Amin Wardak
Encyclopedia
Amin Wardak was an Afghan
mujahideen
leader who fought in Wardak Province
during the Soviet war in Afghanistan
in the 1980s. He was educated a the Lycée Esteqlal
in Kabul, before taking his B.A.
in documentation française at Kabul University
.
With the assistance of French
NGOs, Amin Wardak developed his own administration in areas which he controlled, which he called the "Free province of Wardak". He established clinics and schools, instituted agricultural policies, and even printed his own postage stamps. His influence grew rapidly and extended up to the city of Ghazni
.
His father was a follower of Pir
Ahmed Gailani
, and Amin naturally joined Gailani's Mahaz-e Melli faction. A particularly active commander, he attacked Soviet and government targets as far as Ghazni, far from the traditional territory of his clan. This caused tensions with the traditional leaders of other clans of the Wardak tribe
. These other clans appealled to Pir Gailani to intervene on their behalf. The Pir pressed Amin Wardak to stop his long-range operations and diminished his weapons deliveries. As a result Amin switched to Hezb-e Islami Khalis in 1987, or early 1988, as Khalis was more willing to supply him with weapons.
French adventurer Patrice Franceschi
fought alongside Amin Wardak and his mujahideen. He was also supported by humanitarian activist (and later French foreign minister) Bernard Kouchner
.
In 1995, Amin Wardak fled Afghanistan and has since lived in exile in France.
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
mujahideen
Mujahideen
Mujahideen are Muslims who struggle in the path of God. The word is from the same Arabic triliteral as jihad .Mujahideen is also transliterated from Arabic as mujahedin, mujahedeen, mudžahedin, mudžahidin, mujahidīn, mujaheddīn and more.-Origin of the concept:The beginnings of Jihad are traced...
leader who fought in Wardak Province
Wardak Province
Maidan Wardak Province is one of thirty four provinces of Afghanistan located in the central east region of Afghanistan. It has a population of approximately 540,100. The capital of the province is Maidan Shar...
during the Soviet war in Afghanistan
Soviet war in Afghanistan
The Soviet war in Afghanistan was a nine-year conflict involving the Soviet Union, supporting the Marxist-Leninist government of the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan against the Afghan Mujahideen and foreign "Arab–Afghan" volunteers...
in the 1980s. He was educated a the Lycée Esteqlal
Lycée Esteqlal
The Lycée Esteqlal is a Franco-Afghan school in Kabul, Afghanistan. It is the second oldest school in Kabul, and was recognized as one of the prestigious schools in the country....
in Kabul, before taking his B.A.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in documentation française at Kabul University
Kabul University
Kabul University is located in Kabul, the capital of Afghanistan. It was founded in 1931 but officially opened for classes in 1932. Kabul University is currently attended by approximately 7,000 students, of which 1,700 are women. As of 2008, Hamidullah Amin is the chancellor of the university...
.
With the assistance of French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
NGOs, Amin Wardak developed his own administration in areas which he controlled, which he called the "Free province of Wardak". He established clinics and schools, instituted agricultural policies, and even printed his own postage stamps. His influence grew rapidly and extended up to the city of Ghazni
Ghazni
For the Province of Ghazni see Ghazni ProvinceGhazni is a city in central-east Afghanistan with a population of about 141,000 people...
.
His father was a follower of Pir
Pir (Sufism)
Pir or Peer is a title for a Sufi master equally used in the nath tradition. They are also referred to as a Hazrat or Shaikh, which is Arabic for Old Man. The title is often translated into English as "saint" and could be interpreted as "Elder". In Sufism a Pir's role is to guide and instruct his...
Ahmed Gailani
Ahmed Gailani
Pir Sayyid Ahmed Gailani , is the leader of the Qadiriyyah Sufi order in Afghanistan, and the founder of the National Islamic Front of Afghanistan , a party that was associated with the Mujahideen who led the war against the Soviet Union in the 1980s...
, and Amin naturally joined Gailani's Mahaz-e Melli faction. A particularly active commander, he attacked Soviet and government targets as far as Ghazni, far from the traditional territory of his clan. This caused tensions with the traditional leaders of other clans of the Wardak tribe
Wardak tribe
The Wardak Pashtun are a Pashtun tribe mainly found in Wardak Province, Afghanistan.The various Wardak sub-tribes live in each of the province’s districts except for Hesa Awal Behsood and Markazi Behsood...
. These other clans appealled to Pir Gailani to intervene on their behalf. The Pir pressed Amin Wardak to stop his long-range operations and diminished his weapons deliveries. As a result Amin switched to Hezb-e Islami Khalis in 1987, or early 1988, as Khalis was more willing to supply him with weapons.
French adventurer Patrice Franceschi
Patrice Franceschi
Patrice Franeschi was born December 18, 1954. "Adventurer by vocation and reporter out of necessity".He is most famous for his solo around-the-world flight in an Aviasud Sirocco ultralight aeroplane from September 26, 1984 to March 26, 1987...
fought alongside Amin Wardak and his mujahideen. He was also supported by humanitarian activist (and later French foreign minister) Bernard Kouchner
Bernard Kouchner
Bernard Kouchner is a French politician, diplomat, and doctor. He is co-founder of Médecins Sans Frontières and Médecins du Monde...
.
In 1995, Amin Wardak fled Afghanistan and has since lived in exile in France.