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National Islamic Movement of Afghanistan

National Islamic Movement of Afghanistan
جنبش ملی اسلامی افغانستان
Leader Abdul Rashid Dostum
Founded 1992
Ideology Uzbek interests
Turkmen interests
Political position Centre-left to Centre-right
Seats in the House of the People
3 / 249
Seats in the House of Elders
0 / 102
Party flag
Flag of the National Islamic Movement of Afghanistan.svg

The National Islamic Movement of Afghanistan (Persian: جنبش ملی اسلامی افغانستان‎‎, Junbish-i-Milli Islami Afghanistan) is an Uzbek political party in Afghanistan. Its leader is General Abdul Rashid Dostum.

It has been described as "an organisation heavily peopled with former Communists and Islamists," and is regarded as somewhat secular and left-leaning. Its voter base is mostly Uzbeks, and it is strongest in Jowzjan, Balkh, Faryab, Sar-e Pol, and Samangan provinces.

In July 2016 Human Rights Watch accused the militia of killing, abusing and looting civilians in Faryab Province during June.

Junbish and its military wing, Division 53 started as a “self-defense unit” for the Shibergan oil fields in northern Afghanistan, growing to a platoon and then a company until it grew to a division of about 40,000 men by 1989. This division joined the Afghan government and was referred to as Division 53. In 1988 Junbushi forces replaced departing Soviet Union forces and took control of Kandahar as well as deploying to Khost, Logar, Ghazni, Gardez in Paktika and around Kabul.

Many defecting mujaheddin commanders joined these units such as Rasul Pahlawan, Ghaffar Pahlawan who were both Uzbeks from Saripul. General Majid Rozi, an Afghan Arab Uzbek from Balkh and General Jura Beg and officer from Jowzjan also joined. Most of the joining members were either defectors or from the Parcham wing of the People's Democratic Party of Afghanistan (PDPA).


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