Ismail Khan; The Amir of West or the Amir of Corruption “Continued”:
In the continuation of examining the hidden face of Ismail Khan and his infamous actions during his governorship and ministry, we come across points that reveal an organized facade of plunder and lawlessness beyond everyday financial corruption; a facade that many consider a clear example of a power mafia disguised as jihad and religion.
In 2012, Azizullah Lodin, the then head of the High Office of Oversight and Anti-Corruption, revealed one of Ismail Khan’s major scandals for the first time.
He announced at that time that this self-proclaimed leader, during his rule over Herat, had registered hundreds of acres of government land in strategic locations of the city in his name and his associates without following legal procedures.
A prominent example of this usurpation was the house of Abdul Majid Khan Zabili; a property that was illegally registered in the name of Ismail Khan’s wife. This is just one instance among dozens of public lands and properties that were seized by Ismail Khan under the cover of power and audacity.
In addition to land grabbing, the embezzlement of millions of dollars from the National Bank of Afghanistan was also among the behind-the-scenes activities of this notorious figure; according to multiple reports, during his governorship, he withdrew over 70 million dollars from this bank—money for which there is neither documentation for repayment nor any report on how it was spent.
Since Ismail Khan, by exploiting the name of jihad, wielded significant power and influence, when the Ministry of Finance, under the leadership of Ashraf Ghani, took action to pursue the issue of embezzled funds, it was halted in the face of Ismail Khan’s political influence, and no official institution dared to hold him accountable.
The customs of Herat, Islam Qala, and Torghundi were among the most important sources of revenue for the country, but during Ismail Khan’s era, instead of the revenue from these customs entering the government’s treasury, it was funneled into personal accounts, family projects, and armed groups affiliated with him.
In those days, several economic elites of Herat repeatedly warned that customs revenues were not reaching Kabul and were being used solely for personal interests in the dark; an assertion that, although it was hard to find official documents to confirm it, field evidence validated these claims.
Ismail Khan was remove from power, and the examination of his assets caught many eyes; ownership of the luxurious Independence Hotel in Garde Park, extensive investments in the city, and reports of assets in Iran raised many questions in people’s minds: How could a governor and minister with a monthly salary of a few tens of thousands of Afghanis, who had no wealth before, suddenly possess such wealth?
Interestingly, when these accusations became public, Ismail Khan, exploiting his jihadist status, took his deceived supporters to the streets. They, dressed in jihadist attire and chanting religious slogans, interpreted any criticism against him as “insulting the Mujahideen.” This tactic was highly effective at the time in preventing Ismail Khan from being prosecuted.
The record of Ismail Khan, like that of other self-proclaimed leaders and notorious warlords, is merely an example of a long chain of corruption within the republican system; a chain in which jihadist leaders and other politicians alike were all entangled.
In conclusion, it must be said that what is seen from the disgraceful actions of Ismail Khan is a face full of corruption and lawlessness; someone who, instead of serving the people, looted the public treasury in the name of jihad and silenced any voice raised against him. Instead of building the country, he sought to amass wealth and power for himself; an undeniable reality that should not be forgotten by the suffering people of this land.
To be continued…
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