When the state falls apart and conflict begins, who will rise to power? Who will become a prominent field commander? Who will be a successful conflict entrepreneur? There is of course no formula for predicting this accurately (too many variables). So, to illustrate the relative diversity of backgrounds, I have put together a list of faction leaders, commanders, “warlords,” and others who became prominent in the conflicts in Afghanistan and Tajikistan.
Photo: Tajikistan, early 1990s, the fog of war.
From a bus driver and a high school physical education teacher to countless mullahs and former soldiers, plus one McDonald’s employee, this is the arbitrary list of notable combatants and their immediate background.
Afghanistan
- Rashid Dostum: Afghan National Army paratrooper, natural gas pipefitter (plumber?), then natural gas infrastructure self defense militia organizer.
- Gul Agha Sherzai: teenage mujahideen fighter.
- Ahmad Shah Massoud: engineering student.
- Gulbuddin Hekmatyar: engineering student.
- Atta Mohammad Nur: high school teacher.
- Mohammad Mohaqiq: Shia scholar?
- Karim Khalili: Shia scholar?
- Abdul Ali Mazari: Shia scholar.
- Abdul Rasul Sayyaf: Sharia scholar/professor at The Shariat University, Kabul.
- Burhanuddin Rabbani: Sharia scholar/professor at Kabul University
- Mohammad Fahim: high school student, then refugee in Peshawar.
- Ismael Khan: Afghan National Army captain.
- Mullah Omar: teenage mujahideen fighter, then village mullah.
- Mullah Dadullah: teenage mujahideen fighter, then village mullah.
- Jalaluddin Haqqani: Maulana (religious scholar). Note that this is a title, but not necessarily a profession.
- Sirajuddin Haqqani: son of the above.
- Abdul Haq: son of Pashtun tribal notable who was a construction company executive.
- Haji Matin: timber thief/harvester.
- Yunis Khalis: educated in Sharia law, radio commentator.
- Sibghatullah Mojaddedi: Of Arab descent, Islamic scholar, taught at Kabul University, Imam of mosque in Denmark.
- Sayed Jafar Naderi: son of Ismaili notable, known as “Jeff Naderi” at high school in Pennsylvania, USA. Worked at McDonald’s. Not a member of a motorcycle gang as he claimed. Joined father’s militia.
- Mohammad Nabi Mohammadi: Sufi scholar (Naqshbandi and Qadiri).
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Photo: Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, minus engineering degree.
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Tajikistan
- Makhmud Khudoberdiev: Soviet officer who served in Afghanistan.
- Sangak Safarov: convicted murderer (23 years in jail), bartender, mafia boss.
- Yaqubjon Salimov: criminal associate of the above.
- Faizali Saidov: served in Soviet army in East Germany.
- Ibod Boymatov: bus driver.
- Suhrob Kasymov: physical education school teacher.
- Mirzokhuja Nizomov: Soviet militia officer, officer in Tajik MVD (KGB).
- Langari Langiev: former MVD officer.
- Mahmadsaid Ubadullayev: deputy regional Communist leader.
- Mahmud Boimatov: collective farm boss.
- Makhmadruzi Iskandarov: construction worker.
- Kholbash Kholbashev: Tajik MVD officer.
- Sayid Abdullah Nuri: underground religious teacher.
- Ghaffor Mirzoev: deputy commander of Ministry of Interior special brigade.
- Akbar Mirzoev: regional communist leader.
- Akbar Turajonzoda: official Soviet Muslim clergyman.
- Abdullah Abdurahim: local mullah.
- Saidashraf Abdulahadov: local mullah.
- Kari Kiyamiddin Muhammadjon: local mullah.
- Mullah Amriddin: local mullah.
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Photo: Mahmud Khudoberdiev, Soviet veteran of the Afghan War.
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Feel free to add your own or disagree with any of the above facts.
