Some background on Ismail Khan:
Ismail Khan was an Army officer in the Afghan Army, stationed in Herat garrison, in early 1979 when Afghan President Taraki pushed for reforms and went after opposition, Afghans in rural areas revolted.
Ismail Khan was an Army officer in the Afghan Army, stationed in Herat garrison, in early 1979 when Afghan President Taraki pushed for reforms and went after opposition, Afghans in rural areas revolted.
https://twitter.com/TajudenSoroush/status/1421409304154984449
On 17th Mach 1979, the entire 17th division station in Herat mutinied, led by Capt Ismail Khan.
As the population killed Soviets officers, advisers, and their families, Ismail Khan staged a coup in the city garrison, killing Soviet and communist Afghan officers..
As the population killed Soviets officers, advisers, and their families, Ismail Khan staged a coup in the city garrison, killing Soviet and communist Afghan officers..
..and distributing arms to the people. Kabul regime and Moscow, fearing more uprisings in other Afghan cities, sent reinforcements and began to bomb one of the oldest cities in the world indiscriminately. They inflicted more damage on the city than even the Mongols has done.
..thousands of innocent Afghans were killed in a bid to retake Herat.
Ismail Khan escaped to the countryside with his new guerrilla army, for the next decade Ismail Khan waged a bitter guerrilla war against the Soviet occupation and set up an effective administration..
Ismail Khan escaped to the countryside with his new guerrilla army, for the next decade Ismail Khan waged a bitter guerrilla war against the Soviet occupation and set up an effective administration..
..in the countryside, winning the respect of the population.
By late Feb 1995, when the Taliban advanced towards Herat. Masoud sent reinforcement to Ismail Khan supported by two thousand battle-hardened Tajik fighters. By the end of March 1995..
By late Feb 1995, when the Taliban advanced towards Herat. Masoud sent reinforcement to Ismail Khan supported by two thousand battle-hardened Tajik fighters. By the end of March 1995..
..after facing heavy casualties, the Taliban were pushed out of Shindand.
Ismael Khan made a military miscalculation and launched an ill-prepared and badly timed offensive assuming the Taliban to be on the verge of disintegration after their recent defeats.
Ismael Khan made a military miscalculation and launched an ill-prepared and badly timed offensive assuming the Taliban to be on the verge of disintegration after their recent defeats.
Taliban, however, regrouped and counter-attacked the overstretched forces of Ismael Khan, routing them comprehensively. By September 1995, Ismael Khan had abandoned Herat and had fled to Iran.
He was captured by the Taliban in 1997 while organizing opposition..
He was captured by the Taliban in 1997 while organizing opposition..
..to the Taliban in the Faryab area.
In March 1999 he escaped from Kandahar prison. During the U.S. intervention, he fought against the Taliban within the United Islamic Front and thus regained his position as Governor of Herat after they were victorious in December 2001.
In March 1999 he escaped from Kandahar prison. During the U.S. intervention, he fought against the Taliban within the United Islamic Front and thus regained his position as Governor of Herat after they were victorious in December 2001.
Sources:
"Taliban" by Ahmed Rashid
"The Bear Trap" by Mohammad Yusuf
"Afghanistan: The Mirage of Peace" by Chris Johnson
"Taliban" by Ahmed Rashid
"The Bear Trap" by Mohammad Yusuf
"Afghanistan: The Mirage of Peace" by Chris Johnson
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