United Islamic Front for the Salvation of Afghanistan

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Flag flown by the UIF.

The United Islamic Front for the Salvation of Afghanistan (UIF, Jabha-yi Muttahid-i Islami-yi Milli bara-yi Nijat-i Afghanistan), also known as the Northern Alliance (term used by the Western media), was a military-political umbrella organization created by the Islamic State of Afghanistan in 1996.

The organization united various Afghan groups fighting against each other to fight the Taliban instead. In late 2001, with extensive assistance from U.S. air support and United States Special Forces, the UIF succeeded in retaking most of Afghanistan from the Taliban.

Despite fears of a return to the chaos similar to that of the Afghan Civil War (1992-1996), the UIF largely accepted the new order.

1 Organization and history
2 Factions
3 Legacy
4 Criticism
5 See also
6 External links
7 References

[edit] Organization and history

The Mujahideen who had formerly defeated the Communist government and had formed the Islamic State of Afghanistan came under attack from Taliban and in 1996 lost the capital to the Taliban. It was at this junction that the Mujahideen resorted to the creation of UIF because Rashid Dostum as well as other warlords who belonged to various tribes but to no specific political party did not want to recognize the Islamic State of Afghanistan as a legal entity, so the defeated government devised a military strategy to utilize these forces while not offending their political views.

Although recognised by most foreign nations as the legal Government, it only controlled around 30% of Afghanistan. President Burhanuddin Rabbani was the national head of the United Islamic Front, however the central government had little power and personnel changes were frequent. The exception to this was the post of Defence Minister, which was held by Ahmed Shah Massoud and Mohammed Fahim. Before the 9/11 attacks Russia, India and Iran were giving aid to UIF. However Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and UAE were supporting the Taliban.

Three ethnic groups dominated the UIF, the Tajiks, who make up 27% of Afghanistan's population and are the second largest ethnic group, and the Hazara, who make up 9-25% (depending on the source) and the Uzbeks, who make up about 9% of the population. From the Taliban conquest 1996 until November 2001 the UIF controlled roughly 30% of Afghanistan's population. UIF controlled provinces like Badakshan, Kapisa, Takhar and parts of Parwan, Kunar, Nuristan, Laghmaan, Samangan, Qunduz, Ghor and Bamian, all in the north of the country (hence the name 'Northern Alliance'). Throughout the campaign against the Taliban, the Northern Alliance's fortunes fluctuated, but neither side succeeded in gaining a major advantage.

The political leader of the alliance was Burhanuddin Rabbani, however he was little more than a figurehead for the military commanders. Ahmed Shah Massoud served as the UIF's Minister of Defence and was by far its most visible and powerful figure. He personally commanded around 10,000 of the UIF's estimated 40,000 troops. Massoud's were also the best trained and best equipped troops the UIF had. Several other important military leaders controlled different factions within the alliance, including Abdul Rashid Dostum, General Mohammed Fahim, and Ismail Khan. Dostum served as vice-president in Rabbani's ousted government. He had the right to nominate the defense, foreign affairs and four other ministers. Dostum was also the military commander in northern Afghanistan.

On September 13, 2001 it was confirmed that Ahmed Shah Massoud had died, following an attack by Al-Qaeda assassins posing as journalists four days earlier on September 9. Mohammed Fahim, the second ranking Tajik commander succeeded Massoud a few days later. In November and December of 2001, the UIF was successful in advancing to control much of the country, including the capital Kabul. This was facilitated by extensive bombing of Taliban forces and military infrastructure by the United States during the U.S.-led attack on Afghanistan.

[edit] Factions

The UIF was comprised of roughly five of the factions of Mujahideen fighters. Iran and Turkey considered there to be seven factions in total. These groups were:

Islamic Party of Afghanistan - Jamiat-I Islami-yi Afghanistan - Made up of mainly Persian-speaking Tajiks, led by Burhanuddin Rabbani. In later years as the capital was lost and the situation was largely military, Rabbani had little influence compared to Defence Ministers Ahmed Shah Massoud and Mohammed Fahim, who were also members of the Party.

Islamic Unity Party of Afghanistan - Hizb-I Wahdat-I Islami-yi Afghanistan - Made up of Shia Hazaras, once led by the martyred Abdul Ali Mazari and later by Mohammed Mohaqiq, supported by Iran

National Islamic Movement of Afghanistan - Junbish-I Milli-yi Afghanistan - Made up of Uzbeks and former communists, led by Abdul Rashid Dostum, supported by Turkey

Islamic Movement of Afghanistan - Harakat-i-Islami-yi Afghanistan - Shia, led by Ayatollah Muhammad Asif Muhsini

Islamic Union for the Liberation of Afghanistan - Ittihad-I Islami Bara-yi Azadi - Pashtun, led by Abdul Rasul Sayyaf

Many members, including much of the leadership were ethnic Tajiks, Uzbeks and Hazaras - ethnic minorities in Afghanistan. Remnants of the former Soviet-backed communist government also made up a subsantial portion of the Northern Alliance.

[edit] Legacy

The UIF was extremely influential in the transitional Afghan Government of Hamid Karzai. Notably, Mohammed Fahim became the Vice President and Minister of Defence, Yunus Qanuni became the Minister of Education and Security Advisor and Dr Abdullah became the Foreign Minister. Most foreign observers expected this dominance to continue and for Fahim or Qanuni to be selected as Karzai's Vice President in the 2004 elections. However, Karzai instead selected Ahmad Zia Massoud, younger brother of the former United Front leader Ahmad Shah Massoud. Karzai easily won the 2004 Presidential election with 55.4% of the vote, followed by three former leaders of the UIF, Quanuni (16.3%), Mohammed Mohaqiq (11.7%) and Abdul Rashid Dostum (10%).

Presently the former UIF has splintered into a number of political factions. Most of the Tajik and Hazara members are believed to be at least loosely aligned with Quanuni's political alliance; including Mohammed Fahim, Mohammed Mohaqiq and Dr Abdullah. Quanuni's supporters succeeded in electing him Speaker of the lower house of the Afghan Legislature, and is widely considered in the West to be the de-facto leader of the opposition to Hamid Karzai. Another faction, mostly made up of Uzbeks, has built up around Dostum, who clashed with Fahim during the time of the Transitional Administration. Finally, a number of former UIF members are now loyal to Karzai, notably Burhanuddin Rabbani.

Much of the military strength of the UIF has now been absorbed into the Afghan National Army or disarmed. The existence and strength of the Afghan National Army has significantly reduced the threat of the former UIF elements attempting to use military action against the new government. However, most of the senior officers are former members of the UIF, including General Bismillah Khan.

[edit] Criticism

Much criticism has been leveled against the United Islamic Front for alleged breaches of human rights, by both Afghani and international groups. The influence allied warlords have in their territories where they make their own, often draconian, laws is one factor. Human Rights Watch has released documents alleging internal displacement and executions, widespread rape, arbitrary arrests and "disappearances" targeted against the civilian population. ^[1]

The Afghani women's rights group RAWA has charged the United Front with being criminal and representing a continuation of Taliban oppression. ^[2] ^[3]^[4]