February 7, 2000. Copyright 2000. Graphic News. All rights reserved.

ISMAIL KHAN Ð THE ÒLION OF HERATÓ

LONDON, February 7, Graphic News: HIJACKERS holding 160 people aboard an Afghan Airlines plane at LondonÕs Stansted Airport are reported to be demanding the release of key opposition figure Ismail Khan Ð a renowned guerrilla commander and former regional governor who has been held since 1997 by AfghanistanÕs ruling fundamentalist Taliban movement.

Khan, an ethnic Tajik born in 1942, is from the north-western province of Herat. He is reportedly being held in the main Taliban stronghold, the southern city of Kandahar.

Upon completing his education at secondary school and military school, Khan enlisted in the Afghan army, rising to the rank of major.

Following the bloody response by the Communist government of Nur Mohammed Taraki in 1979 to anti-government demonstrations in Herat, the conservative Khan joined the ranks of the Jamiat-e Islami resistance party led by Professor Burhanuddin Rabbani.

Ismail KhanÕs actions in Afghanistan during the Soviet occupation were only rivaled by those of the better known rebel commander Ahmad Shah Masood, but Khan, fighting in the remote and inaccessible north-western territory was much less known than Masood outside of the country.

One of his most publicized exploits against the Russians took place in June of 1985 when he attacked the Shindand air base. In this attack more than 20 MiG aircraft were destroyed. 

His courage on and off the battlefield won him the trust and admiration as well as the title of ÒLion of Herat.Ó 

Khan eventually became Governor of Herat province, which borders Iran, and neighbouring Ghor and Farah provinces after the pro-Moscow government of President Najibullah was overthrown in 1992.

Promoted to the armyÕs top job by then President Rabbani, he reopened trade links, schools and hospitals in Herat, transforming the province into a peaceful, cosmopolitan centre which underwent rapid reconstruction. 

The mysterious appearance of the Taliban ÒstudentsÕ armyÓ on the Afghan political scene in 1994 led to a campaign to occupy the country. Within a year Taliban forces had captured 14 provinces. In September 1995 the Taliban captured the western city of Herat from government forces. Ismail Khan lost his power base and fled across the border to Iran. 

Two years later, during a secret trip to north-western Afghanistan, Khan was captured by pro-Taliban forces of general Abdul Malik.

In December 1997, the northern Afghan leader, Abdul Rashid Dostam, made an unsuccessful appeal to the Taliban to release him.

General Dostam said he was prepared to release 70 Pakistani nationals who were captured while fighting for the Taliban in return for freedom for Ismail Khan and a number of Iranian diplomats.

On Monday Taliban supreme leader Mullah Mohammad Omar blamed Afghan opposition leader Ahmad Shah Masood for the hijack of the airliner and said he would not negotiate with terrorists.
ENDS

Sources: Graphic News, Reuters, www.afghan-web.com