Document #1130150
IRB – Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada (Author)
The Vice-president and co-founder of the
Afghanistan Relief Committee, and a professor of Anthropology at
Indiana University, both stated that persons of the Turkoman ethnic
group live in the town of Aqcha (16 Feb. 1999; 19 Feb. 1999). The
professor said that a large number of Uzbek people also live there.
Both sources said that northern Afghanistan is characterized by a
mixture of ethnic and tribal groups and that there is a history of
conflict with the Pushtuns from whom the Taleban come. A professor
of Political Science at Portland University, who specializes in
Middle East Studies, stated that that the Uzbek and Turkoman are
the dominant groups in Jawzjan province, but that the Turkoman are
much smaller in numbers (16 Feb. 1999). The Vice-president, who
also frequently acts as a consultant on Afghanistan, stressed that
there is strong local animosity toward the Pushtun as a result of
"thousands of years" of their domination. The professor of
Anthropology, who is himself Uzbek and grew up in northern
Afghanistan and whose work focuses on conditions in Afghanistan,
Uzbekistan and Turkey, also referred to a long history of Pushtun
rule that is resented by the local peoples.
The professor of Anthropology stated that
since the capture of Mazar-i-Sharif in August 1998, the province,
including Aqcha, has been "absolutely under control of the
Taleban." He said that the opposition forces are located in the
frontiers and in the mountains. He stated that Taleban control has
meant the arrest of many young males and their deportation to the
south; the leading away of many people from their villages to
unknown destinations; the influx of Pushtuns from southern
Afghanistan and refugee camps in Pakistan; and "a lot of killings,
arrests, and tortures." He described these events as the "last
phase of Pushtun colonization." According to this professor,
Uzbekistan has closed its border to refugees while Turkmenistan has
allowed a few people in but "is not amenable to accepting large
numbers" (19 Feb. 1999).The Vice-president said the people of
Turkmenistan are of the same ethnic group as many people in Aqcha
and that this would be a natural sanctuary for those fleeing
Taleban "persecution" (16 Feb. 1999).
The professor of Anthropology explained
that "persecution" by the Taleban is, first, "directed more against
Shia Hazar people" and secondaly against "the Turkish speaking
supporters of General Dostam" who is now outside the country. He
clarified that the Uzbek and the Turkoman are Sunni, as are the
Taleban, and thus the conflict between them is one of ethnicity,
politics and economics, rather than religion. The professor also
said that the opposition group led by Ahmad Shah Masood, who is
Tajik, is "now basically the only major organization opposing the
Taleban" (19 Feb. 1999).This statement is supported by documentary
sources (VOA 29 Oct. 1998) with Dawn reporting the United
Nations Secretary-General as offering a similar analysis (2 Dec.
1998).
The current situation in northern
Afghanistan is confused due to continued fighting between the
forces of the Taleban and opposition forces of Masood. There was no
mention of Aqcha in the documentary sources consulted by the
Research Directorate, but the following brief chronology, beginning
with the Taleban takeover of Mazar-i-Sharif, Jawzjan province, in
August 1998, may be of assistance.
Just prior to capturing Mazar-i-Sharif, the
Taleban took Sheberghan, the capital of Jawzjan province (TASS 3
Aug. 1998; Interfax News Agency 3 Aug. 1998; DPA 8 Aug. 1998).
Thousand of ethnic Hazaras were reportedly targeted by the Taleban
and killed during the takeover of Mazar-i-Sharif, "the headquarters
of the three-party Norhtern Alliance opposting the purist Taleban
government (The Middle East Nov. 1998, 15; The Boston
Globe 6 Nov. 1998; HRW 14 Sept. 1998). HRW stated "the
Hazaras' Shia faith is anathema to the Taliban, which is seeking to
impose its version of a Sunni Muslim theocracy" (ibid.).
Dawn reported on 7 October 1998 that the Taliban had
executed three of its soldiers for "sexual offences and extortion"
after the capture of Mazar-i-Sharif.
On 29 October 1998 NNI reported a radio
broadcast from Tehran that stated that the opposition United
Islamic Front for Salvation of Afghanistan had intensified its
campaign against the Taleban following "recent military success" in
the northwest part of the country. The broadcast also reported on
"the Taliban militia continued massacre of minorities in
Mazar-e-Sharif and areas in vicinity of Taloqan city in northern
Afghanistan" (ibid.). On the same date VOA and Dawn
reported on an agreement between the Taleban and opposition leader
Ahmad Shah Masood to free 1,000 prisoners each. Dawn
stated that this followed a week-long truce that began on 26
October 1998, as well as the freeing, earlier in the week, of 500
Taleban soldiers by the opposition. VOA reported that the
opposition had recently made advances in the northeast (29 Oct.
1998). The Tribune reported on 10 November 1998 that the
Taleban had offered to extend the ceasefire, but did not report
information on Masood's response.
On 25 November 1998 The News
International reported on a claim by the "Pakistan-based"
Afghan Islamic Press (AIP) that the Taleban had recaptured Darzaab
district in Faryab province, which it had lost the previous week to
Masood's forces. The AIP referred to Darzaab as "a mountainous
district bordering Jowzjan province where supporters of Masood and
the Iran-backed Hizb-e-Wahdat are present" (ibid.). The News
International stated that there was no "independent
confirmation" of the report (ibid.). However, on the same day NNI
reported that "the latest advances of the Afghan opposition in
Northern Afghanistan are reportedly the result of the increasing
strain[ed] relations between the Taliban and local commanders" and
that these local commanders frequently switch allegiances (25 Nov.
1998).
On 27 November 1998 Dawn reported
opposition claims that "it had made major inroads into the northern
Kunduz province during attacks on three fronts against the
Taliban." The opposition was reported to be attempting to secure
supply routes prior to the beginning of winter (ibid.; VOA 29 Oct.
1998). On 3 December 1998 Dawn reported opposition claims
that "a rare and united series of coordinated revolts had erupted
across Afghanistan's far north" that included Jawzjan province.
However, a few days later other sources reported a decrease in
fighting and the release of 118 prisoners, described by the Red
Cross as "elderly and frail," by the Taleban, (The Tribune
6 Dec. 1998; The News International 7 Dec. 1998). On 7
January 1999 Dawn reported the "state run radio Shariat"
as saying the Taleban had released 264 opposition prisoners who
were captured in military operations. On 16 January 1999, the state
run Radio Voice of Shari'ah reported the Taleban release of 153
prisoners in Jawzjan province.
On 24 January 1999a Dawn reported
that different opposition groups had "set up a Supreme Military
Council" under Masood's leadership. The four factions were:
"Hezb-i-Wahdat, an Iranian-backed Shi'ite group, Hezb-i-Islami of
former prime minister Gulbudin Hekmatyar, the Jaamat-i-Islami
faction to which Masood belongs and Ittehad-i-Islami led by
Professor Sayyaf" (ibid.). The groups were previously allied before
the loss of Mazar-i-Sahrif to the Taleban and the report of their
renewed alliance accompanied "fresh reports of fighting in northern
Afghanistan" (ibid.). On the same day AFP said the AIP reported
that the opposition had formed a joint council, but said the report
could not be "independently confirmed." Dawn also reported
24 January 1999b opposition claims to the capture of 410 Taleban
members in Faryab province. AP reported on the same day an
opposition claim to cutting "a key supply route to neighbouring
Jozjan province" which the Taleban denied. This was followed a few
days later by a Radio Pakistan report of "fierce fighting" in
Faryab province (27 Jan. 1999).
This Response was prepared after
researching publicly accessible information currently available to
the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is
not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any
particular claim to refugee status or asylum.
References
Afghanistan Relief Committee [New York].
16 February 1999. Telephone interview with Vice-president and
co-founder.
Agence France Presse (AFP). 24 January
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(NEXIS)
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(NEXIS)
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