31.12.2003 - Source: Minorities at Risk

University of Maryland - Minorities at Risk: Risk Assessment ("Assessment for Uzbeks in Afghanistan") [#30498],  [ID 1200]

"The Dostam-led Uzbeks are not likely to cease rebellion in the near future (REB 99-00=7). A long history of regional autonomy (and of fighting to maintain it) militate against acceptance of a Taliban-dominated, highly centralized government. Their territorial concentration, organizational cohesion and relative geographic isolation from Kabul and other Taliban-controlled areas, also allow the Uzbeks to sustain and help rebellion. While Uzbeks, because of their territorial isolation, have not suffered as much repression from the Taliban as have other ethnic groups in the Northern Alliance, the repression they have endured makes it even more unlikely they will acquiesce to the Taliban. Furthermore, material and diplomatic support from Iran, Russia, and Central Asian republics (including Uzbekistan) provide the Uzbeks with the means to continue rebellion.
Peace processes – brokered by the United Nations, Iran and Pakistan, and Central Asian Republics – have done little to contain the fighting in Afghanistan. The Taliban has proven to be virtually impervious to international pressures for a political solution, a not-surprising position given their dominance on the ground in Afghanistan.
The traditional military prowess of Dostam and his forces has not been convincing during this war against the Taliban. Uzbeki troops in the north of the country have fragmented and have fought with other factions in the opposition alliance. Thus, despite the resources of Dostam’s militia, Uzbek forces have suffered some significant military losses in the north and have been an inconsistent partner within the opposition. Nevertheless, Dostam and the Uzbek community remain integral to the alliance. If the opposition proves to be victorious in this civil war, it would be expected that the Uzbek community – based upon its size and traditional influence – would play some role in the future government of the region, particularly in the northern portion of the country.
As long as the Taliban remains in power in Afghanistan, Uzbeks face a difficult future. The Taliban militia lost many soldiers in battles with Uzbek fighters. The regime will likely remember that Uzbek General Malik ordered the killings of thousands of Taliban soldiers near Mazar-i-Sharif and could hold the Uzbek community responsible for these killings. Furthermore, given the political history of Afghanistan, even an opposition victory does not guarantee the Uzbeks’ future. The previous Rabbani government proved reluctant to share power with Dostam and Uzbeks (which led to Dostam’s withdrawal of support). A return of a Tajik-dominated central government could spark yet another power struggle between Afghanistan’s ethnic groups, leaving them all worse off."

Document(s): Open document

21.05.2003 - Source: UN High Commissioner for Refugees

A first group of hundreds of ethnic Uzbek Afghan refugees have returned home from Pakistan's Latifabad camp ("Hundreds of Afghans head home with "safe return" guarantee") [#12895],  [ID 1196]

"A first group of hundreds of ethnic Uzbek Afghan refugees have returned home from Pakistan's Latifabad camp after they approached the UN refugee agency about repatriation concerns and received security assurances from authorities in southern Afghanistan.

On Tuesday, a convoy of 14 trucks carrying 490 Afghans crossed the border at Chaman in western Pakistan and arrived in Spin Boldak, southern Afghanistan. Some of the returnees had expressed concerns about security in their homeland, but decided to repatriate after Afghan authorities guaranteed their protection on the road to Kabul.

Many of the returnees were headed to their home areas in Balkh, Sar-i-Pul and Kabul provinces in central and northern Afghanistan, a trip lasting two to three days due to the rugged conditions along the famed Silk Route trading road.
[...]
"Now that peace has returned to our places of origin, we made up our minds to return to Afghanistan," said Ghullam. "Our only problem was the insecure situation in the south of the country. We shared our fear with UNHCR, who in return involved the Afghan government and now they have guaranteed our safe return."

Haji Saifi, Resident Director of the Afghan Ministry of Refugees and Repatriation (MoRR), accompanied the repatriating families to Kandahar in southern Afghanistan, from where local authorities took over the protection of the returning group.

"After we received a request from Latifabad camp through UNHCR, I personally visited Kandahar,' said Haji. "There I met the governor, and also spoke to the Ministry for Refugees and Repatriation and Ministry of the Interior, who assured a dignified and safe return for our brothers.""

Document(s): Open document

07.03.2003 - Source: Danish Immigration Service

DIS: Uzbeks, Tajiks and Hazaras with previous affiliation to the Taliban ("The Political, Security and Human Rights Situation in Afghanistan: Report on fact-finding mission to Kabul and Mazar-i-Sharif, Afghanistan and Islamabad, Pakistan; 22 September - 5 October 2002") [#11326],  [ID 1197]

"According to the same source, in some areas Uzbeks, Tajiks and Hazaras also were affiliated with the Taliban. These people may also experience problems in their original regions depending on their family network. In order to avoid problems, it is necessary to have "insurance" on both sides in relation to family connections and social networks (cf. also section 4.5). The source further pointed out that many former Taliban fighters have now been picked up by and have affiliated with factions of the Northern Alliance, including groupings around Sayyaf."

Document(s): Open document

17.06.2002 - Source: Institute for War and Peace Reporting

Institute for War and Peace Reporting: Change in perception of minorities ("Minorities Make Themselves Heard") [#30493],  [ID 1198]

"A generation of war has changed the perception of some of Afghanistan's minorities. Uzbeks, found mainly in the north and Hazara, predominantly in the centre of the country, were traditionally considered minorities that needed central government protection.
But both groups are now politicised and armed as a result of the fighting. Uzbeks are active under General Abdel Rashid Dostum and his Junbesh-e-Islami party, while Hazaras have asserted themselves in the Hezb-e-Wahdat of Karim Khalili and the Haraket-e-Inqilabi of Ayatollah Asif Mohsini."

Document(s): Open document