SUMMARY

Politics in Afghanistan have often been characterized by violent power struggles between different leaders and groups. Although often labeled ethnic or tribal, the conflicts have been fought along more intricate patterns, often motivated by personal grudges, blood feud, regional power dynamics and/or the control of territory.

Hizb-i Wahdat and Junbish-i Milli-yi Islami were both part of the alliance [UIFSA] (/#actor/304) (also known as the Northern Alliance) which was formed to fight the Taleban after the latter took over the Government of Afghanistan in 1996. As such they fought together in the intrastate conflict over government. In 1997, following a coup carried out by Dostum’s second-in-command, Malik Pahlawan, as well as heavy clashes against the Taleban, Junbish leader Abdul Rashid Dostum was ousted from the northern city of Mazar-i Sharif, which functioned as the headquarters of the Northern Alliance. Hizb-i Wahdat, which controlled the Hazara parts of the city, launched a popular uprising and eventually drove the Taleban out. By the end of the year, Dostum returned to Afghanistan and sought to regain control of his former stronghold. In February 1998, heightened tension between Hizb-i Wahdat and Junbish-i Milli-yi Islami led to clashes in Mazar-i Sharif, and during the following weeks, bloody street battles took place in the city. Along with the fighting over governance of the city, widespread looting took place.

The non-state conflict between Hizb-i Wahdat and Junbish-i Milli-yi Islami is first included in UCDP data in 1998. In March of that year, clashes between the two groups had resulted in at least 25 battle-related deaths.