Sayed Mansur Naderi is incumbent Sayed of Kayan; leader of Ismaili Shi'a community of Afghanistan centred in Baghlan Province and also in other parts of Afghanistan. This community although Shia is smaller than the mainstream Twelver Shia community in Afghanistan.[2]
Naderi served the Afghan monarchy, later the communist government and served as vice president during Majahiden government and in the 1980s, was expelled from his region by the Taliban, and returned to Baghlan following the fall of the Taliban. He was elected to the Wolesi Jirga (lower house of the Afghan Parliament) in 2005, and was the founder of the ismaili-based National Solidarity Party of Afghanistan (Paiwand Milli).[3]
His son Sayed Jafar Naderi also achieved military advances in Baghlan during Soviet-Afghan War, becoming popular as Warlord of Kayan and later appointed as Governor of Baghlan Province post the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan.[4][5]
Sayed Mansoor's daughter Farkhunda Zahra Naderi is a well-known rights activist in Afghanistan and also serves as member of Afghan parliament elected in 2010 with the highest vote from Kabul province.[7]
Sadat Mansoor Naderi, his another son nominated by Afghan president Ashraf Ghani as Urban Development Minister, assumed office on April 22, 2015. After that in 2020, he was appointed as Minister at Afghanistan's State Ministry for Peace. [8]
Monarchy era
During the Afghan monarchy, Sayed Mansur served as Vice President of Parliament under King Mohammed Zahir Shah.[9]
Soviet era
Following the transition to the communist Democratic Republic of Afghanistan and the Soviet invasion, while the Tajiks and Pashtuns of Baghlan aligned themselves with the insurgent Jamiat-e Islami and Hezb-e Islami Gulbuddin, Sayed Mansur received government funding and arms to form a local militia of his traditionally Ismaili supporters. He became a general and governor of the province with his militia reaching 13,000-18,000.[10] troops by 1989, but at the same time secretly collaborated with insurgent groups, allowing them to operate in Baghlan provided they did not interfere with logistics transport in the region.[2]
Military Power and Political Influence
In the tumultuous period of the 1980s and early 1990s, amid the Soviet occupation and subsequent political unrest, Sayed Mansoor Naderi distinguished himself as a key figure in Baghlan province. As the Ismaili spiritual leader from the Doshi district, Sayed Mansoor's impact reached far beyond spiritual leadership, extending into significant military and political spheres. Following directives from President Babrak Karmal to establish ethnic militias for safeguarding critical supply routes from mujahedin assaults, Naderi formed a formidable militia. This force was instrumental in asserting control over Baghlan, a vital conduit for Soviet logistical support to Kabul and the southern regions of Afghanistan, marking a crucial phase in the local military and governance landscape.[11]
Sayed Mansur Naderi and his son, Sayed Jafar Naderi who was later known as Warlord of Kayan, expanded upon their family's legacy through the establishment of a pro-government qaumi militia regiment in 1984. This unit's progression to a regular army division, known as the 80th infantry division, equipped with advanced artillery and tanks, underscored the Naderis' escalating military capabilities. By 1992, with a command over an 18,000-member force, Sayed Jafar Naderi negotiated strategic alliances with mujahedin factions, notably with Ahmad Shah Masoud, a prominent Jamiat military commander. This alliance, which was mutually beneficial, allowed mujahedin forces access to vital military supplies while consolidating the Naderis' stronghold in Pul-e-Khumri. Following the downfall of President Najibullah in 1992, the Naderis, leveraging support from Abdul Rashid Dostum, an influential Uzbek warlord, participated in crafting a power-sharing agreement with local mujahedin leaders associated with Jamiat and Hizb. This arrangement led to the integration of various mujahedin factions into the pre-existing political and military frameworks of the former government. Under this coalition, the Naderi family adeptly maneuvered through the complex political and military terrains, maintaining their prominence in Baghlan until the ascendancy of the Taliban in 1997.[12]
The 80th Military Division
The establishment of the 80th Division marks a significant episode in the military annals of Afghanistan, particularly in the concluding phase of the Soviet conflict. Originating post-1988 as a regiment or brigade under the auspices of the Ismaili community and the Afghan Interior Ministry, this unit underwent significant transformation to become a prominent military entity within Baghlan Province. Commanded by Sayed Jafar Naderi, who was just 25 at the time, with the spiritual and political backing of his father, Sayed Mansoor Naderi, the division played a crucial role in maintaining the integrity of essential supply lines to Kabul, notably the Salang Tunnel route. This underscored the indispensable role of the Ismaili community in ensuring regional stability amid the challenges faced by the PDPA regime.[13]
Beyond its foundational duties, the 80th Division was instrumental in the security and stability of northeastern provinces, including Baghlan, Samangan, Kunduz, and Badakhshan. Its strategic importance extended to safeguarding the Salang Pass, a critical artery facilitating transit between the northern regions and the capital. This multifaceted role highlighted the division's pivotal contribution to the security infrastructure of Afghanistan, ensuring vital connections remained open and safeguarded amidst the nation's complex geopolitical landscape.[14]
The 80th military division in Baghlan was then promoted to 6th Army Corp and included the 80th division of Baghlan, 20th division of Samangan Province and 54th division of Kunduz in north eastern of Afghanistan. [15]
Role in overthrown of Dr. Najibullah
In the aftermath of the Soviet Union's withdrawal from Afghanistan, Sayed Mansur Naderi, a distinguished leader within the Ismaili community, played a pivotal role alongside his son, Sayed Jafar Naderi, in shaping the political landscape of the country. The Naderis were instrumental in orchestrating a strategic mutiny against President Najibullah's regime, significantly contributing to its eventual downfall by disrupting the government's main supply route from the former Soviet Union. This action marked a turning point in Afghanistan's history, facilitating a shift in power dynamics away from the traditional Pashtun dominance[16]
Following this period of upheaval, Sayed Mansur Naderi emerged as a founding figure of the National Islamic Movement (NIM), which sought to represent and advocate for the rights of ethnic minorities within Afghanistan. The movement's push for a federal system aimed to ensure a more inclusive approach to governance, reflecting the country's diverse ethnic composition. Through his leadership and vision, Sayed Mansur Naderi significantly contributed to efforts to establish a more equitable and representative political order in Afghanistan, emphasizing the critical importance of inclusivity, minority rights, and federalism in the nation's quest for peace and stability[17]
Mujahideen era
During the Mujahideen era in Afghanistan, Sayed Mansur Naderi held the position of vice president under the presidency of Burhanuddin Rabbani. Throughout this period, Naderi, alongside the Ismaili community, exerted influence in several northern provinces of Afghanistan, including Baghlan, Badakhshan, Samangan, Kunduz, and Balkh. His role extended beyond administrative duties; he actively participated in peace negotiations between various Mujahideen factions. The region of Kayan, where Naderi was based, gained a reputation as a center for peace and negotiations, reflecting his efforts to broker peace among conflicting groups during a tumultuous time in Afghanistan's history. [18][19]
Taliban era (1996-2001)
During the 1990s Taliban period, Sayed Mansoor Naderi and his son Sayed Jafar Naderi fought against Taliban until August 1998. When, Taliban took over Northern Afghanistan including Kayan in 1998, the Ismaili forces were defeated and Mansoor apparently took refuge in Uzbekistan. He returned from Uzbekistan to Afghanistan after the fall of the Taliban, in 2002.[20][21]
Democracy era (2001-2021)
The Ismaili community, under the leadership of the Imam of the Ismaili Muslims, Prince Karim Aga Khan, has been instrumental in the development and reconstruction efforts in Afghanistan from 2001 to 2021, a period marked by significant political transitions culminating in the fall of the Republic Government of Afghanistan. The Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) has been a major contributor to these efforts, allocating over $1 billion towards the rehabilitation of the country post-Taliban era (1996-2001). This financial commitment underscores the network's dedication to fostering sustainable development in Afghanistan.
Sayed Mansur Naderi, serving as a prominent Ismaili leader within Afghanistan, has been pivotal in navigating the complex political landscape of the country. His establishment of the National Solidarity Party of Afghanistan and his efforts to integrate Ismailis into the political framework significantly influenced the community's representation in government. Ismailis have held various key positions, including seats in the Afghan parliament and roles within the executive branch, such as the State Ministry for Peace and the Ministry of Urban Development and Housing. Additionally, Ismailis have served as Senior Advisors to former President Ashraf Ghani, highlighting their active involvement in governance and peace-building initiatives. [22][23]
In the political landscape of Afghanistan, the National Solidarity Party of Afghanistan, led by Sayed Mansur Naderi, and the Ismaili community have played active roles in Afghanistan's electoral processes. During the 2009 presidential elections, they supported Hamid Karzai, organizing election rallies in the northern regions of Afghanistan as well as in the capital, Kabul. In the subsequent 2014 presidential elections, the Ismailis in Afghanistan lent their support to Ashraf Ghani. In the 2019 elections, Sayed Mansur Naderi and his political party expressed their support for Abdullah Abdullah. This involvement reflects the political engagement and support patterns of the Ismaili community and the National Solidarity Party of Afghanistan across different electoral cycles in the country. [24][25][26]
Contribution to Islamic Culture
Sayed Mansur Naderi, recognized for his leadership within the religious community of Afghanistan, has notably contributed to the enrichment of Islamic culture. His contributions include the significant role of patron in the creation of the World's Largest Handmade Quran in Afghanistan. This project, which was undertaken by a team of scholars over a period of five years, resulted in a manuscript that is currently housed in the Hakim Naser Khusraw Balkhi Cultural Center in Kabul, Afghanistan. The manuscript was completed and unveiled in 2012. This initiative reflects Sayed Mansur Naderi's dedication to cultural preservation within the Islamic tradition. The creation of the handwritten Quran represents a significant cultural achievement, underscoring the importance of scholarship and the arts within the Islamic community. It serves as an example of the enduring legacy of Islamic culture and its contribution to global heritage, emphasizing the commitment to the preservation and celebration of Islamic scholarly and artistic traditions. [27]
Baghlan is one of the 34 provinces of Afghanistan. It is in the north of the country. As of 2020, the province has a population of about 1,014,634.
Sunni Islam (Hanafi/Deobandi) is the largest and the state religion of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan. Islam in Afghanistan began to be practiced after the Arab Islamic conquest of Afghanistan from the 7th to the 10th centuries, with the last holdouts to conversion submitting in the late 19th century. It was generally accepted by local communities as a replacement of Zoroastrianism and Buddhism, local tribes began converting to the new religion. Islam is the official state religion of Afghanistan, with approximately 99.7% of the Afghan population being Muslim. Roughly 85% practice Sunni Islam, while around 10% are Shias. Most Shias belong to the Twelver branch and only a smaller number follow Ismailism.
Baghlan is a city in northern Afghanistan, in the eponymous province, Baghlan Province. It is located three miles east of the Kunduz River, 35 miles south of Khanabad, and about 500 metres above sea level in the northern Hindu Kush. Baghlan's capital, Pul-e-Khumri, is known to be an economic hub connected to eight other provinces by the Kabul-North highway.
Puli Khumrī, also spelled Pul-i-Khumri or Pol-e Khomri, is a city in northern Afghanistan. Puli Khumri is the capital and largest city of Baghlan Province, whose name comes from the other major town in the province, Baghlan. The city has an estimated population of about 221,274 as of 2015, making it about the 9th-largest city of Afghanistan, and the second-largest city in northeastern Afghanistan after Kunduz. It is a major industrial city.
Sayed Jafar Naderi is an ethnic Sadat-Ismaili who controlled Baghlan Province of Afghanistan during the early 1990s. He was born in Kayan, Baghlan and is also known as Sayyid-e Kayan. The son of Sayed Mansoor Naderi, previous Vice-President of Afghanistan, Sayed Jafar Naderi went to school in England at age 10, after his father was made a political prisoner. He was sent to the United States at age 13 where he became known as Jeff Naderi.
Jeff B. Harmon is an American film director, writer, and producer. He is also an actor, photographer, and song writer.
Kayan is a town in Baghlan Province in north eastern Afghanistan It is located in the valley of Kayan, some 30 kilometres west of Dushi. It is the official seat of Sayed of Kayan; a ruling Historical title of Northern Afghanistan. The residents of Kayan valley are mostly members of Sadat and Hazara tribes loyal to Sayed Kayan who has been the official representative of Aga Khan in Afghanistan. These Sayyids follow Isma'ili Islam.
Sayed Kayan or Sayed of Kayan is a ruling title in northern areas of Afghanistan. Ismaili community in Afghanistan is led by this family of Syeds hailing from the historical valley of Kayan Baghlan.
Shia Islam in Afghanistan is practiced by a significant minority of the population. According to a 2021 Pew survey, 7% of Afghans followed Shia Islam, but other estimates have put the number as high as 35%. Afghanistan's Shia are primarily the Twelvers, while a minority are Ismailis.
Naderi is a surname pupular in Afghanistan and Iran. Notable people with the surname include:
The National Solidarity Party of Afghanistan or some other places written as National Unity Party of Afghanistan is a political party representing the Afghanistan's Ismaili Shia minority, largely found in Kabul Province, Baghlan Province, Bamyan Province, Balkh Province and Badakhshan province. As recently as 2020 it was one of 84 political parties registered with the Afghan Ministry of Justice, and headed by Sayed Mansur Naderi.
The 6th Corps was a corps of the Afghan Army, seemingly active from 1990 to around 2003–2004. Created as a military formation of the PDPA's standing army, it degraded into a grouping of militias by its last years.
Farkhunda Zahra Naderi is an Afghan politician and women's right activist. She has been a member of Afghanistan's High Council for National Reconciliation (HCNR) chaired by Abdullah Abdullah. Previously she served as a senior advisor to president Ashraf Ghani in United Nations Affairs. Before that she served as a member of Parliament from 2010–2015.
Khushnood Nabizada is an Afghan journalist, diplomat, peace campaigner, and entrepreneur. He is the founder and owner of Khaama Press, an Afghanistan-based news agency that reports specific political issues of the Afghanistan region.
Sayed Sadat Mansoor Naderi is an entrepreneur and politician. He was Afghanistan's State Minister for Peace from 2020 to 2021 and Minister of Urban Development and Housing from 2015 - 2018.
Rawnaq Naderi also known as Sayed Nooruddin Rawnaq Naderi was a distinguished Afghan poet whose works have contributed significantly to Persian literature. As the son of Sayed Kayan, a prominent religious leader of the Afghanistan Ismailis, Naderi's upbringing was deeply influenced by a rich cultural and religious environment.
Warlord of Kayan is a documentary film directed by Jeff B. Harmon in 1989, focusing Sayed Jafar Naderi, also known as Jeff Naderi. Sayed Jafar is the elder son of Sayed Mansur Naderi, an Ismaili leader in Afghanistan. The film delves into Sayed Jafar's life journey from a former hippie motorcycle gang member and heavy metal drummer in the United States to a political and military figure in Afghanistan. The film won the Golden Gate Award at the San Francisco International Film Festival.
The Eagle of Kayan, also known as the Kayan Eagle, was an architectural structure situated in the Kayan Valley of northern Baghlan Province, Afghanistan. Constructed in the early 1990s, this structure became a landmark, symbolizing cultural strength and architectural ingenuity. The Eagle of Kayan was officially inaugurated on December 10, 1996, in a grand ceremony attended by political and cultural figures from across Afghanistan.
↑ Author: Hakimi, Aziz Ahmed. Title: Fighting for Patronage: American counterinsurgency and the Afghan Local Police. Publisher: University of London. Date: 23.07.2015. Access date: 04.04.2024.
↑ Author: Hakimi, Aziz Ahmed. Title: Fighting for Patronage: American counterinsurgency and the Afghan Local Police. Publisher: University of London. Date: 23.07.2015. Access date: 04.04.2024.
↑ Author: Hakimi, Aziz Ahmed. Title: Fighting for Patronage: American counterinsurgency and the Afghan Local Police. Publisher: University of London. Date: 23.07.2015. Access date: 04.04.2024.
↑ Author: Hakimi, Aziz Ahmed. Title: Fighting for Patronage: American counterinsurgency and the Afghan Local Police. Publisher: University of London. Date: 23.07.2015. Access date: 04.04.2024.
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