Before Taliban - Ghosts of Alexander

377 Pages·2004·2.65 MB·English

Before Taliban
Bukhara
Samarkand
Former U.S.S,R.
Balkh BADAKHSHAN
Mazar-i Sharif Kunduz
Mashad Shebargan KK UU SS HH
Aq Kupruk DD UU Chitral
HH II NN K U N A R KOHISTAN
Herat Bamiyan Kabul
Jalalabad Peshawar
AFGHANISTAN
Parachinar
Ghazni Khost Islamabad
mand PAKTIA Miramshah
Hel
Qandahar
Lahore
Quetta
PAKISTAN
IRAN
I N D I A
Karachi
ARABIAN
SEA
Before Taliban
Genealogies of the Afghan Jihad
David B. Edwards
University of California Press
Berkeley Los Angeles London
University of California Press
Berkeley and Los Angeles,California
University of California Press,Ltd.
London,England
© 2002 by the Regents of the University of California
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Edwards,David B.
Before Taliban :genealogies of the Afghan jihad / David B.Edwards.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN0–520-22859-6 (Cloth :alk.paper)
ISBN0–520-22861-8 (Paper :alk.paper)
1.Safi,Samiullah. 2.Amin,Qazi Muhammad. I.Title.
Ds371.2 .E38 2002
958.104'5—dc21 2001006513
Manufactured in the United States of America
10 09 08 07 06 05 04 03 02
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
The paper used in this publication is both acid-free and totally chlorine-
free (TCF).It meets the minimum requirements of ANSI/NISO Z39.48–
1992 (R1997) (Permanence of Paper).8
for Majrooh
Lay down the burden of speaking that has left you so weary,
For now you have taken refuge with so loving a Friend.
Khamûsh bäsh tu az ranj-i goft-o gûy makhûsp,
ke dar panäh-i chenan yär-i mehrabän raftî.
—Jalauddin Rumi

Contents
List of Illustrations ix
Significant Persons and Parties xi
Author’s Note xv
Preface xvii
1. Introduction:Into Forbidden Afghanistan 1
Part I. The Saur Revolution
2. Lives of the Party 25
3. The Armature of Khalqi Power 57
Coda The Death of a President 87
Part II. The Pech Uprising
4. A Son of Safi 95
5. Anatomy of a Tribal Uprising 132
Coda The Death of a Safi Daughter 167
Part III. The Islamic Jihad
6. Muslim Youth 177
7. Fault Lines in the Afghan Jihad 225
Coda The Death of Majrooh 279
8. Epilogue:Topakan and Taliban 287
Notes 309
Glossary 333
Bibliography 339
Index 347
Illustrations
Photographs
1. Amir Amanullah with courtiers 6
2. Costume ball 9
3. Amir Habibullah darbar 59
4. Amir Amanullah meeting with tribal leaders 60
5. Meeting of parliamentary deputies 61
6. President Muhammad Daud 62
7. President Nur Muhammad Taraki 73
8. Samiullah Safi,Pech Valley,1985 137
9. Samiullah Safi,Dewagal Valley,1989 138
10. Safi lashkar 153
11. Qazi Amin 222
12. Qazi Amin speaking at the dedication of a new high school 223
13. Qazi Amin with Engineer Gulbuddin Hekmatyar 236
14. Qazi Amin with Professor Burhanuddin Rabbani 237
15. Professor Bahauddin Majrooh with Samiullah Safi 281
Maps
Afghanistan frontispiece
1. Eastern Afghanistan 101
2. Pech Valley 133
ix