Thread by @AfghanHistorian

With fall of Mazar, a military council (Harakat-i-Shamal-the Movement of the North) was set up under leadership of Dostum. Members: Alam Khan(Jamiat), Juma K. Hamdard(Hizb), Mas’ab (Wahdat), Abdul Wahid (Harakat); militia(Rasul, Ghaffar, Rozi, Jaffar Naderi),& PDPA (Momin&Hilal)

On 21 March, interestingly Gen. Azimi was invited to raise the Jand-e-Bala in Mazar New Year celebrations in which all d Movement of the North members were present. This gave further legitimacy to the Movement. In his speech, Azimi makes no mention of the central government.

Jumping forward: ultimately this alliance leads to the formation of Junbish-i-Milli-Islami (National Islamic Movement) in order to improve Dostum & allies's bargaining power and to establish them as a political force against Jihadis in Kabul.

On 1 June 1992, Junbish organised its 1st congress; elected Dostum as its leader&Atta M. Noor as its deputy. Its 31 Executive Council were comprised of 10 former PDPA & leftists, 2 Ismaili community, 5 military officers of d former regime, & 14 jihadi & regional com. & leaders.

In the north, Junbish and Dostum as its leader became one of the most powerful forces in d country. Dostum could boast that there were more functioning diplomatic missions in Mazar than Kabul (UN & 7 countries who had established consulates there).

Back to events on d ground in April: with resignation of Dr. Najib & fall of Mazar, other regime generals & officials begin surrendering to Jihadi coms:
4-5 April: Kunduz and Badakhshan surrenders. The governor of the latter province, Humayun Faizi, an ethnic Uzbek, joins Dostum

11 April: Salang falls
13 April: Charikar taken
14 April: Bagram airbase submits 2 Jamiat
18 April: Herat falls 2 Ismail Khan
18 April: Kandahar falls 2 Mullah Naqib & a Jihadi council
21 April: Gardez surrender 2 Jalal-u-din Haqqani
23 April: Jalalabad surrender 2 H. Qadir

15 April: Reprtedly a stormy meeting takes place btw Dr. Najib & his intelligence & army leaders. M. Omar(Military Intelligence) & Yaqubi (State Security chief) accuse Gen Azimi, Asif Delawar, Yar Mohammad & others of treason 4 making a deal wt Dostum & allowing Masoud 2 advance

After the meeting, Dr. Najib found that his home security guards had been disarmed by men loyal to Gen. Azimi. Sensing something is up, he goes to d UN Office & talks on d phone wt Benon Sevan, UN Special Envoy, who was in Islamabad; asking him to come to Kabul.

Same day, a Military Council of anti-Najib generals and officials is formed. They announce that they are taking over until Jihadi leaders in Peshawar agree on an Interim Govt power-sharing arrangement under the UN 5-point plan.

Members were: Gen Azimi (Com. Kabul Garrison as chief), Gen Asif Delawar (Chief of Staff as deputy), DW Zurmati (DM Interior), Azam Saeed (DM of State Security), Yar Mohammad (3rd in State Security) Turan Janran (Com. of Border Force) & others.

15 April at night: Gen. Azimi orders the transport of 600 Dostum militias from Mazar to Kabul (21 April, 500 additional armed men arrive) who take positions at Kabul airport and other key installations.

15 April (midnight): Benon Sevan arrives in Kabul. At about 2 am on 16 April, Dr. Najib in a convoy of five cars escorted by Mr. Botsali, Benon Sevan assistant, towards d airport to fly in the UN plane to India, which had offered him asylum.

Reportedly, in the third checkpoints controlled by Dostum militias, they realise that the night code-word had been changed, and in a state of panic they head back to the UN compound where Dr. Najib officially seeks asylum.

16 April: Benon Sevan briefs the diplomatic missions about the night’s incidents. According to Pakistan diplomat in Kabul, Fida Yunas, Pakistan offers political asylum to Dr. Najib, which he declines.

16 April (morning): meeting of Executive Committee (EC) of Watan party takes place in ministry of foreign affairs, where Benon Sevan submits two letters of resignations (from party and presidency) from Dr. Najib to Sulaiman Laeq, the Chair of the EC.

EC members denounce Dr. Najib. Abdul Wakil, states; “contrary to expectations of govt & Watan party, [Dr. Najib] had resorted to fleeing the country irresponsibility… bcs of d fear of peace... that he might be held accountable for a number of his actions before d people of Afg"

17 April: Pro-Najib Gen. Yaqubi, Head of WAD, was found dead. According 2 Gen. Azimi he committed suicide. But among the diplomatic circle many believed that Yar Mohammad was d murderer; Watanjar, MoD minister seriously wounded; Gen. Omar &others arrested by Gen. Azimi (Bradsher)

18 April: in a last attempt 2 save their skin,Central Com. sent out Abdul Wakil 2 meet wt Ahmad Shah Masoud in JabalSaraj. Abdul Wakil offers an alliance wt Masoud against Hekmatyar. Masoud rejects d offer. Gen. Rafi meetings wt Hekmatyar (19 and 23 April) are also not successful

18 April, rep. of 3(Jamiat, Wahdat and Junbish) meet in Jabal-u-Saraj & sign an agreement on a joint strategy 2 enter Kbl & division of city (Davies 1993). I haven’t been able 2 find a copy of d Agreement -violation of d Agreement becomes d basis 4 distrust&fighting among groups

18 April: Wahdat forces captured Mahtab Qala, Kot-e-Sangi, the Military school, 61 Striking Brigade, the supply depo at Do Rahi Paghman. By 21 April, they had moved towards Deh Mazang, Karte 3, Kabul Zoo, 99 Rocket brigade,

23-25 April: Knowing that d end is up, back channel deals takes place btw pro-Karmal with Masoud, & Pro-Najib (Pakteen MoI & Watanjar MoD & Mangal) wt Hekmatyar on surrender of key installations in Kbl. Deals seem 2 have an underlying ethnic solidarity aspect.

24 April: 450 of Hizb fighters were smuggled into MoI compound & around d Palace wt help from Pakteen loyalists. Also 500 of Masoud forces led by Abd-ur-Rahman, Deputy Shuray-i-Nizar arrive in Kabul. Masoud accused Hkmtyar of a coup attempt against d Peshawar negotiation efforts