Pro-Government Militias
Ittehad Islami (Afghanistan)
Basic Group Information
| Name assigned by coder: | no |
| PGM ID Number: | 209 |
| Country: | Afghanistan |
| Date formed: | June 29, 1992 |
| Accuracy of date formed: | day |
| Details of Formation: | The PGM became pro-government in 1992 until the Taliban rule from 1996 to 2001. After opposing the interim government in 2002, it was pro-government again in 2003 and its leader joined the Loya Jirga on 14 December 2003. |
| Date dissolved: | Unknown |
| Accuracy of date dissolved: | day |
| Details of Termination: | |
| Termination Type(s): | none |
Former and Successor Group Information
| Predecessor group(s): | none |
| Successor group(s): | none |
| Private Military Company? | no |
| Former Group? | no information |
| Former Armed Group? | no information |
| Former Rebel Group? | no information |
| Former Rebel Group UCDP ID: | none |
| PGM Becomes Rebel Group? | no information |
| Successor Rebel Group UCDP ID: | none |
Government Relation, Support, and Training
| Government Relation: | informal (type 1) |
| Created by the Government?: | no information | Main Creating Government Institution: | none |
| Government Link(s): | person/minister |
| If link to party, name of party: | None |
| Training and Equipment: | no information |
| Shared Information and Joint Operations: | no information |
| Shared Personnel: | no information |
| Type(s) of Material Support: | drugs; crime; foreign support |
| State Sponsor(s): | United States; Saudi Arabia |
| Other Connection(s): |
Group Characteristics
| Membership: | ethnic; religious; foreign nationals |
| Primary Membership: | religious |
| Alternative Primary Membership: | no information |
| Location: | Paghman, Kabul |
| Force Strength: | [unknown, unknown] |
| Target(s): | civilians; 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: | Pashtuns (Afghanistan) |
| Quality of Information for Ethnic Membership: | given |
| Ethnic Purpose: | none |
| Quality of Information for Ethnic Purpose: | not applicable |
Other Information
| Other Information: | The PGM was part of an alliance of resistance movements when Afghanistan was under Soviet control and there is evidence that it was supported by Saudi Arabia. Later, as part of the Northern Alliance, it was also supported by the US (2001). Members of the group consisted predominantly of ethnic Pathans. In 2005, Ittehad Islami was registered as a political party and aligned with the Karzai government, over which it is reported to have had significant power due to its military strength. It also took part in negotiations with the UN and the US. |
New Variables from Meta-Analysis
Purpose
| Purpose: | Based on the group’s inclusion in the “Peshawar Seven” under the Islamic Dwah Organization of Afghanistan, it can be inferred that the group’s task was to fight the People’s Democratic Party of Afghanistan (PDPA) government and communist Soviet forces. Later, as part of the Northern Alliance, it was used to fight the Taliban. |
| Relative Benefit(s) of PGM Use | unknown |
Treatment of Civilians
| Treatment of Civilians: | The group was involved in violent clashes with the Hezb-i Wahdat forces, which escalated into a war. These events led to the death of 70 people in a single operation in 1993 (massacre in Kabul, Afshar operation). Afterwards, the PGM is reported to have kidnapped as many as 900 people, 700 of which were not returned and 200 were set free for ransom. Members were also involved in robberies accompanied by rape and the abduction of women. |
| Type(s) of Violence against Civilians: | kidnapping/abductions; killing; sexual violence |
Reasons for Membership
| PGM Members Coerced? | no |
| PGM Members Paid? | no information |
| Reasons for Membership: | Due to a component of radical Sunni religious ideology, it is reported that the group attracted fanatic Arab volunteers. Another potential incentive to join is reported to be loyalty to the Pathan ethnicity. |
| PGM Members Killed? | unclear |
PGM Size
| Size: |
Weapons and Training
| Weapons and Training: |
Organisation
| Organisation: | The group was part of the Islamic Dwah Organization of Afghanistan and led by Professor Abdul Rasul Sayyaf who is said to have held significant power over Karzai and political appointments in the country. |
Reference(s) for Meta-Analysis
Evidence
- Examine the evidence for this coding.