Read Descent Into Chaos Online
Authors: Ahmed Rashid
Descent Into Chaos (2 page)
GLOSSARY
Abdali, Ahmad Shah—
King and founder of modern Afghanistan in 1747.
King and founder of modern Afghanistan in 1747.
Abu Ghraib—
Prison in Iraq where U.S. soldiers carried out torture and abuses.
Prison in Iraq where U.S. soldiers carried out torture and abuses.
Afghan Militia Force (AMF)—
Tribal mercenaries hired by the CIA and U.S. forces to help guard the border with Pakistan.
Tribal mercenaries hired by the CIA and U.S. forces to help guard the border with Pakistan.
Ahmad, Mehmood—
General and director-general of ISI from 1999 until October 2001.
General and director-general of ISI from 1999 until October 2001.
Akayev, Askar—
President of Kyrgyzstan, 1991-2006.
President of Kyrgyzstan, 1991-2006.
Albright, Madeleine—
U.S. secretary of state, 1997-2001.
U.S. secretary of state, 1997-2001.
Al Qaeda—
Islamic terrorist group led by Osama bin Laden.
Islamic terrorist group led by Osama bin Laden.
Amin, Hafizullah—
Second president of Afghanistan from the Khalq Party, killed by Soviet invaders in December 1979.
Second president of Afghanistan from the Khalq Party, killed by Soviet invaders in December 1979.
Andijan—
Town in the Ferghana Valley, in Uzbekistan, where 800 to 1,200 people were killed in May 2005.
Town in the Ferghana Valley, in Uzbekistan, where 800 to 1,200 people were killed in May 2005.
Awami National Party—
Moderate and secular Pashtun nationalist party in the North-West Frontier Province, which did well in the 2008 elections.
Moderate and secular Pashtun nationalist party in the North-West Frontier Province, which did well in the 2008 elections.
Azhar, Maulana Masud—
Leader of Jaish-e-Mohammed, a Pakistani extremist group allied to al Qaeda and backed by the ISI; set up in 2000.
Leader of Jaish-e-Mohammed, a Pakistani extremist group allied to al Qaeda and backed by the ISI; set up in 2000.
Babar, Naseerullah—
Lieutenant-general and Pakistan’s interior minister who helped launch the Taliban in 1994.
Lieutenant-general and Pakistan’s interior minister who helped launch the Taliban in 1994.
Bagram—
Large U.S. military base outside Kabul where Afghan prisoners are also held.
Large U.S. military base outside Kabul where Afghan prisoners are also held.
Bakiyev, Kurmanbek—
President of Kyrgyzstan, 2006- .
President of Kyrgyzstan, 2006- .
Balochistan—
Province of Pakistan.
Province of Pakistan.
Barno, David—
Lieutenant-general, commander of U.S. forces in Afghanistan, 2003-2005.
Lieutenant-general, commander of U.S. forces in Afghanistan, 2003-2005.
Berdymukhamedow, Gurbanguly—
President of Turkmenistan, 2006- .
President of Turkmenistan, 2006- .
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)—
Major political party in India.
Major political party in India.
Bhutto, Benazir—
Leader of Pakistan Peoples Party and twice prime minister of Pakistan; assassinated in December 2007.
Leader of Pakistan Peoples Party and twice prime minister of Pakistan; assassinated in December 2007.
Bin al-Shibh, Ramzi—
Planner of 9/11 and a leader of the Hamburg cell; captured in Karachi in 2002.
Planner of 9/11 and a leader of the Hamburg cell; captured in Karachi in 2002.
Bin Laden, Osama—
Leader of al Qaeda.
Leader of al Qaeda.
Blair, Tony—
British prime minister, 1997-2007.
British prime minister, 1997-2007.
Brigade 555—
Brigade of Arabs and North Africans, led and funded by al Qaeda; used by bin Laden to strengthen Taliban front lines against Ahmad Shah Masud during the Afghanistan civil war.
Brigade of Arabs and North Africans, led and funded by al Qaeda; used by bin Laden to strengthen Taliban front lines against Ahmad Shah Masud during the Afghanistan civil war.
Chemonics International—
U.S. consulting firm based in Washington; contracted by USAID to help in counter-narcotics programs.
U.S. consulting firm based in Washington; contracted by USAID to help in counter-narcotics programs.
Dadullah, Mullah—
Taliban commander and, after 2003, in charge of Taliban operations in southern Afghanistan until he was killed in 2007.
Taliban commander and, after 2003, in charge of Taliban operations in southern Afghanistan until he was killed in 2007.
Daud, Mohammed—
President of Afghanistan, 1973-1978; killed during the Afghan communist coup.
President of Afghanistan, 1973-1978; killed during the Afghan communist coup.
Daud, Sardar Mohammed—
Governor of Helmand who replaced Sher Mohammed Akhunzada in 2006.
Governor of Helmand who replaced Sher Mohammed Akhunzada in 2006.
Dobbins, James—
Former U.S. ambassador to the Afghan Northern Alliance.
Former U.S. ambassador to the Afghan Northern Alliance.
Dostum, Rashid—
General and the Uzbek anti-Taliban commander from northern Afghanistan.
General and the Uzbek anti-Taliban commander from northern Afghanistan.
Durand Line—
Border dividing Pakistani and Afghan Pashtun tribes; demarcated by Sir Mortimer Durand in 1893 but which the Afghans do not recognize.
Border dividing Pakistani and Afghan Pashtun tribes; demarcated by Sir Mortimer Durand in 1893 but which the Afghans do not recognize.
Durrani—
One of the two major sections of the Pashtun tribes, the other being Ghilzai.
One of the two major sections of the Pashtun tribes, the other being Ghilzai.
DynCorp International—
U.S. contracting firm hired to train Afghan army and police.
U.S. contracting firm hired to train Afghan army and police.
Ecevit, Bülent—
Former prime minister of Turkey.
Former prime minister of Turkey.
Eikenberry, Karl W.—
Lieutenant-general and commander of U.S.-led Coalition and NATO forces in Afghanistan, 2006; in 2002, head of the Office of Military Cooperation in the American embassy, Kabul.
Lieutenant-general and commander of U.S.-led Coalition and NATO forces in Afghanistan, 2006; in 2002, head of the Office of Military Cooperation in the American embassy, Kabul.
Fahim, Mohammed—
General and successor to Ahmad Shah Masud as leader of the Panjsheri Tajiks and the Northern Alliance; later defense minister in President Karzai’s government.
General and successor to Ahmad Shah Masud as leader of the Panjsheri Tajiks and the Northern Alliance; later defense minister in President Karzai’s government.
Fallon, William—
Became chief of U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) in January 2007; resigned in March 2008 after differences with President Bush.
Became chief of U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) in January 2007; resigned in March 2008 after differences with President Bush.
Farooqi, Amjad Hussain—
A leader of Jaish-e-Mohammed who planned the two assassination attacks on Musharraf in December 2003.
A leader of Jaish-e-Mohammed who planned the two assassination attacks on Musharraf in December 2003.
Fazlullah, Maulana—
Head of extremist militants in the Swat Valley; fought against government forces in 2007. Commander in the Taliban movement in Pakistan famous for his broadcasts on illegal FM radio.
Head of extremist militants in the Swat Valley; fought against government forces in 2007. Commander in the Taliban movement in Pakistan famous for his broadcasts on illegal FM radio.
Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA)—
Comprises the seven semiautonomous tribal agencies on the Pakistan-Afghanistan border.
Comprises the seven semiautonomous tribal agencies on the Pakistan-Afghanistan border.
Ferghana Valley—
A valley bordering Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and Kyrgyzstan, and a hotbed of Islamic radicalism in Central Asia.
A valley bordering Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and Kyrgyzstan, and a hotbed of Islamic radicalism in Central Asia.
Fischer, Joschka—
Former German foreign minister and leader of the Green Party.
Former German foreign minister and leader of the Green Party.
Franks, Tommy—
General and head of CENTCOM during the U.S. invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq.
General and head of CENTCOM during the U.S. invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq.
Frontier Corps—
Eighty-thousand-strong Pakistani paramilitary force made up of Pashtun tribesmen.
Eighty-thousand-strong Pakistani paramilitary force made up of Pashtun tribesmen.
Gailani, Pir Sayed Ahmad—
Sufi Afghan leader who led a party that fought the Soviets in the 1980s; after 9/11 headed the Peshawar group of Pashtuns.
Sufi Afghan leader who led a party that fought the Soviets in the 1980s; after 9/11 headed the Peshawar group of Pashtuns.
Ghilzai—
One of the two major sections of the Pashtun tribes, the other being Durrani.
One of the two major sections of the Pashtun tribes, the other being Durrani.
Goss, Porter—
Chairman of the U.S. Congressional Intelligence Committee in 2001 and later head of the CIA.
Chairman of the U.S. Congressional Intelligence Committee in 2001 and later head of the CIA.
Guantánamo Bay—
Prison in Cuba where al Qaeda prisoners were interrogated by the United States.
Prison in Cuba where al Qaeda prisoners were interrogated by the United States.
Haass, Richard—
Director, Policy Planning, State Department.
Director, Policy Planning, State Department.
Haq, Abdul—
Pashtun commander killed by the Taliban in October 2001.
Pashtun commander killed by the Taliban in October 2001.
Haq, Muhammad Zia ul-—
President of Pakistan, 1977-1988.
President of Pakistan, 1977-1988.
Haqqani, Jalaluddin—
Leader of Taliban front based in Miramshah, Pakistan; his son Sirajuddin Haqqani led his father’s troops against U.S. forces in Afghanistan.
Leader of Taliban front based in Miramshah, Pakistan; his son Sirajuddin Haqqani led his father’s troops against U.S. forces in Afghanistan.
Harkat ul-Ansar—
Pakistani extremist group fighting in Kashmir and allied to al Qaeda.
Pakistani extremist group fighting in Kashmir and allied to al Qaeda.
Harkat ul-Mujahedin—
Movement of Holy Warriors, extremist group based in Pakistan fighting in Kashmir, Afghanistan, and Central Asia.
Movement of Holy Warriors, extremist group based in Pakistan fighting in Kashmir, Afghanistan, and Central Asia.
Hikmetyar, Gulbuddin—
Leader of the Hizb-e-Islami Party, allied to the Taliban.
Leader of the Hizb-e-Islami Party, allied to the Taliban.
Hizb-e-Islami—
Afghan party allied to the Taliban and led by Gulbuddin Hikmetyar.
Afghan party allied to the Taliban and led by Gulbuddin Hikmetyar.
Hizb ut-Tahrir (HT)—
Islamic party very active in Central Asia.
Islamic party very active in Central Asia.
Hussain, Altaf—
Leader of the Muttahida Quami Movement of the Urdu-speaking Muhajirs, who migrated from India to Pakistan in 1947.
Leader of the Muttahida Quami Movement of the Urdu-speaking Muhajirs, who migrated from India to Pakistan in 1947.
Inter-Services Intelligence Directorate (ISI)—
Pakistan’s military intelligence service.
Pakistan’s military intelligence service.
Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU)—
Islamic radicals in Central Asia who provided support to the Taliban and al Qaeda.
Islamic radicals in Central Asia who provided support to the Taliban and al Qaeda.
Jaish-e-Mohammed—
Army of Mohammed, militant group that introduced suicide bombing in Kashmir; formed in 2000 by the ISI and Maulana Masud Azhar in the aftermath of the hijacking of an Air India plane to Kandahar.
Army of Mohammed, militant group that introduced suicide bombing in Kashmir; formed in 2000 by the ISI and Maulana Masud Azhar in the aftermath of the hijacking of an Air India plane to Kandahar.
Jalali, Ali Ahmad—
Minister of interior in Karzai’s cabinet, 2003-2005.
Minister of interior in Karzai’s cabinet, 2003-2005.
Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam—
Main Islamic party in the Pashtun areas of Pakistan and key supporter of the Taliban; after the 2002 elections formed the government in the NWFP and Balochistan.
Main Islamic party in the Pashtun areas of Pakistan and key supporter of the Taliban; after the 2002 elections formed the government in the NWFP and Balochistan.
Jehangir, Asma—
Head of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan.
Head of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan.
Jundullah—
Army of God, terrorist group trained by al Qaeda and active in Karachi.
Army of God, terrorist group trained by al Qaeda and active in Karachi.
Kabulov, Zamir—
Senior Russian diplomat representing Russia at major conferences on Afghanistan; later Russian ambassador to Kabul.
Senior Russian diplomat representing Russia at major conferences on Afghanistan; later Russian ambassador to Kabul.
Kamal, Babrak—
Installed as president of Afghanistan by the invading Soviet army in December 1979; belonging to the Parcham Party.
Installed as president of Afghanistan by the invading Soviet army in December 1979; belonging to the Parcham Party.
Kargil—
Mountainous region of Indian Kashmir, briefly captured by Pakistani forces in 1999.
Mountainous region of Indian Kashmir, briefly captured by Pakistani forces in 1999.
Karimov, Islam—
President of Uzbekistan, 1991- .
President of Uzbekistan, 1991- .
Karshi-Khanabad, or K2—
U.S. base in Uzbekistan; used until 2006.
U.S. base in Uzbekistan; used until 2006.
Karzai, Abdul Ahad—
Father of Hamid Karzai; murdered by the Taliban, 1999.
Father of Hamid Karzai; murdered by the Taliban, 1999.
Karzai, Ahmed Wali—
Younger brother of Hamid Karzai.
Younger brother of Hamid Karzai.
Karzai, Hamid—
President of Afghanistan, 2001- .
President of Afghanistan, 2001- .
Kayani, Ashfaq—
Former head of the ISI, he was appointed as the new chief of staff of the Pakistan army in November 2007.
Former head of the ISI, he was appointed as the new chief of staff of the Pakistan army in November 2007.
Kazemi, Syed Mustafa—
Afghanistan’s commerce minister, killed by a suicide bomb attack in 2007.
Afghanistan’s commerce minister, killed by a suicide bomb attack in 2007.
Kellenberger, Jakob—
President of the International Committee of the Red Cross.
President of the International Committee of the Red Cross.
Khalili, Karim—
A leader of the Hazara resistance to the Taliban and later vice president under President Karzai.
A leader of the Hazara resistance to the Taliban and later vice president under President Karzai.
Khalilzad, Zalmay—
U.S. chief of mission to the United Nations; former U.S. ambassador to Afghanistan and Iraq.
U.S. chief of mission to the United Nations; former U.S. ambassador to Afghanistan and Iraq.
Khalq—
The Masses, one of the communist parties of Afghanistan.
The Masses, one of the communist parties of Afghanistan.
Khan, Ismael—
Anti-Taliban leader in western Afghanistan.
Anti-Taliban leader in western Afghanistan.
Khan, Jan Mohammed—
Governor of Uruzgan province, former Taliban.
Governor of Uruzgan province, former Taliban.
Khan, Mohammed Ayub—
Military ruler of Pakistan, 1958-1969.
Military ruler of Pakistan, 1958-1969.
Khan, Yahya—
Military ruler of Pakistan, 1969-1971.
Military ruler of Pakistan, 1969-1971.
Khatami, Mohammed—
President of Iran, 1997-2005.
President of Iran, 1997-2005.
Lashkar-e-Jhangvi—
The Army of Jhangvi, a militant Sunni group opposed to all Shias.
The Army of Jhangvi, a militant Sunni group opposed to all Shias.
Loya Jirga (LJ)—
Traditional meeting of Afghan tribal chiefs and elders.
Traditional meeting of Afghan tribal chiefs and elders.
McColl, Sir John—
General and British commander of ISAF troops in Kabul in 2002.
General and British commander of ISAF troops in Kabul in 2002.
McNeill, Dan—
Lieutenant-general and commander of the U.S.-led Coalition forces in Afghanistan in 2002; reappointed to head NATO forces in Afghanistan in February 2007.
Lieutenant-general and commander of the U.S.-led Coalition forces in Afghanistan in 2002; reappointed to head NATO forces in Afghanistan in February 2007.
Manas—
Air base used by NATO alliance in Kyrgyzstan, close to the capital, Bishkek.
Air base used by NATO alliance in Kyrgyzstan, close to the capital, Bishkek.
Mansur, Saif ur-Rahman—
The Taliban commander at the battle of Anaconda.
The Taliban commander at the battle of Anaconda.
Marshall, George C.—
President Harry Truman’s secretary of state and the architect of the Marshall Plan for Europe in the 1950s.
President Harry Truman’s secretary of state and the architect of the Marshall Plan for Europe in the 1950s.
Masud, Ahmad Shah—
Leader of the anti-Taliban Northern Alliance; assassinated by al Qaeda two days before 9 /11.
Leader of the anti-Taliban Northern Alliance; assassinated by al Qaeda two days before 9 /11.
Mehsud, Baitullah—
Head of the Taliban Movement of Pakistan, formed in 2007. Named by the Pakistan government as assassin of Benazir Bhutto. Fought against the Soviets in 1980s, alongside the Taliban in the 1990s, and against the U.S. and NATO forces after 2001. Member of the Mehsud tribe of North Waziristan, near the Afghan border.
Head of the Taliban Movement of Pakistan, formed in 2007. Named by the Pakistan government as assassin of Benazir Bhutto. Fought against the Soviets in 1980s, alongside the Taliban in the 1990s, and against the U.S. and NATO forces after 2001. Member of the Mehsud tribe of North Waziristan, near the Afghan border.
Mohammed, Faqir—
Based in Bajour agency, considered a key aide to al Qaeda’s Ayman al-Zawahiri. Primary recruiter for young men to fight in Afghanistan and to enlist as suicide bombers.
Based in Bajour agency, considered a key aide to al Qaeda’s Ayman al-Zawahiri. Primary recruiter for young men to fight in Afghanistan and to enlist as suicide bombers.
Mohaqiq, Mohammed—
Hazara leader in northern Afghanistan.
Hazara leader in northern Afghanistan.
Muhajirs—
Urdu-speaking refugees from India settled in Pakistan after Partition.
Urdu-speaking refugees from India settled in Pakistan after Partition.
Mujaddedi, Sibghatullah—
One of the seven Mujahedin leaders based in Pakistan; headed the National Liberation Front of Afghanistan, to which Hamid Karzai belonged; also a spiritual leader and head of the Naqshbandiyah order of Sufism in Afghanistan; president of Afghanistan in 1992 and later headed the Peace and Reconciliation Commission dealing with the Taliban.
One of the seven Mujahedin leaders based in Pakistan; headed the National Liberation Front of Afghanistan, to which Hamid Karzai belonged; also a spiritual leader and head of the Naqshbandiyah order of Sufism in Afghanistan; president of Afghanistan in 1992 and later headed the Peace and Reconciliation Commission dealing with the Taliban.
Murray, Craig—
Former British ambassador to Uzbekistan.
Former British ambassador to Uzbekistan.
Musharraf, Pervez—
Military ruler of Pakistan, 1999- .
Military ruler of Pakistan, 1999- .
Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA)—
Alliance of five Islamic parties that won many seats in the 2002 elections in Pakistan.
Alliance of five Islamic parties that won many seats in the 2002 elections in Pakistan.
Muttawakil, Wakil Ahmad—
Taliban foreign minister.
Taliban foreign minister.
Myers, Richard—
General and chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff.
General and chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff.
Najibullah, Mohammed—
Last communist president of Afghanistan, 1986-1992.
Last communist president of Afghanistan, 1986-1992.
Namangani, Juma—
Military commander of the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan; killed by U.S. bombing in Afghanistan, October 2001.
Military commander of the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan; killed by U.S. bombing in Afghanistan, October 2001.
Naqibullah, Mullah—
Warlord from Kandahar and ally of Karzai.
Warlord from Kandahar and ally of Karzai.
National Directorate of Security (NDS), or Riasat Amniat-e-Meli (“Amniat” for short)—
Afghan intelligence service, headed by Director-General Amrullah Saleh.
Afghan intelligence service, headed by Director-General Amrullah Saleh.
Natsios, Andrew—
Head of U.S. Agency for International Development.
Head of U.S. Agency for International Development.
Nazarbayev, Nursultan—
President of Kazakhstan, 1991- .
President of Kazakhstan, 1991- .
Negroponte, John—
Deputy secretary of state. He moved from a position as director of national intelligence to become deputy secretary of state in January 2007.
Deputy secretary of state. He moved from a position as director of national intelligence to become deputy secretary of state in January 2007.
Niyazov, Saparmurat—
President of Turkmenistan, 1991-2006.
President of Turkmenistan, 1991-2006.
Noor, Sadiq—
Powerful tribal leader in North Waziristan whose followers have fought both U.S. forces in Afghanistan and Pakistani forces in Pakistan; close ally of Afghan commander Jalaluddin Haqqani.
Powerful tribal leader in North Waziristan whose followers have fought both U.S. forces in Afghanistan and Pakistani forces in Pakistan; close ally of Afghan commander Jalaluddin Haqqani.
Northern Alliance—
Anti-Taliban opposition centered on commander Ahmad Shah Masud, also called Shura-e-Nazar.
Anti-Taliban opposition centered on commander Ahmad Shah Masud, also called Shura-e-Nazar.
North-West Frontier Province (NWFP)—
Province of Pakistan.
Province of Pakistan.
Omar, Mohammed—
Mullah; leader of the Taliban movement, 1994- .
Mullah; leader of the Taliban movement, 1994- .
Orakzai, Ali Jan—
Corps commander, Peshawar, from 2001 to 2004, before becoming governor of the NWFP. Responsible for many of the peace deals with the Pakistani Taliban, he was removed as governor by Musharraf in 2008.
Corps commander, Peshawar, from 2001 to 2004, before becoming governor of the NWFP. Responsible for many of the peace deals with the Pakistani Taliban, he was removed as governor by Musharraf in 2008.
Pakistan Muslim League—
Quaid-e-Azam (PML-Q), the ruling party, loyal to the military regime.
Quaid-e-Azam (PML-Q), the ruling party, loyal to the military regime.
Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP)—
Led by the Bhutto family and often in opposition to military rule.
Led by the Bhutto family and often in opposition to military rule.
Panjsheri Tajiks—
Tajiks from the Panjsher Valley, north of Kabul, and followers of Ahmad Shah Masud and later General Fahim.
Tajiks from the Panjsher Valley, north of Kabul, and followers of Ahmad Shah Masud and later General Fahim.
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