Abdul Raziq Achakzai Explained

Abdul Raziq Achakzai
Honorific Suffix:Hero of the Afghan Nation
Birth Name:Abdul Raziq
Birth Date:1979
Birth Place:Spin Boldak, Kandahar, Afghanistan
Death Date:October 18, 2018 (aged 39)
Death Place:Kandahar, Afghanistan[1]
Branch:Afghan Border Police
Serviceyears:2002 - 2018
Rank:Lieutenant general
Battles:War in Afghanistan
Spouse:3

Abdul Raziq Achakzai, also known as General Raziq, (Pushto; Pashto: عبدالرازق اڅکزی; عبدالرازق اچکزی; 1979 – October 18, 2018) was the chief of police for Kandahar Province.[2] Many Afghans regarded him as a national hero while others viewed him simply as a warlord.[3] [4] In late 2001, Achakzai became a member of Gul Agha Sherzai's forces whom the Taliban had surrendered to after the U.S. invasion of Afghanistan. Achakzai was considered to be one of the most powerful security officials in Afghanistan for the last few years of his life.

After surviving several assassination attempts over the years, Achakzai was killed in an insider attack by a bodyguard of the provincial governor, who opened fire on him and other security officials after a meeting with the U.S. Army General Scott Miller at the governor's compound in Kandahar.[5] Achakzai was succeeded by his brother, Tadeen Khan, who has no military related experience.[6] Tadeen's nomination was a result of heavy pressure from powerful tribal elders who pressured the Afghan government to overlook his lack of experience and training.[7]

Personal life

Abdul Raziq Achakzai was born in 1979 in the town of Spin Boldak, Kandahar Province, where he was raised.[8] He was a member of the Adozai sub-tribe of Achakzai. He and his family migrated to Pakistan after the Taliban took control of Afghanistan in 1994.[9] [10] The Taliban had killed his father and uncle when they seized control of Spin Boldak, hanging Raziq's uncle from a tank barrel.[11] The Taliban who had killed Raziq's father and uncle were members of the rival Noorzai tribe, causing him to later seek revenge against the Noorzai and the Taliban.[12] He returned to Afghanistan in the fall of 2001 and became a member of fighters loyal to Gul Agha Sherzai. Achakzai never went to school and he had three wives.[13] [14]

Achakzai is thought to have received annual kickbacks from customs revenues exacted at border crossings. He became extremely wealthy as a result of his control over the province and a major border thoroughfare. He also spent time in Dubai and had been heavily involved in horse trading. He also had businesses abroad.[15] [16]

Following his death, the Afghan government began construction of a large mausoleum dedicated to Achakzai; it was walled-off prior to its completion after the resurgence of the Taliban.[17]

Military career

In November 2001, Achakzai joined anti-Taliban forces that were led by Sherzai and Fida Mohammad. Instead of fighting, a peaceful transition of power took place in Kandahar between the Taliban and the other group. Although he was unknown in 2001, he gradually rose to command the Afghan Border Police on Afghanistan's border between Kandahar and Pakistan's Balochistan Province.[18]

Human rights abuses

Achakzai was alleged to have committed numerous human rights violations including extrajudicial killings, forced disappearances, and torture in the Kandahar province.[19] [10] [13] [20] [21] [22] In 2017, the United Nations committee on torture wanted Achakzai to be prosecuted for allegations of torture and enforced disappearances. The committee also stated that Achakzai was 'operating secret detention centers' where people were being tortured. Achakzai denied all the allegations made against him by the U.N. committee.[23] Apart from international human rights organizations, residents of Kandahar also accused him of being involved in human right violations. Some Tribal elders and provincial legislators expressed relief over his death. One legislator said that Kandahar province became less violent after his death.[6] [24] Former Afghan President Hamid Karzai and other powerful allies had refused to prosecute Achakzai for many years alleging a lack of credible evidence of crime.[25] [26] In August 2011, the U.S. military banned the transfer of detainees to Afghan authorities in Kandahar. The military stated that they are investigating reports regarding abuse of prisoners by provincial police chiefs as they have received "credible allegations" that detainees are being mistreated while in the custody of Achakzai. Military spokesman, Col. Gary Kolb, said that the U.S. will not hand over detainees to Afghan officials until they are sure that there are no issues.[27]

An investigation of Afghan government documents and "hidden ledgers" by the New York Times published in May 2024 indicated that officers in Achakzai police force "abducted hundreds, if not thousands" of Afghans to be "killed or tortured" in Achakzai's "secret jails". Using only evidence corroborated by at least two people, (often including eyewitnesses), the Times tallied "368 cases of forced disappearances" and dozens of extrajudicial killings attributed to Achakzai's forces.According to the Times, resentment against Achakzai's abuse of power among the local population in Kandahar was so great it helped turn them against the Afghan government and in favor of the Taliban.[28]

Alleged drug smuggling and corruption

Achakzai was also accused of being involved in drug smuggling and corruption cases.[18] [16] [29] [19] American officials have acknowledged in front of the members of U.S. Congress that Achakzai had made millions by collecting major cuts from all the trucks that pass through Spin Boldak crossing.[30] Similarly Canadian Brig.Gen. Jonathan Vance, former commander of NATO-led forces, acknowledged that Achakzai was directly involved in drug smuggling.[31] Matthieu Aikins, in his investigative story in Harper's Magazine, stated that Achakzai made $5–6 million every month through drug smuggling.[32] In 2010, the head of Afghan customs revenue said that every year the Afghan government is receiving only a 'fifth of what the government should collect' in customs revenue from the Spin Boldak crossing.[33] In 2015, a newspaper run by a group of Hazaras also reported that the Afghan government was only receiving 1/5th what it should be receiving from the customs border which was under the control of Abdul Raziq.[34] Raziq maintained full control of Spin Boldak crossing until his death.

See also

Notes and References

  1. News: Kandahar Police Chief Raziq Killed In Attack TOLOnews. TOLOnews. 2018-10-18. en.
  2. News: Top US commander in Afghanistan unharmed after attack leaves key Afghan general dead, 2 Americans wounded. 18 October 2018. 18 October 2018. Military Times. https://web.archive.org/web/20181018190331/https://www.militarytimes.com/news/your-air-force/2018/10/18/top-us-commander-in-afghanistan-unharmed-after-attack-that-left-key-afghan-general-dead-2-americans-wounded/. 18 October 2018. live. dmy-all.
  3. Christina Lamb. 9 tons of opium doesn’t make him a bad man. 5 April 2015. The Times.
  4. https://www.ctvnews.ca/mobile/nato-bullish-canadians-wary-of-afghan-warlord-raziq-1.589838 NATO bullish, Canadians wary of Afghan warlord Raziq
  5. News: Sayed . Salahuddin . Pamela . Constable . Pamela Constable . October 18, 2018 . The Washington Post . U.S. commander in Afghanistan survives deadly attack at governor’s compound that kills top Afghan police general . Among those killed in the attack inside the governor’s compound in southern Kandahar province was the region’s top police general, Abdul Raziq, who was seen as the most powerful man in southern Afghanistan..
  6. News: ‘The Lion of Kandahar’: Was slain commander a hero or part of the problem?. 29 November 2018. 29 November 2018. Washington Post. https://web.archive.org/web/20181230233352/https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/the-lion-of-kandahar-was-slain-commander-a-hero-or-part-of-the-problem/2018/11/28/48360198-f25b-11e8-99c2-cfca6fcf610c_story.html?noredirect=on. 30 December 2018. live. dmy-all.
  7. News: Brother appointed to succeed killed Afghan commander. 22 October 2018. Reuters. https://web.archive.org/web/20181022171306/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-afghanistan-security/brother-appointed-to-succeed-killed-afghan-commander-idUSKCN1MW1XF. 22 October 2018. live. dmy-all.
  8. Web site: General Abdul Raziq biography. Associated Press. 29 Jun 2015.
  9. News: Raziq’s Death Leaves Massive Void In The South. 18 October 2018. Tolo news.
  10. News: Profile: Who was Afghanistan's General Abdul Raziq?. 18 October 2018. Al Jazeera. https://web.archive.org/web/20181019065908/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/10/profile-afghanistan-general-abdul-raziq-181018132154966.html. 19 October 2018. live. dmy-all.
  11. Book: Malkasian . Carter . The American War in Afghanistan: A History . 2021 . Oxford University Press . 978-0-19-755077-9 . 146 . en.
  12. Book: Malkasian . Carter . The American War in Afghanistan: A History . 2021 . Oxford University Press . 978-0-19-755077-9 . 146 . en.
  13. News: Controversial Afghan Cop, "Torturer-in-Chief", Killed In Taliban Attack. Raziq, who was illiterate and had three wives, had been fighting the Taliban since the terrorists executed his father and uncle in 1994, two years before they succeeded in imposing their oppressive regime over most of the country.. 19 October 2018. NDTV. https://web.archive.org/web/20181019052653/https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/kandahar-afghanistan-general-abdul-raziq-afghanistans-torturer-in-chief-killed-in-taliban-attack-1934262. 19 October 2018. live. dmy-all.
  14. News: Afghan police chief Abdul Raziq killed by Taliban. 19 October 2018. Gulf news. https://web.archive.org/web/20181019030424/https://m.gulfnews.com/news/asia/afghanistan/afghan-police-chief-abdul-raziq-killed-by-taliban-1.2291424. 19 October 2018. live. dmy-all.
  15. News: An Afghan Police Chief Took On the Taliban and Won. Then His Luck Ran Out. With the province and a major border crossing under his control, and with businesses abroad, General Raziq grew enormously rich. He spent time in Dubai and had been heavily involved in the horse trading that is part of the coalition building ahead of Afghanistan’s presidential elections next year.. 18 October 2018. New York Times. https://web.archive.org/web/20181018133101/https://www.nytimes.com/2018/10/18/world/asia/kandahar-afghanistan-attack.html. 18 October 2018. live. dmy-all.
  16. Web site: The life of Afghan Gen. Abdul Raziq, whose assassination Thursday was a huge Taliban victory. 19 October 2018. Business Insider. https://web.archive.org/web/20181020003123/https://www.businessinsider.com/afghan-gen-abdul-raziq-whose-assassination-was-a-taliban-victory-2018-10. 20 October 2018. live. dmy-all.
  17. News: Ahmed . Azam . Aikins . Matthieu . Denton . Bryan . America’s Monster . 22 May 2024 . The New York Times . 22 May 2024.
  18. Web site: Our Man in Kandahar. Aikins. Matthieu. The Atlantic. en-US. 10 April 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20120823071908/https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2011/11/our-man-in-kandahar/308653/. 23 August 2012. live. dmy-all.
  19. Web site: The U.S. Lost a Key Ally in Southern Afghanistan. But Abdul Raziq Was No Hero.. 30 October 2018. The Intercept.
  20. News: Afghanistan officials sanctioned murder, torture and rape, says report. 3 March 2015. The Guardian. https://web.archive.org/web/20150316155607/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/mar/03/afghanistan-allies-sanctioned-torture-murder-report-human-rights-watch. 16 March 2015. live. dmy-all.
  21. News: Top Afghan powerbroker killed in Kandahar shooting. 18 October 2018. The Guardian. https://web.archive.org/web/20181018144819/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/oct/18/top-afghanistan-police-chief-abdul-raziq-killed-in-kandahar-shooting. 18 October 2018. live. dmy-all.
  22. Web site: Kandahar’s Mystery Executions. Harper's Magazine. September 2014.
  23. News: U.N. torture committee wants Afghan general prosecuted. 12 May 2017. Reuters. https://web.archive.org/web/20190405084315/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-afghanistan-un/u-n-torture-committee-wants-afghan-general-prosecuted-idUSKBN1881QR. 5 April 2019. live. dmy-all.
  24. News: Democracy at any cost: How the West supported an Afghan general who ruled through fear. 22 November 2018. The New Arab. https://web.archive.org/web/20181206145406/https://www.alaraby.co.uk/english/indepth/2018/11/22/democracy-at-any-cost-in-afghanistan. 6 December 2018. live. dmy-all.
  25. News: He Calmed Kandahar. But At What Cost?. For years, President Hamid Karzai defended Raziq, sidelining investigations and promoting him. 21 May 2015. National Public Radio. https://web.archive.org/web/20150522221655/https://www.npr.org/sections/parallels/2015/05/21/407979759/he-calmed-kandahar-but-at-what-cost. 22 May 2015. live. dmy-all.
  26. News: Powerful Afghan Police Chief Puts Fear in Taliban and Their Enemies. 8 November 2014. New York Times. https://web.archive.org/web/20181104104422/https://www.nytimes.com/2014/11/09/world/asia/powerful-afghan-police-chief-puts-fear-in-taliban-and-their-enemies-.html. 4 November 2018. live. dmy-all.
  27. Web site: U.S. Probes Afghan Abuse. 19 August 2011. Dion Nissenbaum. 23 November 2018.
  28. News: Ahmed . Azam . Aikins . Matthieu . America’s Monster How the U.S. Backed Kidnapping, Torture and Murder in Afghanistan . 22 May 2024 . New York Times . 22 May 2024.
  29. News: US general criticised over photo-op with Afghan cop accused of human rights abuses. 20 February 2014. The Telegraph. https://web.archive.org/web/20190308025434/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/afghanistan/10651885/US-general-criticised-over-photo-op-with-Afghan-cop-accused-of-human-rights-abuses.html. 8 March 2019. live. dmy-all.
  30. Web site: Impunity for U.S.-Funded Warlords in Afghanistan. 16 February 2018. Just Security. Katherine Hawkins.
  31. Web site: On Target: Raziq's true legacy not one to herocize. 21 October 2018. 4 May 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20181022131114/https://www.thechronicleherald.ca/opinion/columnists/on-target-raziqs-true-legacy-not-one-to-heroicize-252258/. 22 October 2018. The Chronicle Herald. dmy-all.
  32. Web site: Credibility eludes Kandahar police force. 20 June 2011. The Star. 4 May 2019. Paul Watson. https://web.archive.org/web/20130327040227/https://www.thestar.com/news/world/2011/06/20/credibility_eludes_kandahar_police_force.html. 27 March 2013. live. dmy-all.
  33. Web site: U.S. troops leave border to Afghan boss accused of graft. 18 March 2010. Reuters.
  34. News: General Raziq Hero or President Ghani’s liability. 1 January 2015. Khaama Press. https://web.archive.org/web/20181019001822/https://www.khaama.com/general-raziq-hero-or-president-ghanis-liability-8902/. 19 October 2018. live. dmy-all.

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