Qari Fasihuddin Fitrat (Dari/Pashto: قاري فصیح الدین فطرت, Pashto pronunciation: [qɑˈri fasɪhʊˈdin]) is an Afghan military commander who is the Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan.[2][3] He has been a senior member of the Taliban.
Early life
Qari Fasihuddin was born in Badakhshan Province and originated from Isterab, Warduj District.[4][5] He belongs to the Tajik ethnic group and raised by religious family.[4][5]
Military career
Following the Taliban’s fall from power in Afghanistan in 2001 after seizing control of Kabul in 1996, the movement created a de facto governmental order that placed Taliban members—shadow officials—in control of specific areas within Afghanistan. At one point, Fasihuddin was the shadow governor of Badakshan. It is because of Qari Fasihuddin that the entire Northern Alliance was toppled despite the fact that the Haqqani network and Mullah Yaqub, Mullah Baradar and Mullah Haibatullah were from Kandahar, Helmand, Kunar and Ghazni, where they faced a lot of resistance. He is known as the "Conqueror of the North" among the Taliban.[6][7]
In 2013, Qari Fasihuddin was appointed as the Taliban's shadow governor and head of the military commission in Badakhshan. In the same year, he first appeared in a Taliban propaganda video about the security situation in Badakhshan.[5] In 2015, the Afghan Ministry of Interior falsely claimed that Qari Fasihuddin had been killed with 40 of his men, but the claim turned out to be propaganda.[8][4][9]
On September 16, 2021, Fasihuddin was quoted as saying that:
"Afghanistan would have a regular, disciplined and strong army in near future to defend and protect the country and consultations in this field continue," Fasihuddin said at a gathering in Kabul," adding members of the proposed army would be well-trained.[10]
Qari Fashiuddin is the first Taliban leader to enter Panjshir Province. He alongside his Taliban soldiers took control of Bazarak and thus took control of Panjshir.[11]
Qari Fasihuddin was also involved in the Balkhab uprising led by the Hazara leader Mehdi Mujahid.[12]
References
- ^ "The Chief Of Staff Of The Armed Forces Visits The Border Districts Of Badakhshan Province". mod.gov.af. 2 August 2023. Retrieved 8 April 2024.
- ^ "ملا حسن اخوند وزیر اعظم اور ملاعبدالغنی نائب وزیراعظم ہوں گے، افغانستان میں عبوری حکومت کا اعلان".
- ^ Sayed, Abdul (5 September 2021). "Analysis: How Are the Taliban Organized?". Voice of America. Retrieved 21 May 2023.
- ^ a b c "Qari Fasihuddin, the conqueror of the Five Lions | SAMAA".
- ^ a b c "The Non-Pashtun Taleban of the North (1): A case study from Badakhshan". 3 January 2017.
- ^ "Qari Fasihuddin". Counter Extremism Project. Retrieved 11 June 2023.
- ^ "Database". www.afghan-bios.info. Retrieved 11 June 2023.
- ^ "Ministry of Interior: Taliban shadow governor for Badakhshan killed in security operation". The Khaama Press News Agency. 3 October 2015.
- ^ "وادیِ پنج شیر میں احمد مسعود کے ترجمان سمیت پانچ اہم کمانڈر ہلاک". العربیہ اردو. 5 September 2021.
- ^ "Afghans long for better life as Taliban government manages to run country with calls for international aid".
- ^ Khan, Siraj (7 September 2021). "Qari Fasihuddin, the conqueror of the Five Lions". Samaa. Retrieved 11 June 2023.
- ^ Azadi, RFE/RL's Radio. "Taliban Atrocities Reported In Crackdown On Rebel Hazara Commander". RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty. Retrieved 11 June 2023.
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