Pro-Government Militias
Forces of Ismael Khan / Herat Militia (Afghanistan)
Basic Group Information
| Name assigned by coder: | no |
| PGM ID Number: | 624 |
| Country: | Afghanistan |
| Date formed: | Jan. 1, 2001 |
| Accuracy of date formed: | year |
| Details of Formation: | The group was founded by Mohammad Ismail Khan in 2001, who was a former anti-Soviet rebel group that became pro-government when the Soviets were expelled. |
| Date dissolved: | Jan. 1, 2013 |
| Accuracy of date dissolved: | year |
| Details of Termination: | While there are no reports of the PGM being officially disbanded, many fighters were disarmed after 2004 and there are no subsequent reports suggesting they were active. In 2012 Khan claims to have remobilised the group. In 2013, Khan is replaced as minister of energy and water. With his exit from the government, the militia ceases to be pro-government according to our definition. |
| 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: | 379 |
| PGM Becomes Rebel Group? | yes |
| Successor Rebel Group UCDP ID: | 379 |
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 |
| If link to party, name of party: | None |
| Training and Equipment: | yes |
| Shared Information and Joint Operations: | no information |
| Shared Personnel: | no information |
| Type(s) of Material Support: | domestic government |
| State Sponsor(s): | none |
| Other Connection(s): |
Group Characteristics
| Membership: | ethnic; former rebels |
| Primary Membership: | political |
| Alternative Primary Membership: | no information |
| Location: | Herat Province |
| Force Strength: | [unknown, 25000] |
| Target(s): | rebels, insurgents, or other armed group |
| Purpose(s): | self-defense and security; fight insurgents |
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 was part of the Northern Alliance that took part in the US-supported military action that removed the Taliban from power in 2001. The militia was pro-government from 2001-2004 and then again from 2012-11-14 to 2013-01-01. Also known as Herat militia to indicate its location. The name Forces of Ismael Khan is used by UCDP. |
New Variables from Meta-Analysis
Purpose
| Purpose: | The group was supposed to support government forces in security-related tasks and protect the country from foreign threats. |
| 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: | Membership was largely based on loyalty to the Tajik ethnic group. |
| PGM Members Killed? | no information |
PGM Size
| Size: |
Weapons and Training
| Weapons and Training: | Although it is said that the forces were well-equipped, there is no specific information on how they were armed. |
Organisation
| Organisation: | The leader of the group was Mohammad Ismail Khan, who was also Afghanistan’s energy and water minister. |
Reference(s) for Meta-Analysis
Evidence
- Examine the evidence for this coding.