this is real assorted bull shit that i am reading.
i personally knew Aslam Watanjar and know Sayed Gulabozai.
Gulabozai was known as one of the most outstanding and efficient ministers of interiors in afghan history.
a pashtun from khost he was so popular that in 2005 he got the highest number of votes from Khost.
an extremely honest man he did not have a single car in 2005 and lived in a modest state donated apartment in which his wife was killed from a rocket fired by US Pakistan Saudi sponsored Murd____ao paid mujahideen
his reforms in police , his raising of sarandoy is still remembered in afghan police
perhaps his one failing although excusable one was that he excessively L___d Naghma but that was Asmat Muslim Achakzais failing too
Another popular man from leftist regime was General Ulumi , a Barakzai from Kandahar who was corps commander in Kandahar for almsot five years and got the second highest numbers of votes from Kanadahar despite rigging by Karzais brother in 2005 elections
The leftists are still rememberd for many great reforms.
the best which most afghans remember is abolishing the infamus practice of charging bride money
above all they empowered the minorities , a Hazara Keshtmand became prime minister , a Kasgmiri Karmal became president , Tajiks who were previously sweapers and puncture man only in pre 1978 afghan society were empowered with people like great poet Dastgir Panjsheri in lead
note that the leftists led both mujahideen and talibans after 1996 with Parchamis being the real core of northern alliance and Mulla Borjan a Khalqi Pashtun officer the real leader of Taliban till he was killed by Pakistan sponsored Talibs near Sarobi.His grave is still there on the road there and I stop to say Fateha there......and after that we drink three doubles of stolichnaya vodka to remember him
and today what do we have pakistani military killing the tribals just like the USSR was doing in 1978-92.
the issue was not just religion or ideology but superpower rivalry
the hard fact is that the pakistani state destroyed by design the only pashtun state in the world , afghanistan and is still doing so till today.
Agha H Amin
The Pashtuns in History-Agha.H.Amin
The Pashtuns
Agha.H.Amin
Let the pictures speak as the first part of this summing up of a sad chapter of history !
When I started preparing for my first major bid in Afghanistan " Naghlu-Kabul" Electric transmission line I went for pre bid survey on Kabul Lataband Road.The locals all Pashtuns told us that they were paid 100 USD per tower for destroying a pylon in Soviet Afghan War !
Extremism is a very Pakistani export to all neighbouring countries.
Off course the US was also a monster in this situation as were the Pakistanis who were the US vassals.In course of my 8 years in Afghanistan I discovered that major damage of Afghan war was in Pashtun belt as it was closer to Pakistan and it was easier to logistically support the characters destroying pylons.
--
ISI and Afghan War
As I travelled north I discovered that the north was literally undamaged as it was farther away from Pakistan ! I leave it for experts in Pashtun history to judge whether Pashtun area was damaged in order to keep Pashtuns backward or it was a coincidence !
It would be wrong to brand a Pashtun as a born lunatic !
The greatest poets in the sub continent starting from Nawab Shefta Khan Bangash ,Josh Malihabadi Afridi Akhtar Sheerani and Ahmad Faraz were Pashtuns !
Indeed the most progressive Afghans and Pakistanis have been Pashtuns ! Without Aslam Watanjar the indomitable Paktiawal or without Said Gulabozai the Saur Revolution may have totally failed in Afghanistan !
My dear Zazi lady friend from Khost smoke the maximum joints and drank more vodka than any man that I met in Afghanistan and preferred being intimate with the curtains open !
It would be correct to term Pashtuns as victims of geography , of being divided in two states , being regarded as a political threat by non Pashtuns in both Pakistan and Afghanistan ! Being more adventurous and brave than any race in the region , thanks to geography , historical circumstances and I hate to say some racial factors !
The Pashtuns were thus regarded as cannon fodder by Iranians, Mughals,Turks ,Sikhs ,British and Pakistanis and a useful reason to remain in Afghyanistan by the USA !
When the German Kaiser wanted a revolt against British in India the only ones who cameto rise in revolt were thetribal Pashtuns !
A Pashtun tribe Afridi is the only tribe in history where the British Emperor awarded a Victoria Cross to one cousin and the German Kaiser the Iron Cross to the other cousin ! Both fighting in the same area !
The Mughals imported Iranians against Pashtuns and were ultimately betrayed by the Irianians when the Marathas and Nadir Shah attackedthe Mughals.
The backbone of Nadir Shahs armys were the Abdali Pashtuns ! The best Mughal army soldiers apart from Uzbeks were Pashtuns !
Yet this race was regarded by fear and apprehension and throughout history used to fight proxy wars ! Just because it was though politically dangerous that they remained free and grew politically and economically !
There is no denying that a Pashtun is formidable in any role ,be it a leftist Khalqi or a Taliban ! This is so because he is brought up to be totally committed to an idea that he believes in ! This may be an anthropological or sociological explanation !
A Safi or a Zadran or a Kharoti is formidable reagrdless of the fact that he is Rahmatullah Safi with the ISI or a Watanjar who was a die hard leftist or a Gulabozai who was Afghanistans best Interior Minister and yet polled the highest number of votes from Khost in 2005 Elections.
My friend a pro Pakistan Pashtun to the core heading an ISI sector confessed that even the best dogs used in dog fight are bred in Pashtun areas ! It may be ironically symbolic but true.
My personal observations indicate that the Pashtuns were regarded as cannon fodder to be used in Kashmir and Afghanistan by the Pakistani establishment . Thus ironically while the most progressive section in Afghan socoety were Pashtun Khalqis without whom there would have been no leftist coup in Afghanistan ,the Pashtuns suffered the most in Afghan war and the non Pashtuns gained the most , politically and economically !
Demography is cruel ! It is devastating and Pakistans demography is changing !
Karachi is the largest Pashtun city in the world and we are at a watershed when Pashtuns may not be manipulated any longer the way they have been manipulated in the past !
As they say the wheel turns in history !
--
A.H Amin
COL IMAM AS I KNEW-BRIGADIER YASUB DOGAR
 |
| Brigadier Yasub Dogar the author of the article |
 |
| Late Colonel Imam , A man of action |
Brigadier Yasub Dogar was one of the outstanding professionals of Pakistan Army . Thus keeping on line with Pakistan Armys system of promoting mediocres he did not become a general.
He also served in key command , staff and intelligence assignments .
He had a long and deep association with the Afghan war and knew all key Afghan Mujahideen figures .
He had a long and deep association with the Afghan war and knew all key Afghan Mujahideen figures .
 |
| At the masoulem of Ahmad Shah Massoud with an old Parchami |
He has shared his memories of Colonel Imam here in this article.
All major Afghan groups in the Afghan war since 1978 have some state sponsor ! When I met some very senior Khalqis and Parchamis in Russia in 1995-96 I discovered that more than 50 % of so called Mujahids hadbeen converted secretly by the Soviet GRU or Afghan KHAD !
All the Mujahideen were trained by the ISI till at least 1992 ! This included Hekmatyar , Massoud, Rabbani ,Gillani ,Mullah Omar etc.
By 1992 when the so called Mujahideen captured Kabul ,or rather when Kabul was handed over to them by design ,the Northern Alliance was a Russian controlled show ! The Russians had won at least politically !
In 2005 Kabul Times acknowledged on its front page that Ahmad Shah Massoud had been trained by the Pakistani intelligence !
Post 9/11 Afghanistan is far more complicated than any other country in the grip of guerrilla war .
All major Afghan groups in the Afghan war since 1978 have some state sponsor ! When I met some very senior Khalqis and Parchamis in Russia in 1995-96 I discovered that more than 50 % of so called Mujahids hadbeen converted secretly by the Soviet GRU or Afghan KHAD !
All the Mujahideen were trained by the ISI till at least 1992 ! This included Hekmatyar , Massoud, Rabbani ,Gillani ,Mullah Omar etc.
By 1992 when the so called Mujahideen captured Kabul ,or rather when Kabul was handed over to them by design ,the Northern Alliance was a Russian controlled show ! The Russians had won at least politically !
In 2005 Kabul Times acknowledged on its front page that Ahmad Shah Massoud had been trained by the Pakistani intelligence !
 |
| Visiting Panjsher with a Parchami friend who fought against the so called Mujahids earlier |
Post 9/11 Afghanistan is far more complicated than any other country in the grip of guerrilla war .
COL IMAM AS I KNEW
by
Brigadier General Yasub Dogar (Retired)
One of the direct participants of the Afghan War from 1978 till 2001
I had known Sultan Amir later on Col Imam since mid-1966. I had been commissioned about 6 months earlier than him. However, my unit Guides Infantry FF (formerly Queen Victoria's own) came to Lahore as a result of pull back of forces due to Tashkent Accord in 1966 about the time he was commissioned in the 3rd Pathans (FF).
Both of us young and energetic, plunged into the lives of young officers of that time which was divided in training and sports events, assaulting Xing water obstacles exercises. Even evenings were devoted to regimental dinner and guest nights, leaving very little time for fun and frolic. Only on Sundays one could indulge 'non-training events'. Most of us made up for our sleeplessness of the previous six days of the week on Sundays.
In December 1970 both of us found ourselves competing for selection into the elite SSG (Special Services Group). I must have just crawled through but Sultan Amir passed through the three days of gruelling selection tests with flying colours. Only 24 officers were selected from the large number of officers who had volunteered for the SSG.
 |
| Add caption |
The basic Commando Course started in early 1971. It was here we discovered the real Sultan Amir. Originally designed by the US Special Forces instructors, it was considered as one of the toughest courses in Pakistan if not of other modern armies. He would carry the heaviest load to farthest distance not asking for relief or respite till one of us felt that we are not being fair to him.
He was the most helpful among all of us, willing to carry anyone else's belongings though he was dead tired himself because of carrying his own weight, weapons, ammunition and other such items. After 25-30 miles night marches over the most rugged terrain, when we would just slump down he would run around to see our hideout, gather fire wood, cook food and see to the security drills of the hideout etc. It was here that his real leadership qualities came out.
He was the most helpful among all of us, willing to carry anyone else's belongings though he was dead tired himself because of carrying his own weight, weapons, ammunition and other such items. After 25-30 miles night marches over the most rugged terrain, when we would just slump down he would run around to see our hideout, gather fire wood, cook food and see to the security drills of the hideout etc. It was here that his real leadership qualities came out.
A few days before we were to graduate from the course, he was with us in setting a record of crossing the Mangla Lake at its widest, approximately swimming 6 miles both ways in 2 hours and 45 minutes. This record remains unbeaten till today. He along with Brig Akram, later Commander SSG, came out with the highest grade in that course.
He was posted to the elite Tipu Company and I went over to 2 Commando Brigade (SSG). During the Dec 1971 war he had infiltrated behind the Indian troops in the Desert Sector and laid a blocking position. Unfortunately the Pakistani ground offensive just petered out. It goes to his credit that although lost, hungry and forsaken he was able to safely extricate along with his troops. By the end of 1973 he had undergone the US Special Forces Course at Fort Bragg along with Psychological Operations Course. His visit to the US was to bring about a marked change in him; appreciating their training methodology while criticising the materialistic way of life that he saw there. Meanwhile, as the OC Parachute Training School he had also become a jump master with golden ensign (over 100 jumps).
We went up our career ladders, commanding our parent battalions and landed back together in 1976. I was the Commanding Officer (officiating) and he as the Second in Command. We went through hectic training, exercise, operations, etc. together. During this period we were involved in training of the Mujahedeen on a small scale courtesy General Naseerullah Khan Babar who was the architect of the forward policy and had advised Mr Zulfikar Ali Bhutto to be proactive along the Durand Line and payback in the same coin for what the Afghans were doing in NWFP in particular.
Promoted to the rank of Lt Col he commanded his Paltan and landed in the Afghan cell of the ISI in early 80's and was to become a larger than life legend. His stay there was to also change his earlier outlook towards life as well as profession. It was here that he adopted the nom de guerre of Col Imam which became a world famous identity.
Promoted to the rank of Lt Col he commanded his Paltan and landed in the Afghan cell of the ISI in early 80's and was to become a larger than life legend. His stay there was to also change his earlier outlook towards life as well as profession. It was here that he adopted the nom de guerre of Col Imam which became a world famous identity.
Imam went after his job with single-minded devotion. Firstly, training the Afghan Mujahedeen and later leading them into operations against the Soviet troops. The animosity among Afghan groups was so great that Ahmad Shah Masoud and Hikmatyar killed more of each other's cadres than the Russians did. Without, belittling the efforts of the Mujahedeen it was the immense efforts of this small group of officers and men in coordinating operations
inside Afghan which finally resulted in the Soviet withdrawal.
Imam had a low opinion about the operational capability of the Russian forces except the Spetnaz. He had a (healthy) high regard for them and thought that they were among the best Special Forces in the world. He always took pride in being the first stone in the dismemberment of the Evil Empire.
inside Afghan which finally resulted in the Soviet withdrawal.
Imam had a low opinion about the operational capability of the Russian forces except the Spetnaz. He had a (healthy) high regard for them and thought that they were among the best Special Forces in the world. He always took pride in being the first stone in the dismemberment of the Evil Empire.
He was one of ISI operators who stayed the longest, went the deepest and earned total respect of the Mujahedeen for his operational handling, tact and coordination. This was also the most dangerous period with Soviet gunships ruling the sky with total air superiority, making any moves by Mujahedeen very difficult particularly by day.
However Charlie Wilson's effort bore fruits and the induction of Stinger anti-aircraft missiles severely challenged the Soviet air superiority. Very few people know or understand that most difficult period. Were it not for the timely induction of these SAMs Dr Najibullah might have been still around. At the same time he was not without his detractors. While handing over the Afghan desk to me, my predecessor Gen Afzal Janjua remarked that one of the biggest worry he had was the personal security of Imam. He was apprehensive that Gulbadin Hikmatyar (GB) may eliminate him for his patronage of Akhunzada Nasim the leader of the Mujahedeen in Helmand Province who was vehemently anti GB. During my stay as the Head of the Afghan desk I too had to ensure that they do not come into each other's domain.
However Charlie Wilson's effort bore fruits and the induction of Stinger anti-aircraft missiles severely challenged the Soviet air superiority. Very few people know or understand that most difficult period. Were it not for the timely induction of these SAMs Dr Najibullah might have been still around. At the same time he was not without his detractors. While handing over the Afghan desk to me, my predecessor Gen Afzal Janjua remarked that one of the biggest worry he had was the personal security of Imam. He was apprehensive that Gulbadin Hikmatyar (GB) may eliminate him for his patronage of Akhunzada Nasim the leader of the Mujahedeen in Helmand Province who was vehemently anti GB. During my stay as the Head of the Afghan desk I too had to ensure that they do not come into each other's domain.
The Peshawar Accord of 1992 owed itself to hectic work of pushing the Mujahedeen leaders round the clock to come out with a solution. Prince Turki Al Faisal Head of Saudi intelligence was also there to pressurize the Afghan leaders. However it was handful of people including Imam who utilized their friendship, influence, charm or arms twisting abilities to force the Afghan leaders to come out with an accord. Although not to the full satisfaction of Iranian diplomats waiting in line to exercise their own influence on future of Afghanistan. The efforts to bring out an accord were by itself one of the major achievements of ISI. Till the last moments there were hiccups and a possibility of its being sabotaged by many players who felt they were not being allowed their part in the game.
The Mujahedeen Government led by Hazrat Mujadadi was installed in April 1992. Most of our work in operations had finished. I asked for a posting out while Imam stayed there till his retirement. Afghanistan remained in a state of civil war even after the installation of the Mujahedeen Government. It was the period of the warlords, Turan Ismael in Herat, Gul Agha in Kandahar, Rashid Dostum Uzbek at Mazar I Sharif and the Ahmed Shah Massoud in Punjsher Valley and other Tajik areas. The Central Government was confined to parts of Kabul only.
The Pakistan Foreign Service officers were not interested or keen in serving in a turbulent Afghanistan particularly after the assault on Pak Embassy and drubbing of our diplomats in Kabul. Col Imam came in handy and was appointed as Pakistan's Counsel General at Herat. Having very good personal relations with Turan Ismael and his brother, he went after his job with gusto. There is no record of Imam having strayed beyond his official responsibility and interfering in the internal affairs of Afghanistan. However his personal friendship with so many of them does not rule out his influence over them. As a Counsel General Imam strengthened these friendships further. He was also target of kidnapping and assassination more than once. Probably his detractors wanted to shoot two birds with one shot i.e. embarrass Pakistan besides eliminating him.
The Pakistan Government during this period was conceiving its own plan for opening up Central Asian Republics through over land routes through Afghanistan. His location at Herat and Kandahar was ideally suited for facilitating this purpose. The Interior Minister Gen Baber was particularly very keen though some saner elements had advised against this adventure. Unfortunately the very first convoy led by Imam got mired in the intra Afghan feuds and was made hostage. The timely arrival of the Taliban saved Imam and the convoy from annihilation. The arrival of the Taliban in 1996 onwards was a home grown affair in Afghanistan though it was laid at the doors of the Pakistani establishment. Imam's personal knowledge was most useful in establishing contact and ultimately recognizing the Taliban. This was done somewhat prematurely and without the input of the foreign office. One of the key figures of Charlie Wilson's war, he was personally known to everyone who mattered, from Charlie Wilson to the bigwigs in Pakistan, his input was considered vital in policy formulations in those crucial years.
Till the last he remained an admirer of the Taliban and prided in having been Mullah Omar's instructor. We had heated discussions on the subject particularly after the destruction of the largest Buddha's statue at Bamyan. However it was difficult to convince Imam. He basked in the limelight he was getting as mentor of Taliban. His impressive, tall and handsome looks with a white turban did knock off some pretty journalists. He also had a knack of impressing people with his candid and frank opinion particularly on the future of American occupation in Afghanistan. He felt that more innocent Afghans had been killed by the US forces – called euphemistically as collateral damage - than the Russians did. Understanding Afghan psyche he believed that the time and space was on the side of the locals.
Lastly what ultimately happened to Col Imam is the most difficult question to be answered by anyone close to him. His last public appearance was the marriage of my daughter on 5th of March 2010. A few days later he was apparently kidnapped by the Punjabi Taliban known as Asian Tigers on a visit to Waziristan along with Khaled Khawaja and Asjad Qureshi a British Pakistani journalist. Imam had earlier told me that during President Karzai's last call on President Musharraf Karzai had complained that rouge elements of ISI under Col Imam were training the Afghan Taliban. Imam was called upon by his old Directorate where he told them that if he was training them then they would surely know it because nothing remains hidden from the plethora of Intelligence agencies for long. He was probably lured into coming to the tribal belt by one of the foreign funded Taliban groups with the aim of finding out what was ISI or Imam's linkages with the Afghan Taliban. When nothing came out he had to be eliminated otherwise the game would be up.
The incredible story of arrest of Raymond Davis and Imam's purported execution by the Pakistani Taliban soon after seems to be interwoven and interlinked somewhere. It also gives credence to the perception in Pakistan's establishment of Pakistani Taliban being a tool in the pay of distant paymasters as part of the new great game. It will remain a mystery till his remains are found, DNA tested and given a proper Islamic burial. His friends, colleagues and lastly his family will miss his colourful personality for a long time to come. It is very difficult to fill such vacuum.
Brig (Retd) Yasub Ali Dogar, Former Head of Afghan Desk
0 comments:
Post a Comment