Pro-Government Militias
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
Evidence
- Examine the evidence for this coding.