Abdul-Rashid Dostum is an Afghan politician and former field commander. Since 2014, he has been acting vice president of the country. During the existence of the Najibullah regime, Dostum had the rank of army general and fought on the side of the government. Subsequently, he repeatedly entered into various military alliances. Sometimes Dostum's allies became his former enemies, and vice versa. A protracted civil war led to the destruction of central authority in Afghanistan. General Dostum turned into the actual ruler of the territories that were under the control of his armed forces. In 2013, the former field commander officially apologized for his mistakes committed during the civil war.
early years
Abdul-Rashid Dostum is considered an ethnic Uzbek. He was born in the Afghan province of Jawzjan in 1954. Due to financial problems in the family, Dostum received only a basic traditional education. At a young age, he began working in the state gas industry. In 1978, Dostum enlisted in the army. He served in a detachment that was subordinate to the Ministry of National Security.
Army career
During the presence of Soviet troops in Afghanistan, Dostum was appointed commander of the government division. Her personnel was formed mainly from ethnic Uzbeks. The division fought against the forces of the Mujahideen. Dostum reported directly to President Najibullah, who awarded him the rank of general.
Soon after the withdrawal of Soviet troops, Afghan Defense Minister Tanay organized an armed rebellion to overthrow the regime. General Dostum participated in the suppression of the attempted military coup. At that time, he developed his own political views and began to support the idea of federalizing the country.
Civil War
After the fall of the pro-Soviet regime of President Najibullah, General Dostum entered into an alliance with opposition forces. He became an independent field commander. Dostum's division contributed to the capture of the country's capital by rebel units. This was followed by a series of armed conflicts between opposition leaders. During the confrontation of many different groups, Dostum often moved from one alliance to another. In relation to some field commanders, he happened to be in the role of both an enemy and an ally.
Northern Alliance
The development and strengthening of the Taliban has become a serious threat to the rest of the Afghan military forces. General Dostum and several other influential field commanders created the so-called Northern Alliance to fight the common enemy. This happened in 1996 after the capture of Kabul by the Taliban.
General Dostum gained full control over a number of provinces in the north of the country. He deployed his troops in the city of Mazar-i-Sharif, which became the capital of a virtually independent territory. Dostum printed its own currency, which was circulated in the provinces subject to it.
The military operations of the Northern Alliance against the Taliban have been with varying success. The army of Dostum failed to defend its territory. She, including the city of Mazar-e-Sharif, was in the power of the Taliban. Dostum was forced to emigrate from the country.
Return
In 2001, a military operation by the US Army under the name Enduring Freedom began in Afghanistan. Its main goal was to destroy the Taliban regime. The actions of the American armed forces received support from the Northern Alliance. Within a few months, the Taliban were defeated.
During these events, General Dostum returned from exile. The biography of an independent field commander has entered a new phase. Dostum was offered the post of deputy secretary of defense in the new Afghan government. In 2014, he was elected vice president.
