Mohammad Najibullah facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Mohammad Najibullah
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محمد نجیبالله احمدزی
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Najibullah in 1991
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| General Secretary of the People's Democratic Party of Afghanistan | |
| In office 4 May 1986 – 16 April 1992 |
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| Preceded by | Babrak Karmal |
| Succeeded by | Party abolished |
| 2nd President of Afghanistan | |
| In office 30 November 1987 – 16 April 1992 |
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| Prime Minister |
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| Vice President |
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| Preceded by |
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| Succeeded by | Burhanuddin Rabbani |
| Chairman of the Presidium of the Revolutionary Council | |
| In office 30 September 1987 – 30 November 1987 |
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| Preceded by | Haji Mohammad Chamkani |
| Succeeded by | Himself (as president) |
| Director of the State Intelligence Agency (KHAD) | |
| In office 11 January 1980 – 21 November 1985 |
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| Leader | Babrak Karmal (as General Secretary) |
| Preceded by | Assadullah Sarwari |
| Succeeded by | Ghulam Faruq Yaqubi |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 6 August 1947 Gardez, Kingdom of Afghanistan |
| Died | 27 September 1996 (aged 49) Kabul, Afghanistan |
| Resting place | Gardez, Paktia, Afghanistan |
| Political party | People's Democratic Party of Afghanistan (Parcham) |
| Spouse |
Fatana Najib
(m. 1974) |
| Children | 3
Muska Najbullah Heela Najbullah |
| Education | Habibia High School SJS Baramulla |
| Alma mater | Kabul University |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  Afghanistan |
| Branch/service | Afghan National Army |
| Years of service | 1965–1992 |
| Rank | General |
| Battles/wars |
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Mohammad Najibullah Ahmadzai (born August 6, 1947 – died September 27, 1996), often called Dr. Najib, was an Afghan leader. He was the General Secretary of the People's Democratic Party of Afghanistan (PDPA). This party ruled Afghanistan from 1986 to 1992. He also served as the President of Afghanistan from 1987 until he stepped down in April 1992. This happened shortly before the mujahideen groups took control of Kabul.
After trying to escape to India, Najibullah stayed in Kabul. He lived in a United Nations building for a few years. In 1996, the Taliban captured Kabul. They took Najibullah from the UN headquarters and killed him.
Najibullah studied at Kabul University. He held various jobs within the PDPA. After the Saur Revolution in 1978, he became a government official. He was sent away as an ambassador to Iran when another leader, Hafizullah Amin, gained power.
He returned to Afghanistan after the Soviet Union intervened in 1979. This intervention removed Amin and put Babrak Karmal in charge. Under Karmal, Najibullah became the head of KHAD, Afghanistan's intelligence agency. This agency was known for being very strict.
In 1986, Mikhail Gorbachev, the Soviet leader, wanted Karmal to step down. Najibullah took over as the PDPA General Secretary. For several months, Najibullah and Karmal had a power struggle. Najibullah introduced a policy called "National Reconciliation." This was an effort to end the conflict in Afghanistan.
During his time as leader, the Soviets began to leave Afghanistan. From 1989 to 1992, his government tried to end the civil war without Soviet troops. The Soviet Union still sent money and military help. However, Pakistan and the United States continued to support the mujahideen.
Najibullah tried to gain support by changing his government. He moved away from socialism and focused on Afghan nationalism. He allowed other groups to join the government. He made Islam an official religion. In 1990, the constitution removed all mentions of communism. Despite these changes, he did not gain much support.
After the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991, Najibullah lost foreign aid. His government also began to fall apart from within. This led to his resignation in April 1992. He was killed by the Taliban in 1996.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Mohammad Najibullah was born on August 6, 1947, in Gardez, a city in Paktia Province, Afghanistan. His family belonged to the Ahmadzai Ghilji tribe of Pashtuns.
He went to Habibia High School in Kabul. He also studied at St. Joseph's Higher Secondary School in Baramulla, India. In 1964, he started studying medicine at Kabul University. He earned his medical degree in 1975 but never worked as a doctor.
In 1965, while studying, Najibullah joined the Parcham (Banner) group of the People's Democratic Party of Afghanistan (PDPA). He was jailed twice for his political activities. He worked closely with Babrak Karmal. In 1977, he joined the party's Central Committee.
In April 1978, the PDPA took power in Afghanistan. Najibullah was part of the ruling Revolutionary Council. However, another group, the Khalq faction, became more powerful. Najibullah briefly served as Ambassador to Iran. Then, he was removed from the government and went to Europe. He returned after the Soviet Union intervened in 1979.
Working for the Government
Leading State Security: 1980–1985
In 1980, Najibullah became the head of KHAD. This was Afghanistan's main intelligence agency, similar to the Soviet KGB. He was promoted to Major General. The Soviets, including Yuri Andropov, supported his appointment.
During his six years leading KHAD, the agency grew significantly. Its staff increased from 120 to between 25,000 and 30,000 people. KHAD employees were well-paid. Najibullah focused on training them in the party's ideas. He said they should have "a weapon in one hand, a book in the other."
Under Najibullah, KHAD became very active in fighting against those who opposed the government. It reported directly to the Soviet KGB. A large part of KHAD's funding came from the Soviet Union.
Becoming a Leader: 1985–1986
In November 1985, Najibullah joined the PDPA Secretariat. His growing power was clear when KHAD became a full government ministry in January 1986. The situation in Afghanistan was getting worse. Soviet leaders wanted to find a way to leave.
Mikhail Gorbachev wanted Karmal to resign as PDPA General Secretary. Gorbachev supported Najibullah to take his place. Najibullah became the PDPA General Secretary on May 4, 1986. However, Karmal remained the Chairman of the Revolutionary Council.
On May 15, Najibullah announced a new leadership team. He would lead the party, Karmal would be head of state, and Sultan Ali Keshtmand would be Prime Minister. Karmal still had strong support and tried to undermine Najibullah. He even spread rumors that Najibullah's rule would be short.
Karmal's power base was within KHAD. The Soviet leaders wanted Karmal out of politics. When Najibullah complained that Karmal was stopping his "National Reconciliation" plans, the Soviets decided to remove Karmal. In November, Karmal was removed from his role and sent to Moscow. Haji Mohammad Chamkani, who was not a PDPA member, replaced him.
Leading Afghanistan: 1986–1992
National Reconciliation Policy
In September 1986, Najibullah created the National Compromise Commission (NCC). Its goal was to talk with groups opposing the government. About 40,000 rebels were contacted.
Later in 1986, Najibullah called for a six-month ceasefire. He wanted talks with opposition groups. This was part of his "National Reconciliation" policy. He hoped it would lead to a coalition government and end the PDPA's sole power. The plan did not fully succeed. However, some disillusioned mujahideen fighters joined government militias. This policy helped gain more support for his rule in cities. It also helped stabilize the Afghan army.
In September 1986, a new constitution was written. It was approved in November 1987. This constitution reduced the power of the head of state. Najibullah said this was to share power more effectively. On July 13, 1987, Afghanistan's official name changed from the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan to the Republic of Afghanistan. In June 1988, the Revolutionary Council was replaced by a National Assembly. Its members were to be elected by the people.
The PDPA also moved further away from its socialist ideas. In 1989, the Minister of Higher Education began to "de-Sovietize" universities. In 1990, a party member even said that all PDPA members were Muslims. They announced the party had given up Marxism. These changes did not bring much new support for Najibullah.
Elections and New Parties
Local elections were held in 1987. The government allowed other political parties to form. It also said it would share power with opposition groups in a coalition government. A new constitution created a two-house National Assembly. This included a Senate and a House of Representatives. A president would be indirectly elected for a 7-year term.
New political parties had to oppose things like colonialism and fascism. Najibullah said only extreme opposition groups could not join the government. Parties did not have to agree with the PDPA's ideas. But they could not oppose Afghanistan's ties with the Soviet Union.
A parliamentary election was held in 1988. The PDPA won 46 seats in the House of Representatives. They controlled the government with help from the National Front, which won 45 seats. Other new left-wing parties won 24 seats. The mujahideen boycotted the election. The government left 50 seats empty, hoping the guerrillas would join later. Only one armed opposition group, Hizbollah, made peace with the government.
Economic Changes
Najibullah continued the economic policies of his predecessor, Karmal. He strengthened ties with the Eastern Bloc and the Soviet Union. Trade between them continued. He also encouraged private businesses to grow.
A Five-Year Economic and Social Development Plan was started in January 1986. It was supposed to last until March 1992. The plan aimed for the economy to grow by 25 percent. Industry was to grow by 28 percent, and agriculture by 14–16 percent. However, these goals were not met. The economy continued to grow at about 2 percent annually. The 1990 constitution also supported the private sector. It encouraged both local and foreign investments.
Afghan-Soviet Relations
Soviet Withdrawal
When Najibullah became leader, Soviet advisors still did most of the work. Gorbachev felt the Soviets were doing too much. He wanted to end Soviet control over Afghanistan. Najibullah, however, did not want the Soviets to leave. He knew the Afghan military was weak. He felt Soviet presence was necessary for survival.
In July 1986, six Soviet regiments, about 15,000 troops, left Afghanistan. Gorbachev wanted to show the world that the Soviets were serious about leaving. The United States did not believe them at first.
On April 14, 1988, Afghanistan and Pakistan signed the Geneva Accords. The Soviet Union and the United States signed as guarantors. The treaty said Soviet troops had to leave Afghanistan by February 15, 1989. Some Soviet officials worried about what would happen after they left. They feared a bloodbath.
During the second phase of the Soviet withdrawal in 1989, Najibullah tried to slow down their departure. He told Soviet officials that he needed their help. He also said that Ahmad Shah Massoud, a mujahideen commander, was a big problem and needed to be stopped. The Soviets agreed but said it would break the Geneva Accords.
In January 1989, Najibullah asked to keep a small number of Soviet troops in Afghanistan. He also asked for Soviet bombers to be placed near the border. Soviet military leaders were angry about these requests. They reaffirmed their commitment to withdraw. However, a small number of Soviet troops, like advisors and special forces, remained after the official withdrawal. They protected the Soviet embassy and operated in some areas.
Continued Aid
The Soviet Union continued to send military aid after their withdrawal. Large amounts of food, fuel, ammunition, and military equipment were given to the Afghan government. In 1990, Soviet aid was estimated at $3 billion. The Afghan military relied completely on this aid.
When the Soviet Union broke up on December 26, 1991, Najibullah sought help from former Soviet republics in Central Asia. These new countries did not want religious extremists to take over Afghanistan. They supplied Afghanistan with oil and wheat to help it survive the winter.
After the Soviets Left
After the Soviets left in 1989, the Afghan army had to fight the insurgents alone. Many expected Najibullah's government to fall quickly. They thought an Islamic fundamentalist government would take over.
Soon after the Soviet withdrawal, the Battle of Jalalabad began. Afghan government forces fought the mujahideen, who were supported by Pakistan's intelligence agency (ISI). The government forces managed to defend the city. Najibullah asked for Soviet help, but Gorbachev refused. The mujahideen suffered heavy losses.
In March 1990, a hardline general named Shahnawaz Tanai tried to overthrow Najibullah. The coup failed, and Tanai fled to Pakistan. But this event showed weaknesses in Najibullah's government.
From 1989 to 1990, Najibullah's government had some success in strengthening its army. The Ministry of State Security created a local militia of about 100,000 men. By 1988, the government had 300,000 security forces. However, this trend did not last. By mid-1990, government forces were on the defensive again.
By early 1991, the government controlled only 10 percent of Afghanistan. The long Siege of Khost ended with a mujahideen victory. The morale of the Afghan military collapsed. In the Soviet Union, key supporters of Najibullah were gone. The Soviet Union itself was facing economic and political crises. It finally dissolved on December 26, 1991. Boris Yeltsin, Russia's new leader, did not want to continue aiding Najibullah's government.
Fall from Power
In January 1992, the Russian government stopped its aid to Najibullah. The Afghan Air Force, a key part of the military, was grounded due to lack of fuel. The mujahideen continued to receive support from Pakistan. Major cities began to fall to the rebels.
On the fifth anniversary of his National Reconciliation policy, Najibullah blamed the Soviet Union for Afghanistan's problems. He called the day the Soviets left the "Day of National Salvation." But it was too late. His government was about to collapse.
On March 18, 1992, Najibullah offered to resign immediately. He agreed to a United Nations (UN) plan for an interim government. This news discouraged his supporters. Many areas surrendered to the mujahideen without a fight.
A major blow came when army commander Abdul Rashid Dostum left Najibullah. Dostum joined a mujahideen group led by Ahmad Shah Massoud. This meant 40,000 loyal fighters in the north had switched sides. Najibullah's army chief, Mohammad Nabi Azimi, also defected. Other officials, including the foreign minister, also left. Within days, the city of Mazar-i-Sharif was under mujahideen control.
In mid-April, Najibullah accepted a UN plan to hand over power. On April 14, he was forced to resign by his own party. This happened after the loss of Bagram Airbase and the town of Charikar. Abdul Rahim Hatef became the acting head of state. Massoud's forces and Dostum's defected troops soon took Kabul. Most mujahideen groups then signed the Peshawar Accord, creating the new Islamic State of Afghanistan.
Final Years and Death
Before Kabul fell, Najibullah asked the UN for protection. His guards had fled. His attempt to escape to the airport was stopped by Dostum's troops. These troops were once loyal to him but now allied with Massoud.
Najibullah stayed at the UN compound in Kabul. He waited for the UN to arrange his safe passage to India. While there, he translated Peter Hopkirk's book The Great Game into Pashto. India faced a difficult decision about giving him political asylum.
India refused to let him stay at their embassy. They felt it would cause problems and endanger the Indian community in Kabul. They argued he would be safer at the UN compound. All attempts to get him out failed. He remained at the UN headquarters until 1996. In 1994, India tried again to get him to India, but Massoud refused.
In September 1996, the Taliban were about to enter Kabul. Massoud offered Najibullah a chance to flee the capital. Najibullah refused. The exact reasons are unclear. Massoud believed Najibullah feared being seen as a traitor by his fellow Pashtuns if he fled with Tajiks.
Najibullah was at the UN compound when Taliban soldiers arrived on September 26, 1996. The Taliban took him from UN protection. Najibullah was then killed. His brother, Shahpur Ahmadzai, was also killed. The Taliban prevented Islamic funeral prayers for them in Kabul. Their bodies were later given to the International Committee of the Red Cross. They were sent to Gardez in Paktia Province, where their tribesmen buried them.
Reactions to His Death
News of Najibullah's death was widely condemned around the world, especially by Muslim countries. The United Nations said his killing would make Afghanistan even more unstable. The Taliban responded by issuing death sentences for Dostum, Massoud, and Burhanuddin Rabbani. India, which had supported Najibullah, strongly condemned his killing. India then began to support Massoud's United Front/Northern Alliance to stop the Taliban's rise.
Legacy
After Najibullah's death, Afghanistan continued to suffer from civil war. The Taliban regime and ongoing problems with corruption and poverty followed. Because of this, his image among Afghans improved greatly. He began to be seen as a strong and patriotic leader. Since the 2010s, pictures of him are often seen in Afghan cities. Some members of the Taliban have even expressed admiration for him.
In 1997, the Watan Party of Afghanistan was formed. In 2003, the National United Party of Afghanistan was registered. Both parties aim to unite former PDPA members who supported Mohammad Najibullah.
Family Life
Najibullah married Fatana Najib on September 1, 1974. She was a school principal. They had three daughters. His daughters and wife had to leave Afghanistan after the Taliban took over. They moved to New Delhi, India, in 1992.
Najibullah's oldest daughter, Heela Najibullah, was born in Kabul in 1977. She studied in Switzerland and lived there as of 2017. She has worked for the International Red Cross. In 2006, she spoke at a summit for young UN leaders, representing Afghanistan. She now works for a peace research foundation in Sweden.
His middle daughter, Onai, was born in 1978. She has a Master's degree in Architecture. The youngest daughter, Muska, was born in 1984. She is an Indian citizen and works as a photographer in Singapore.
Images for kids
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Najibullah in 1991
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Najibullah giving a decoration to a Soviet serviceman in 1986
See also
In Spanish: Mohammad Najibulá para niños
