Abdul Rashid Dostum continued his oppression and crimes, working alongside the communists against the Afghan people, and every day news of a fresh disaster caused by his mercenaries reached our ears.
However, since neither the Soviet Union nor their mercenaries, from Dostum to Dr. Najib could withstand the faith and resilience of the Afghans, and all their crimes to silence the voices of truth-tellers were in vain. The Soviet-backed government in Afghanistan inevitably declined.
Because Dostum predicted the end of his ignominious path, he began to think of a way to extricate himself from the quagmire into which the Soviet Union and its allies were sinking; a thot that resulted in Dostum’s transformation from a communist opposed to the nation, to a “mujahid” opposed to communism.
To Dostum’s utter disbelief, in pursuit of personal gain, he abandoned the support of the Soviet-backed government, joined the ranks of the Mujahideen, and declared opposition against the Najib government, which was breathing its last.
Yes! In the late 1360s, when the collapse of the communist puppet government was no longer deniable, Abdul Rashid Dostum, the same commander who was once a loyal Soviet pawn and an agent of repression and terror in northern Afghanistan, quickly changed his course.
This revision, however, was not a sign of conscience or compassion but a shameless display to maintain power and save themselves from certain downfall. Dostum, who had previously turned cities, districts, and villages into scenes of terror and horror with utter brutality, now adopted a “friendly” demeanor with the same opportunistic mindset and went to the Mujahideen groups.
He tried very hard with cunning and trickery to portray himself as a savior, but the people of Afghanistan, especially those who had countless bitter memories of his crimes, knew very well that this superficial change was just a mask over his countless crimes.
Dostum, who at that time wore the masks of “defender of the homeland” and “fighter against the occupiers,” was able to maintain his controlled areas using the extensive and armed network under his command and, by forming temporary alliances with some Mujahideen commanders, presented himself as a key player on the political stage in the north.
Perhaps some were fooled by the change of mask and his new appearance, but this change had no effect on his true nature for the general public; he remained a person who prioritized personal gain and maintaining power over the interests of the people and the country.
Historical reality shows that some political actors and warlords in Afghanistan, although under pressure from circumstances and the fall of their allies, change their face and slogans to save themselves from crisis, they can never erase the burden of their past sins and crimes.
It should be mentioned that Dostum, by changing front, not only did not alleviate the suffering of the people of Afghanistan, but after the collapse of the Soviet puppet regime, committed even more horrific crimes than before and left unforgettable marks in the history of this land.
Crimes that, although partially covered up during the twenty years of the republic due to his widespread influence in the corrupt government apparatus and the support of his Western patrons, these secrets could never erase the stain of shame from Dostum’s dark brow.
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