General information
Part of Conflict: Afghanistan: Government
Date of first stated goals of incompatibility: 1992-03-31
Comment on date of first stated goal of incompatibility: After the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991, the non-Pashtun militias in the north centred in the city of Mazar-i Sharif, constituted themselves into a new organization, the Junbish-i Milli-yi Islami(National Islamic Movement). The group was founded by General Abdul Rashid Dostum, primarily mobilizing among the Sunni Muslim Uzbeks. He defected from the side of the Najibullah government in March 1992, and went on to establish the Junbish-i Milli-yi Islami. The exact date of first stated goal of incompatibility is not known.
Date of first use of armed force: 1992-03-16
Comment on date of first use of armed force: Heavy artillery exchanges occurred between government troops and rebels around Mazar-i Sharif
First Battle Related Death: 1993-03-08
Comment on First Battle Related Death: Junbish fought the government around the city of Mazar-i Sharif in northern Afghanistan on 8 March 1993. At least four people died as a result of the fighting.
Date when dyad reached 25 battle releated deaths: 1993-09-26
Comment on date when dyad reached 25 battle related deaths: At least 55 people were killed in fighting between Junbish and government forces in the northern province of Badghis on 26 September 1993
Conflict issues
Conflict Goal Issues: Junbish-i Milli-yi Islami, also known as the National Islamic Movement of Afghanistan, was a mainly Uzbek, but also partially Isma’ili and Turkoman, rebel group fighting against the government of Afghanistan. The group was also characterized by Islamic faith but was explicitly non-Islamist: “We wish to see an Islamic government but not a fundamentalist one”, “This is a nationalist movement based on the rights of all sections of society”. Junbish-i Milli-yi Islami was established in 1992, following Afghan militia groups overthrowing the Northern government of Afghanistan and creating the group. During its first year of existence, the group stated several conflict goal issues. The group called for Afghanistan to incorporate a federal structure, calling for it to incorporate a structure similar too Pakistan “with a central government, provincial governments and provincial assemblies”. This would also include economic reform to grant more economic freedom to provinces and would include increased civil rights for marginalized communities. The group also called for interim executive power-sharing, stating its demand that its leader General Abdul Rashid Dostum be granted a seat on the Leadership Council. The group also stated its intentions of establishing an Islamic government.
As the conflict progressed, the establishment of federalism, interim executive power-sharing, and an Islamic state was not reemphasized, although executive decentralization was stated occasionally. Instead, statements shifted to emphasize long-term executive-power sharing and for the ousting of Afghan President Burhanuddin Rabbani. The group also called for a general election to be held and particularly emphasized the rights and representation of marginalized groups in Afghanistan. The issue of civil rights was continuously stated throughout the conflict.
The main conflict goal issues of Junbish-i Milli-yi Islami were the issues of executive power-sharing and civil rights of the marginalized Afghan people. These issues encompassed the group’s intentions of granting themselves increased power over the executive government of Afghanistan whilst also protecting the rights of the citizens of Afghanistan, as both issues were frequently stated throughout the conflict with heavy emphasis.
Conflict Dynamics Issues: During 1992, Junbish-i Milli-yi Islami were interpreted as calling for the removal of international monitoring as its only stated conflict dynamics issue. This occurred when the group called for former President Mohammad Najibullah to be put on trial and complained about U.N. forces sheltering him.
As the conflict progressed, two more issues were interpreted as the group stated its willingness to cooperate with a U.N. international monitoring mission in 1994 and called for the withdrawal of Indian and Ukrainian military support to the Afghan government in 1996. As no issues were stated with continuity, no main conflict dynamics issues were attributed for the group.
Conflict Resolution Issues: In the year of Junbish-i Milli-yi Islami’s emergence, the group stated two conflict resolution issues, calling for negotiations with the Afghan government “to save the capital from a bloodbath.”, and for accountability for former Afghan President Mohammad Najibullah.
Throughout the conflict, no further explicit calls for accountability were made, although the group continuously called for negotiations with the government. Junbish-i Milli-yi Islami also stated its intentions to facilitate national dialogue with sectors of the Afghan society, mainly Jihadi and political groups. The group also called for a ceasefire to be implemented on one occasion.
The main conflict resolution issue of Junbish-i Milli-yi Islami was the initiation and continuation of negotiations with the Afghan government to resolve the conflict. This issue was stated throughout the entire conflict and was frequently heavily emphasized.
Type of conflict issues: Conflict Goal Issues: Basic needs, Bureaucratic setup, Civil rights, Constitutional issues, CPS: Islamic state, CPS: Other/undefined system, Decentralization, Economic reforms, Executive power-sharing, Executive power-sharing: interim, Federalism, Geographical status quo, Hold elections, Oust head of the executive, Recognition as a political party, Restructure military forces
Conflict Dynamics Issues: DFI: Withdrawal of international monitoring, DFI: Withdrawal of military support, IFI: International monitoring
Conflict Resolution Issues: Accountability/prosecution/investigation, Call for ceasefire, Call for negotiations, National dialogue, Opposition to negotiations
Annual information
This section contains annual information systematically collected by the UCDP.
1992
| Estimated Fatalities | |
|---|---|
| High | 0 |
| Best | 0 |
| Low | 0 |
Secondary Warring Support:
Side A (Government of Afghanistan): n/a
Side B (Junbish-i Milli-yi Islami): n/a
1993
| Estimated Fatalities | |
|---|---|
| High | 85 |
| Best | 85 |
| Low | 85 |
Secondary Warring Support:
Side A (Government of Afghanistan): n/a
Side B (Junbish-i Milli-yi Islami): n/a
1994
| Estimated Fatalities | |
|---|---|
| High | 10102 |
| Best | 8077 |
| Low | 8077 |
Secondary Warring Support:
Side A (Government of Afghanistan): n/a
Side B (Junbish-i Milli-yi Islami): n/a
1995
| Estimated Fatalities | |
|---|---|
| High | 1181 |
| Best | 871 |
| Low | 871 |
Secondary Warring Support:
Side A (Government of Afghanistan): n/a
Side B (Junbish-i Milli-yi Islami): n/a
1996
| Estimated Fatalities | |
|---|---|
| High | 0 |
| Best | 0 |
| Low | 0 |
Secondary Warring Support:
Side A (Government of Afghanistan): n/a
Side B (Junbish-i Milli-yi Islami): n/a
2024
| Estimated Fatalities | |
|---|---|
| High | 0 |
| Best | 0 |
| Low | 0 |
Secondary Warring Support:
Side A (Government of Afghanistan): n/a
Side B (Junbish-i Milli-yi Islami): n/a
Dyad Archive
This section contains annual information no longer systematically collected by the UCDP.
1992 Dyad Archive
Negotiations: NO
Victory: NO
Comment on Victory: On 15 April 1992 Najibullah was removed from power. The government formally abdicated three days later. The victorious factions that had taken control over the capital city, most central among them Jamiyyat-i Islami-yi Afghanistan and General Dostums forces, decided on a formula of power sharing.
In the period of transition executive power was vested with the newly established Islamic Jihad Council. On 28 June Buhanuddin Rabbani, the Tajik leader of Jamiyyat-i Islami-yi Afghanistan, became interim President of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan. In accordance with the power-sharing arrangements between the victorious warring group President elections were finally held by the end of the year. On 30 December 1992, Rabbani, as the sole candidate was formally elected first President of the new republic.
Comment on Victorious Side: General Dostums role in the new government is much less formal and difficult to grasp. Within a period of half a year after his militia had taken Kabul, together with Rabbani, his support for his former allies began to falter.
Comment on Total Battle Related Deaths: General Dostums role in the new government is much less formal and difficult to grasp. Within a period of half a year after his militia had taken Kabul, together with Rabbani, his support for his former allies began to falter.
Terminated: NO
1993 Dyad Archive
Comment on Yearly Battle Related Deaths: The above estimate serves only as an indicator of the absolute minimum of battle-related deaths; the actual figure might be much higher.
Negotiations: NO
Victory: NO
Terminated: NO
1994 Dyad Archive
Comment on Yearly Battle Related Deaths: The above low estimate serves only as an indicator of the absolute minimum of battle-related deaths; the actual figure might be much higher.
Negotiations: NO
Victory: NO
Terminated: NO
1995 Dyad Archive
Comment on Yearly Battle Related Deaths: The above low estimate serves only as an indicator of the absolute minimum of battle-related deaths; the actual figure might be much higher.
Negotiations: NO
Comment on Negotiations: After a series of military defeats President Rabbani apparently reversed his policy in late September and offered to hold unconditional peace talks with all opposition factions seeking to topple him. The offer extended to all warring factions, including Taleban and General Dostum.
Amid heavy military pressure from the opposition alliance, President Rabbani on 7 November offered to resign, but attached some conditions, such as an immediate ceasefire by the Talebans and an end to all foreign interference - understood to be a reference to Pakistans alleged support for the Taliban.
On 27 December a last offer for negotiations were extended to the opposition forces, but the dominating Taleban forces declined the offer.
(For more information see third party involvement.)
Victory: NO
Terminated: YES
Type of termination: No or Low Activity
Date of termination: 1995-12-31
Comment on Termination: The dyad did not reach 25 battle-related deaths in 1996. On 9 October 1996 the Supreme Council for the Defence of Afghanistan was established as a logistical and military alliance between General Massoud of Jam\'iyyat-i Islami-yi Afghanistan, Khalili of Hizb-i-Wahdat and General Dostum, commander of the Junbish-i Milli-yi Islami.
1996 Dyad Archive
Terminated: NO
2024 Dyad Archive
Terminated: NO
