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Guardians of Islamic Jihad (Afghanistan)

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Guardians of Islamic Jihad Afghanistan (Persian: پاسداران جهاد اسلامی افغانستان, Pāsdārān-i Jihād-i Islāmī-yi Afghānistān) was one of the Shi'a jihadi parties in Afghanistan. It was founded in 1980 following the communist coup of 1978 and the occupation of Afghanistan by the Soviet Union. Inspired by the theory of Wilayat al-Faqih and led by scholars and clerics such as Qurban 'Ali Muhaqqiq Kabuli, the party played an active role in organizing resistance and providing military, political, and cultural services in liberated areas.

By establishing a vast network of military bases throughout the country and participating in the formation of major Shi'a coalitions, the Guardians of Islamic Jihad paved the way for the creation of Wahdat al-Islami Party (Islamic Unity Party). Eventually, following subsequent political developments, this movement underwent splits and evolved into parties such as the "National Islamic Unity Party" and "Iqtidar-i Milli Party".

Vanguards of Shi'a Resistance in Afghanistan

Following the communist coup of 27 April 1978 and the occupation of Afghanistan by the Soviet army in the spring of1979,[1] a nascent jihadi movement titled "Guardians of the Islamic Jihad" (Pasdaran-i Jihad-i Islami) was formed by a group of militant scholars and clerics in the arena of the Islamic resistance of Afghanistan. It gradually achieved a special status among Shi'a jihadi forces.[2] Accepting the theory of Wilayat al-Faqih, this movement introduced Imam Khomeini as its spiritual leader.[3]

Prominent figures and founders of this party included Qurban 'Ali Muhaqqiq Kabuli, Muhammad Husayn Sadiqi, Muhammad Akbari, Muḥammad 'Alī Faasihi, Nur Ahmad Taqaddusi, and 'Ali Jan Zahidi.[4] Furthermore, with the integration of the "Union of Scholars" (Ittiḥādīya-yi ʿUlamā) into this movement, Qurban 'Ali Muhaqqiq played the role of leader and guide as a pivotal figure for years.[5]

The official publication of this organization was released under the title Payām-i Pāsdār (Message of the Guardian), but due to difficult war conditions, it had a short lifespan and ceased publication.[6] This party had an active presence in liberated areas in the fields of public services, education, and reconstruction.[7]

Establishment and Structure

The Guardians of the Islamic Jihad of Afghanistan was established in 1980 by a group of militant scholars and clerics. It comprised a combination of independent scholars and youths who had not been absorbed by other jihadi groups.[8] With a council-based leadership structure and a focus on internal activities, the organization established its central base inside Afghanistan. Alongside this, it launched active representations in Iran to secure regional communications and necessary support.[9]

During the jihad era, the Organization of Guardians of the Islamic Jihad was a pioneer in organizing resistance against the communist regime and Soviet occupation by establishing 6 central bases, 2 subsidiary bases, and 114 military and administrative centers across 14 provinces of Afghanistan.[10] It is stated that with the expansion of its organizational structure, this party became one of the influential jihadi institutions in Shi'a-populated areas, to the extent that in regions under Shi'a control, no political or military decision could be implemented without its coordination.[11]

Coalitions and Developments

In 1985, four Shi'a parties, including Sazman-i Nasr (Organization of Victory), Guardians of the Islamic Jihad of Afghanistan, the United Front of the Islamic Revolution of Afghanistan, and the Islamic Movement of Afghanistan, formed a coalition known as the "Quadripartite Coalition" with the aim of greater synergy and coordination in jihadi struggles. This political and military alliance paved the way for the formation of a new entity titled the "Coalition of Organizations", in which 'Abd al-'Ali Mazari was introduced as the official spokesperson and attempted to present a unified voice for Shi'a parties in the arena of resistance.[12]

Formation of Wahdat Party

In 1986, the Council of the Coalition of Shi'a Parties was formed. On 19 July 1989, Islamic Unity Party of Afghanistan was established with the participation of nine Shi'a parties, including the Guardians of Jihad. After the fall of the communist regime, Islamic Unity Party of Afghanistan was recognized as the unified voice of the Hazaras and Shi'as in the country's political developments and was present in the process of forming major political decisions.[13]

Splits and Subsequent Developments

In 1994, internal disputes led to a split, and the Guardians of Jihad faction operated under the name "National Islamic Unity Party" (Hizb-i Wahdat-i Milli-yi Islami) alongside the government of Burhanuddin Rabbani. After the fall of the Taliban in 2001, the Guardians faction underwent another split, and the "National Authority Party" (Hizb-i Iqtidar-i Milli) was formed (established: 2004).[14]

Notes

  1. ↑ «Az Pāsdārān-i Jihād tā Ḥizb-i Hamdilī-yi Mardom-i Afghānasatān», Ḥizb-i Hamdilī-yi Mardom-i Afghānasatān.
  2. ↑ Khusrawshāhī, Nahḍat-hā-yi Islāmī-yi Afghānistān, p. 54; Mūsawī-nizhād, Sī u Panj ʿĀlim az ʿĀlimān-i Taʾthīrgudhār-i Afghānistān, pp. 250-251.
  3. ↑ «Īrān az kudām gurūh-hā-yi mujāhid-i Shīʿa wa Sunnī-yi Afghānistānī ḥimāyat kard?», Khabarguzārī-yi Ānā.
  4. ↑ ʿAlīābādī, Jāmiʿa wa Farhang-i Afghānistān, p. 474; Khusrawshāhī, Nahḍat-hā-yi Islāmī-yi Afghānistān, p. 54.
  5. ↑ Mūsawī-nizhād, Sī u Panj ʿĀlim az ʿĀlimān-i Taʾthīrgudhār-i Afghānistān, pp. 250-251.
  6. ↑ Bakhtiyārī, Shīʿayān-i Afghānistān, p. 202.
  7. ↑ «Az Pāsdārān-i Jihād tā Ḥizb-i Hamdilī-yi Mardom-i Afghānasatān», Ḥizb-i Hamdilī-yi Mardom-i Afghānasatān.
  8. ↑ Khusrawshāhī, Nahḍat-hā-yi Islāmī-yi Afghānistān, p. 54.
  9. ↑ Khusrawshāhī, Nahḍat-hā-yi Islāmī-yi Afghānistān, p. 54.
  10. ↑ Khusrawshāhī, Nahḍat-hā-yi Islāmī-yi Afghānistān, p. 54.
  11. ↑ Khusrawshāhī, Nahḍat-hā-yi Islāmī-yi Afghānistān, p. 54; «Az Pāsdārān-i Jihād tā Ḥizb-i Hamdilī-yi Mardom-i Afghānasatān», Ḥizb-i Hamdilī-yi Mardom-i Afghānasatān.
  12. ↑ Muḥaqqiq Uruzgānī, Barrasī-yi Rīsha-hā-yi Tārīkhī-yi Tashayyuʿ dar Afghānistān, p. 308.
  13. ↑ «Az Pāsdārān-i Jihād tā Ḥizb-i Hamdilī-yi Mardom-i Afghānasatān», Ḥizb-i Hamdilī-yi Mardom-i Afghānasatān.
  14. ↑ «Az Pāsdārān-i Jihād tā Ḥizb-i Hamdilī-yi Mardom-i Afghānasatān», Ḥizb-i Hamdilī-yi Mardom-i Afghānasatān.

References

  • ʿAlīābādī, ʿAlīriḍā. Jāmiʿa wa Farhang-i Afghānistān. Tehran, Intishārāt-i Bayn al-Milalī-yi al-Hudā, 1395Sh.
  • «Az Pāsdārān-i Jihād tā Ḥizb-i Hamdilī-yi Mardom-i Afghānasatān». Ḥizb-i Hamdilī-yi Mardom-i Afghānasatān. Accessed: 29 Ābān 1404Sh.
  • Bakhtiyārī, Muḥammad ʿAzīz. Shīʿayān-i Afghānistān. Qom, Shīʿa Shināsī, 1385Sh.
  • «Īrān az kudām gurūh-hā-yi mujāhid-i Shīʿa wa Sunnī-yi Afghānistānī ḥimāyat kard?». Khabarguzārī-yi Ānā. Published: 21 Urdībihisht 1398Sh. Accessed: 29 Ābān 1404Sh.
  • Khusrawshāhī, Sayyid Hādī. Nahḍat-hā-yi Islāmī-yi Afghānistān. Tehran, Daftar-i Muṭāliʿāt-i Siyāsī wa Bayn al-Milalī, 1370Sh.
  • Muḥaqqiq Uruzgānī, Qurbān ʿAlī. Barrasī-yi Rīsha-hā-yi Tārīkhī-yi Tashayyuʿ dar Afghānistān. Qom, Shīʿa Shināsī, 1390Sh.
  • Mūsawī-nizhād, Sayyid Muḥammad. Sī u Panj ʿĀlim az ʿĀlimān-i Taʾthīrgudhār-i Afghānistān. Qom, Majmaʿ-i Dhakhāʾir-i Islāmī, 1393Sh.
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