Born in the Panjshir Valley of Afghanistan, Gul Haidar joined the forces of Ahmed Shah Massoud at the age of 17, when the Soviets invaded Afghanistan in 1979. While serving as one of Massoud's commanders, Gul Haidar lost a leg to a mine, and Massoud sent him to London to receive an artificial limb, after which he returned to Afghanistan to continue the war.[2]
During the Sieges of Kabul Gul Haidar controlled Gardana Kar-e Sakhi and lead the fighting that initially took place near the custom posts on the road to Jalalabad. According to one witness he controlled 40 RPG-7 rocket launchers, 10 82-mm mortars, 10 82-mm artillery pieces and 40 PK machine guns.[3] In February–March 1993 he was known to control the Tapi-e Salaam area of Kabul as well where his forces fired mortars at the men of Ali Akbar Qasemi who was in the university area. According to one source he was manning the artillery at T.V. Mountain in three month rotations along with General Baba Jalandar.[3] After the fall of Kabul in 1996 he remained loyal to Massoud, and was instrumental in preventing the Taliban from taking the Panjshir valley.[4]
Post-Talibanedit
General Gul Haidar commanded up to 1000 Afghan troops fighting alongside the Americans in the battles of Shah-e-Kot in Eastern Afghanistan in March 2002.[5] He was at the time the Ministry of Defense Commander for 4 southern provinces including Paktika,[6] Paktya and Ghazni. Since then he has largely traded in his guns for business and has become quite successful.[7] He currently owns a mansion in Shirpur, an area where lower class housing was demolished to make room for houses of government officials.[8]
Relation with Abdullah Mujahidedit
Guantanamo detainee Abdullah Mujahid requested Haider as one of the witnesses who could refute the accusation that he was fired because he was suspected of collusion with anti-government forces.[1][9][10] Haider was one of the members of a commission who recommended a promotion for Mujahid.
Referencesedit
^ abDetainees not given access to witnesses: But in one case, 3 quickly found, Boston Globe, June 18, 2006
^"El caudillo Gul Haidar, un señor de guerra en busca de paz". Interviu. 2009-08-24. Retrieved 2009-12-11.
^ ab(PDF). Afghanistan Justice Project. 2005. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2009-08-24. Retrieved 2009-12-21.
haidar, haider, former, mujahideen, commander, official, ministry, defense, hamid, karzai, afghan, government, haji, abdul, razaborn1962panjsher, afghanistanallegiancejamiat, islami, government, afghanistanservice, branchmujahideen, afghan, national, armyyears. Gul Haider or Gul Haidar is a former mujahideen commander and official in the ministry of defense of Hamid Karzai s Afghan government 1 Haji Gul Haidar Abdul RazaBorn1962Panjsher AfghanistanAllegianceJamiat e Islami Government of AfghanistanService wbr branchMujahideen Afghan National ArmyYears of service1979 presentRankGeneral Contents 1 Military career 2 Post Taliban 3 Relation with Abdullah Mujahid 4 ReferencesMilitary career editBorn in the Panjshir Valley of Afghanistan Gul Haidar joined the forces of Ahmed Shah Massoud at the age of 17 when the Soviets invaded Afghanistan in 1979 While serving as one of Massoud s commanders Gul Haidar lost a leg to a mine and Massoud sent him to London to receive an artificial limb after which he returned to Afghanistan to continue the war 2 During the Sieges of Kabul Gul Haidar controlled Gardana Kar e Sakhi and lead the fighting that initially took place near the custom posts on the road to Jalalabad According to one witness he controlled 40 RPG 7 rocket launchers 10 82 mm mortars 10 82 mm artillery pieces and 40 PK machine guns 3 In February March 1993 he was known to control the Tapi e Salaam area of Kabul as well where his forces fired mortars at the men of Ali Akbar Qasemi who was in the university area According to one source he was manning the artillery at T V Mountain in three month rotations along with General Baba Jalandar 3 After the fall of Kabul in 1996 he remained loyal to Massoud and was instrumental in preventing the Taliban from taking the Panjshir valley 4 Post Taliban editGeneral Gul Haidar commanded up to 1000 Afghan troops fighting alongside the Americans in the battles of Shah e Kot in Eastern Afghanistan in March 2002 5 He was at the time the Ministry of Defense Commander for 4 southern provinces including Paktika 6 Paktya and Ghazni Since then he has largely traded in his guns for business and has become quite successful 7 He currently owns a mansion in Shirpur an area where lower class housing was demolished to make room for houses of government officials 8 Relation with Abdullah Mujahid editGuantanamo detainee Abdullah Mujahid requested Haider as one of the witnesses who could refute the accusation that he was fired because he was suspected of collusion with anti government forces 1 9 10 Haider was one of the members of a commission who recommended a promotion for Mujahid References edit a b Detainees not given access to witnesses But in one case 3 quickly found Boston Globe June 18 2006 El caudillo Gul Haidar un senor de guerra en busca de paz Interviu 2009 08 24 Retrieved 2009 12 11 a b Casting Shadows War Crimes and Crimes against Humanity 1978 2001 PDF Afghanistan Justice Project 2005 Archived from the original PDF on 2009 08 24 Retrieved 2009 12 21 Davies Will amp Shariat Abdullah 2004 Fighting Masoud s war Lothian books ISBN 0 7344 0590 1 p 168 Bombardieri Marcella Bender Bryan 2002 03 13 Americans advance on Afghan front The Boston Globe Retrieved 2009 12 21 Kaul Chris 2002 03 13 Americans advance on Afghan front The Los Angeles Times Archived from the original on 2011 07 10 Retrieved 2009 12 21 Ayestaran Mikel 2009 08 28 Quiere usted terminar con Al Qaeda ABC Archived from the original on 2009 12 28 Retrieved 2009 12 21 Gannon Kathy 2006 Are Kabul s poor better off The Associated Press Retrieved 2009 12 21 Guardian finds Afghan witnesses US couldn t The Guardian June 30 2006 Found The unfindable men Archived 2007 03 11 at the Wayback Machine Mail and Guardian July 1 2006 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Gul Haidar amp oldid 1039698920, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
