Afghan warlord Abdul Rashid Dostum is no stranger to conflicts, or controversies. His exploits during the war on terror have been immortalised in the Hollywood movie—12 Strong, starring Chris Hemsworth. He can boast of a biography—The Last Warlord: The Life and Legend of Dostum, the Afghan Warrior Who Led US Special Forces to Topple The Taliban Regime by American academic Brian Glyn Williams. He also pops up as an important card in the board game, A Distant Plain.
When the Mujahideen rose up against the Soviets in the 1980s, the 67-year-old warlord of Uzbek ethnicity stood with the Russians. With thousands of troops and fighter jets under his control, Dostum then fought the Taliban under the Northern Alliance banner. He fled the country when the Taliban 1.0 took Kabul.
Post 9/11, he joined America’s cause and spearheaded the ground invasion against the Taliban. War crimes apart, the former vice president was later accused of torturing and raping a political rival, leading to his temporary exile. Dostum came home as the Taliban started regaining control of the provinces. His return raised hopes of Afghans, especially those in his bastion and home province of Jowzjan in north Afghanistan. One among them was Najiba Noor Dilawari, police chief of Jowzjan’s capital, Sheberghan.
“I never thought Sheberghan would fall because there was Marshal Dostum,” she says. “Everyone had faith in him. But the first person to run away was Marshal Dostum.”
Followed by hundreds of commandos and an enviable number of private militias, Dostum fled to Uzbekistan. Najiba is proud of doing the opposite—she stood up to the Taliban and took a bullet.
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Themes Of Choice
As Savvy Investors Seek New Avenues, Thematic Mutual Funds Are Gaining Popularity
A golden girl
One of India's most formidable beauties passed away earlier this month. The odd thing is she would absolutely hate this obituary; she hated being written about and avoided publicity for all of her nine decades. Indira Aswani was 93 when she died. But anyone who encountered her, even briefly, was in such awe of her grace and poise, and one could not but remember her forever.
The interest in wine is growing delightfully in India
The renowned British wine writer and television presenter Jancis Robinson, 74, recently came to Delhi and Mumbai to reacquaint herself with India's wine industry. This was the Robinson's fourth visit to India; the last one was seven years ago. On this trip, Robinson and her husband, restaurateur Nicholas Lander, were hosted by the Taj Hotels and Sonal Holland, India's only Master of Wine.
United in the states
Indian-Americans coming together under the Democratic umbrella could get Harris over the line in key battlegrounds
COVER DRIVE
Usage-driven motor insurance policies offer several benefits
GDP as the only measure of progress is illogical
Dasho Karma Ura, one of the world's leading happiness experts, has guided Bhutan's unique gross national happiness (GNH) project. He uses empirical data to show that money cannot buy happiness in all circumstances, rather it is family and health that have the strongest positive effect on happiness. Excerpts from an interview:
India is not a controlling big brother
Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay considers India a benevolent elder sibling as the \"big brotherly attitude\" is happily missing from bilateral ties. He thinks the relationship shared by the two countries has become a model of friendship not just for the region, but for the entire world. \"India's attitude is definitely not of a big brother who is controlling and does not allow the little brother to blossom and grow,\" says Tobgay in an exclusive interview with THE WEEK.
Comrade with no foes
Lal Salaam, Comrade Yechury-you were quite a guy!
Pinning down saffron
In her first political bout, Vinesh Phogat rides on the anti-BJP sentiment across Haryana
MAKE IN MANIPUR
Home-made rockets and weapons from across the border are escalating the conflict