The Silent Connections Between Ismail Khan and Iran:
In the past four decades, Afghanistan has repeatedly become a battleground for the competition among neighboring countries, the region, and the world. Many countries, sometimes directly and sometimes indirectly through hiring key figures, have sought to secure their illegitimate interests within the borders of this country.
Since the fall of the communist regime in Afghanistan, notorious warlords have served as cheap and efficient pawns for foreign powers, sparing no effort in betraying their own country to achieve higher positions of power.
During the civil wars following the fall of the communist regime and even in the years of the republic, well-known figures who once chanted slogans of jihad and resistance against foreigners were each in some way dependent on external resources.
Individuals such as Abdul Rashid Dostum in the north, Abdul Ali Mazari and Karim Khalili in the center, Mohammad Mohaqiq in the Hazarajat regions, Burhanuddin Rabbani and Ahmad Shah Masoud in the northeast, Abdul Rasul Sayyaf around Kabul, and other local commanders, each relied on foreign support in their activities.
These dependencies not only included military aid but also financial support, providing propaganda facilities, offering shelter, military training, and even political pressure through international organizations; supports that were each met with significant betrayals.
In the meantime, Ismail Khan, the former governor of Herat and one of the prominent commanders who rose to power using the name of jihad, was among those who had a clear allegiance to one of the foreign powers.
His close ties with the Iranian government over the years, from the era of jihad against the Soviet Union to the period of civil wars and then the republic, were not a matter hidden from the wise.
Ismail Khan, who came to power after the defeat of the communist regime and the fall of Herat in 1372 (1992), prioritized expanding his connections with Iran.
On the other hand, Iran’s comprehensive financial and political support for Ismail Khan ensured his prolonged rule over Herat and parts of western Afghanistan; because Ismail Khan’s presence in Herat was seen as a guarantee for securing both Iran’s legitimate and even illegitimate interests.
This very fact also led Ismail Khan to flee to Iran and seek refuge with his patrons whenever he faced serious threats and found no other way to save himself.
For example:
• After the Taliban’s attack on Herat in 1374 (1995) and the fall of the city, Ismail Khan was forced to flee to Iran.
• Some time later, in 1377 (1998), after escaping from Taliban captivity, he went to Iran again.
In 2021, after the collapse of the Republic government and the Taliban’s recapture of Herat, Ismail Khan was forced to seek refuge in Iran for the third time; these repeated escapes have established Iran as his main stronghold during times of crisis.
In the upcoming sections of this series, we will delve deeper into Ismail Khan’s covert relationship with the Iranian government and unveil his activities aimed at serving Iran’s interests, Allah willing.
To be continued…
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