Pro-Government Militias

Pro-Government Militia Website

Jamaat Islami (Afghanistan)

Basic Group Information

Name assigned by coder: no
PGM ID Number: 208
Country: Afghanistan
Date formed: April 28, 1992
    Accuracy of date formed: day
Details of Formation: The group’s leader Ahmed Masood was ethnic Tajik and was killed by Al Quaeda in September 2001, then succeeded by Atta Mohammed. Jamaat Islami is also a political party that moved into opposition in March 2007 with the formation of the United National Front with Dostam and others. The PGM was associated with the political leaders Fahim and Rabbani (who were also members of the Jamaat Islami party). The group later became part of the Northern Alliance and received support from the US for its fight against the Taliban. The group operated mainly around Kabul and was also used to protect the interests of its leader. It switched alliances multiple times.
Date dissolved: Unknown
    Accuracy of date dissolved: day
Details of Termination: Activities are interrupted from 1996-09-27 until 2001-12-22 due to a change in government to Taliban rule. Prior to 1992 and during Taliban rule Jamaat Islami was a rebel group. It was supposed to disarm based on a peace deal but this was not implemented because leaders of different militias were not willing to give up their weapons. As a result, only a small proportion of fighters was actually disarmed.
Termination Type(s): none

Former and Successor Group Information

Predecessor group(s): none
Successor group(s): none
Private Military Company? no
Former Group? yes
    Former Armed Group? yes
Former Rebel Group? yes
    Former Rebel Group UCDP ID: 292
PGM Becomes Rebel Group? yes
    Successor Rebel Group UCDP ID: none

Government Relation, Support, and Training

Government Relation: semi-official (type 2)
Created by the Government?: no
    Main Creating Government Institution: none
Government Link(s): person/minister; political party
    If link to party, name of party: Jamiat-i-Islami
Training and Equipment: no information
Shared Information and Joint Operations: no information
Shared Personnel: no information
Type(s) of Material Support: domestic government; Foreign government
State Sponsor(s): United States
Other Connection(s):

Group Characteristics

Membership: ethnic; religious; former rebels; party activists; students
Primary Membership: ethnic
Alternative Primary Membership: no information
Location: None
Force Strength: [6400, unknown]
Target(s): rebels, insurgents, or other armed group
Purpose(s): protect state, national or religious institutions; protect state, national or religious leader(s)

Ethnic Characteristics

Ethnic Target(s): none
    Quality of Information for Ethnic Targeting: not applicable
Ethnic Membership: Tajiks (Afghanistan)
    Quality of Information for Ethnic Membership: given
Ethnic Purpose: none
    Quality of Information for Ethnic Purpose: not applicable

Other Information

Other Information: The group’s leader Ahmed Masood was and ethnic Tajik and was killed by Al Quaeda in September 2001, then succeeded by Atta Mohammed. Jamaat Islami is also a political party that became oppositional in March 2007 with the formation of the United National Front with Dostam and others. The PGM was associated with the political leaders Fahim and Rabbani (who were also members of the Jamaat Islami party). The group later became part of the Northern Alliance and received support from the US for its fight against the Taliban. The group operated mainly around Kabul and was also used to protect the interests of its leader. It switched alliances multiple times.

New Variables from Meta-Analysis

Purpose

Purpose: While the group was pro-government, it was used to maintain public order. Its goal was to establish an Islamic government in Afghanistan. Prior to becoming pro-government the group’s main objective was to fight Soviets and the communist regime. After the Taliban came to power, the PGM fought the Taliban (and rival armed groups (e.g., Hizb-i-Wahdat)).
Relative Benefit(s) of PGM Use unknown

Treatment of Civilians

Treatment of Civilians:
Type(s) of Violence against Civilians: unknown

Reasons for Membership

PGM Members Coerced? no information
PGM Members Paid? no information
Reasons for Membership: The group had a strong ethnic component (Tajik), suggesting ethnic loyalty as a motivation for joining the group.
PGM Members Killed? unclear

PGM Size

Size: The group’s size is estimated at 6,400 in 2004.

Weapons and Training

Weapons and Training: A report states that the Interior Minister Mohammadi distributed weapons to members of the Jamaat Islami party via the police.

Organisation

Organisation: The PGM was led by Ahmad Shah Masood, who was Defence Minister from 1992 to 1996 (later succeeded by Fahim). It is described as out of government’s control even though the group was included in a Defense Ministry army corps. Prior to being pro-government the militia received funding from the US, France and the UK.

Reference(s) for Meta-Analysis

Information was taken from news sources listed in the PGMD.

Evidence