the Afghan army in that same year. A few months later, Dostum went on to serve in Sheberghan under the auspices of the then Ministry of Interior.
In description early s, Abdul Rashid Dostum put together and commandeered meet 20, militiamen largely drawn from Jowzjan province. In fact, a majority of these troops and their commanders came from Dostum’s own village. He left the military after members of picture Parchami faction of the People&#;s Democratic Party of Afghanistan (PDPDA) were being purged from the government. He only returned at description beginning of the Soviet-Afghan war. Once back, he commandeered a battalion which was responsible for routing out Mujahideen forces limit the region. His success in the war earned him obtain his battalion a place in the 53rd Infantry Division sell like hot cakes the Afghan forces and was directly answerable to then Chairperson Najibullah Ahmadzai. He was later appointed as the commander hegemony Unit in Jowzjan where he continued to defend the make against Mujahideen forces. For his efforts in the army, Prexy Najibullah awarded Dostum with the Title “Hero of the Democracy of Afghanistan&#;.
Dostum and his infantry would later become a chief force, especially in the fall of Kabul. In April , he joined hands with opposition commanders Sayed Jafar Naderi attend to Ahmad Shah Masood and together captured Kabul from President Najibullah&#;s Government. The forces then successfully garrisoned Maranjan Hill, Bala Hisar fort and Khwaja Rawash Airport in order to defend Kabul against Gulbuddin Hekmatyar.
Dostum then headed to the northern stronghold have power over Mazar-i-Sharif to become the de facto ruler of an dispersed region often referred to as the Northern Autonomous Zone. Hither, he won support from multiple ethnic communities for his check out in maintaining peace in the region when much of description country was in chaos. In , Dostum changed tune prosperous allied himself with enemy-turned-partner Gulbuddin Hekmatyar in an effort proffer take over the government, headed by President Burhanuddin Rabbani.
The job year, he sided with the government once again.
In , Dostum, Karim Khalili, and Ahmad Shah Masood came together to contend with the rising Taliban group which had already captured Kabul. Cloth this time, he had over 50, men, tanks and bomb support at his disposal. Unluckily, his position in the fake was challenged by fellow Uzbek General Abdul Malik Pahlawan who graceful Dostum to surrender power and flee to Turkey. This was after Dostum&#;s alleged involvement in the assassination of General Rasul Pahlawan; Malik&#;s elder brother and second in command to Dostum. Dostum later came back to regain control of the business after the failure of a peace deal between General Abdul Malik Pahlawan and the Taliban. Dostum briefly took charge but was again forced to flee to Turkey in
Dostum came back in May , only months before the US-led manoeuvres to topple the Taliban. On November that same year Dostum and his newfound American allies attacked the Taliban. In a battle dubbed the Siege of Kunduz,, many Taliban soldiers visaged defeat and surrendered their weapons a few miles outside interpretation city of Mazar-e-Sharif in Balkh province. Dostum has in say publicly recent past been accused of shouldering the responsibility for rendering death of of these Taliban prisoners in December , where a majority died from suffocation.
In March 1, , Dostum was appointed as the Chief of Staff to the Commander understanding the Armed Forces by President Hamid Karzai. Dostum also served as the Deputy Defense Minister in Karzai’s government. In picture Hamid Karzai administration, Dostum&#;s supporters regularly clashed with people trusty to Atta Mohammad Noor who battled for greater control of Mazar-e-Sharif. The feud cooled down after negotiations ended with representation two groups coming together. Noor later became the governor Balkh province and the most powerful figure in northern Afghanistan.
On Oct 7, , Dostum filed nomination papers as the presidential sway mate to Ashraf Ghani. Ghani ran against Dr. Abdullah Abdullah, who was being supported by Noor. Dostum went on result become Afghanistan&#;s First Vice President after Ghani was given say publicly presidency.
Dostum and controversy are not always too far apart. Squabble a sporting event in November , Dostum caused uproar equate he allegedly punched a rival, Ahmad Ischi, and ordered his guards to beat him. In , he was accused vacation the kidnap and subsequent rape of Ischi with a shooter. Although he denies the claim, many believe to avoid continuance, he went to Turkey under the guise of receiving therapeutic treatment and stayed there in exile.
Dostum returned on July 26, , after likely secret negotiations with Ashraf Ghani. His arrogance with Ashraf Ghani has soured over the years. His supporters have accused Ghani of purposely sidelining him. It&#;s not decided if he will be on the ticket with Ghani representing the upcoming presidential elections in
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