Assadullah Wafa
Encyclopedia
Assadullah Wafa is the former governor
of the Afghan
province of Helmand
, and formerly governor of Kunar Province
of Afghanistan
and a previous governor of the Paktia Province
where he was succeeded by Hakim Taniwal
. His first name is sometimes spelled "Asadullah". He was born in Kandahar
, Afghanistan
.
Assadullah is best known for his time as governor of Paktia when he led a group of tribal elders to work with the United States
government to establish an amnesty program for Taliban fighters in an attempt to bring an end to the fighting by separating the rank-and-file troops from their leadership. It is unclear whether this specific program ever went ahead, but he was subsequently transferred to Kunar to continue his work by negotiating with the local Hezbi Islami
group.
He was also governor of Kunar during the June 29, 2005 shooting down of a Chinook
helicopter in the Kunar province, which at that point had been the largest to single day death-toll (16) by American troops in the region. He subsequently reported that the United States launched a retaliation strike against a Taliban base in the area, killing 18 women and children.
Governor
A governor is a governing official, usually the executive of a non-sovereign level of government, ranking under the head of state...
of the Afghan
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...
province of Helmand
Helmand Province
Helmand is one of the 34 provinces of Afghanistan. It is in the southwest of the country. Its capital is Lashkar Gah. The Helmand River flows through the mainly desert region, providing water for irrigation....
, and formerly governor of Kunar Province
Kunar Province
Kunar is one of the 34 provinces of Afghanistan, located in the northeastern part of the country. Its capital is Asadabad. It is one of the four "N2KL" provinces...
of Afghanistan
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...
and a previous governor of the Paktia Province
Paktia Province
Paktia , is one of the thirty-four provinces of Afghanistan, in the east of the country. Its capital is Gardez. The population is predominantly Pashtun.- History:...
where he was succeeded by Hakim Taniwal
Hakim Taniwal
Hakim Taniwal was the Governor of Paktia province in Afghanistan until he was killed by a suicide bomber on 10 September 2006, at the age of 63...
. His first name is sometimes spelled "Asadullah". He was born in Kandahar
Kandahar
Kandahar is the second largest city in Afghanistan, with a population of about 512,200 as of 2011. It is the capital of Kandahar Province, located in the south of the country at about 1,005 m above sea level...
, Afghanistan
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...
.
Assadullah is best known for his time as governor of Paktia when he led a group of tribal elders to work with the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
government to establish an amnesty program for Taliban fighters in an attempt to bring an end to the fighting by separating the rank-and-file troops from their leadership. It is unclear whether this specific program ever went ahead, but he was subsequently transferred to Kunar to continue his work by negotiating with the local Hezbi Islami
Hezbi Islami
Hezbi Islami , meaning Islamic Party is an Islamist organization commonly known for fighting in the Marxist Government of Afghanistan and their close ally the Soviet Union. Founded and led by Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, it was established in Pakistan in 1975...
group.
He was also governor of Kunar during the June 29, 2005 shooting down of a Chinook
CH-47 Chinook
The Boeing CH-47 Chinook is an American twin-engine, tandem rotor heavy-lift helicopter. Its top speed of 170 knots is faster than contemporary utility and attack helicopters of the 1960s...
helicopter in the Kunar province, which at that point had been the largest to single day death-toll (16) by American troops in the region. He subsequently reported that the United States launched a retaliation strike against a Taliban base in the area, killing 18 women and children.