A Vibrant Community: Exploring The Presence Of Ismailis In Afghanistan

Afghanistan's Ismaili community, which suffered mass killings under the Taliban regime, is now facing persecution under the country's new transitional democratic government. The Ismailis, who broke from the mainstream Shia Muslims in the 8th century, have long been regarded with suspicion by other groups in this conservative Muslim country because of their unorthodox religious views and practices. They are found primarily in and near the eastern Hazarajat, in the Baghlan area north of the Hindu Kush, among the mountain Tajik of Badakhshan, and amongst the Wakhi in the Wakhan Corridor. It has been estimated that there are over 200,000 Ismailis in Badakhshan, Afghanistan. The majority of Afghanistan's Shia Muslims are the Twelvers, primarily of the Hazara ethnicity, while the Ismailis are a minority, making up about 3-5% of the population.

The Ismailis in Afghanistan are primarily found in the Kayan valley, Baghlan province, and the Hazarajat region

Kayan has been a significant locale for the Ismaili community within Afghanistan, especially during periods of conflict such as the Soviet era, the Mujahideen, and the Afghan civil war. It emerged as a stronghold for Afghanistan's Ismaili forces, under the leadership of Sayed Jafar Naderi. Sayed Jafar, the elder son of Sayed Mansur Naderi, who is the head of the Ismailis in Afghanistan, commanded a force of over 13,000-18,000 armed individuals. Their primary objective was to safeguard the interests of the Ismaili community amidst challenges posed by the government, Mujahideen, and other factions during these turbulent times.

The strategic and communal significance of Kayan, along with its role in the defence of the Ismaili population, was highlighted in the documentary "Warlord of Kayan" directed by Jeff B. Harmon and produced by Journeyman Pictures in 1989. The film documents the valley's historical context and its importance as a centre of Ismaili leadership and military organisation.

Baghlan is one of the thirty-four provinces of Afghanistan, located in the north of the country. As of 2020, the province has a population of about 1,014,634. The capital of Baghlan is Puli Khumri, but its name comes from the other major town in the province, Baghlan. The province is home to a small community of Isma'ili Hazaras, led by the Sayyeds of Kayan.

The Hazarajat region is generally considered to cover the three central provinces of Afghanistan: Bamiyan, Orozgan, and Ghur, and parts of Herat, Farah Kandahar, Ghazni, Parwan, Baghlan, Balkh, and Badghis. The Hazarajat, which lies mostly to the west and northwest of Kabul, is inhabited by the Hazaras, who are one of the largest ethnic groups in Afghanistan. The Hazaras are primarily Shiah Muslims and speak Persian with their own particular dialect known as Hazaragi. They inhabit the heartland of Afghanistan and are surrounded by strict Sunnite tendencies.

They are ethnically diverse, with the majority belonging to the Hazara community and a significant number from the Tajik ethnic group

Afghanistan is a multiethnic and mostly tribal society, with numerous ethnolinguistic groups. The Hazara community is one of the largest ethnic groups in Afghanistan, with a population of 6-7 million according to some estimates. They are predominantly Shia Muslims, with significant numbers following Sunni Islam and Ismaili Shi'a Islam. The Hazara people have Turko-Mongolian ethnic origins and values of social liberalism and democracy. They speak the Dari and Hazaragi dialects of the Persian language.

The Ismaili Muslims in Afghanistan are a community of ethnically and culturally diverse peoples, with almost 90% belonging to the Hazara community and 2% belonging to the Tajik ethnic group. They are found primarily in the Hazarajat region, which includes the provinces of Bamiyan, Orozgan, and Ghur, as well as parts of Herat, Farah Kandahar, Ghazni, Parwan, Baghlan, Balkh, and Badghis. The Ismailis in Badakhshan, a province in northwest Afghanistan, entirely belong to the Tajik ethnic group.

The Tajiks are the second-largest ethnic group in Afghanistan and are native Persian-speaking people. They are the largest ethnicity in neighbouring Tajikistan and the second-largest in Uzbekistan. They are an Iranian people, speaking a variety of Persian, and are concentrated in the Oxus Basin, the Farghana Valley, and on both banks of the upper Oxus. In Afghanistan, a "Tajik" is typically defined as any primarily Dari-speaking Sunni Muslim who refers to themselves by the region they are from. They make up about 25-27% of Afghanistan's population, but other sources place this figure at 37-39%.

The Hazara and Tajik communities in Afghanistan have faced persecution and violence throughout history, particularly under the Taliban regime. They have experienced institutional discrimination, systematic attacks, and mass atrocities, including forced starvation and massacres. The fear of genocide is not unfounded, and the international community must pressure the Taliban to protect the rights of religious minorities and accept more refugees.

The Ismailis have a unique religious belief system within Islam, diverging from mainstream Shia Muslims

The Ismaili Muslims are a culturally diverse community, with followers in over 25 countries worldwide. They are a sect of Shia Islam, and are led by Karim Aga Khan, who is recognised as the 49th Imam. The Ismailis are unique in that they are the only Shia Muslims with a living, hereditary Imam.

The Ismailis diverged from mainstream Shia Muslims in the 8th century, when they chose to follow Ismail ibn Jafar as their spiritual leader, instead of Musa al-Kadhim. The Ismailis believe that the series of Imams that began with Jafar will never end, and they have now reached the 49th Imam.

The Ismailis are unique in their religious beliefs and practices. They worship in secret and do not believe that a past religious leader will return to the world. They also do not follow the five pillars of Islam. They do not pray five times a day, they do not fast during Ramadan, they do not pay Zakat, and they do not perform the Hajj pilgrimage. Instead, they believe that their Hajj is a glimpse of the Aga Khan himself.

The Ismailis' religious allegiance to the Imam and their interpretation of Islam according to his guidance have created a strong sense of unity and common identity within the community. They have evolved a well-defined institutional framework, with schools, hospitals, health centres, housing societies, and various social and economic development institutions for the common good of all citizens, regardless of race or religion.

They have faced persecution and violence from the Taliban and other groups due to their religious differences

Afghanistan's Ismaili community has faced persecution and violence from the Taliban and other groups due to their religious differences. The Ismailis are a minority Shia Muslim group, comprising around 3-5% of Afghanistan's population, who broke away from the mainstream Shia Muslims in the 8th century. They have been regarded with suspicion by other groups in Afghanistan due to their unorthodox religious views and practices.

The Taliban, a hardline Islamic fundamentalist group, returned to power in Afghanistan in 2021 and imposed a strict interpretation of Islamic law. They have a history of persecuting and committing mass killings of Ismailis, particularly during their rule from 1996 to 2001. During this period, the Taliban carried out an "orgy of killing, pillage and destruction" in the Kayan valley, a stronghold of the Ismaili community. They killed anyone they met, including women and children, and destroyed homes and vehicles. Those who survived were forced to pay heavy taxes, provide weapons, and serve as frontline troops for the Taliban.

The Taliban's persecution of Ismailis continued even after their ouster in 2001. In 2021, the Taliban attacked a convoy of Sayed Dawood Naderi, the head of the Ismaili Council, killing five and wounding two others. The Taliban have also been accused of harassing and arresting people in Hazara-dominated provinces, where many Ismailis live, due to their alleged association with the former government.

Under the Taliban's rule, Ismailis have faced restrictions on their religious practices and have been subjected to forced recruitment, forced labour, physical abuse, and detention. The Taliban have also been accused of supporting and providing safe havens to terrorist groups like al-Qaeda and the Islamic State, which have carried out attacks on religious minorities, including Ismailis.

In addition to the Taliban, other insurgent groups such as the Islamic State in Khorasan (ISKP) have targeted Ismailis and other Shia Muslims. ISKP considers Shia Muslims as apostates and, therefore, a legitimate target for killing. They have carried out attacks on Shia mosques, hospitals, and schools in Ismaili-dominated areas. There is also prejudice and negative attitudes towards Ismailis among Taliban fighters and conservative parts of Afghan society due to their perceived closeness to the West and their support for the former government.

The persecution and violence faced by Ismailis in Afghanistan have led to mass migrations, with many fleeing to neighbouring countries like Pakistan and seeking resettlement abroad. Those who remain in Afghanistan continue to live in fear and face an uncertain future.

The Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) has provided significant support and development assistance to Ismailis in Afghanistan

The Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) has been providing support and development assistance to Ismailis in Afghanistan since 1995 or 1996, when it began distributing food aid during the civil war. Since 2002, the AKDN and its partners have committed over $1 billion in development assistance to the country. The network's development work spans the humanitarian, economic, social, and cultural fields.

In the economic sphere, the AKDN's projects extend across more than 240 cities and towns in all 34 provinces of Afghanistan. Its social development and humanitarian initiatives reach 61 districts across seven provinces, benefiting over three million people. The network's cultural programmes, which operate in Kabul, Herat, Balkh, and Badakhshan, have restored over 90 historic buildings.

The AKDN's work in Afghanistan is guided by its overall mission to improve the quality of life of those in need, irrespective of their origin, faith, or gender. The network's agencies are secular but follow Islamic values. Their mission includes improving living conditions and opportunities for the poor.

In Afghanistan, the AKDN's work includes supporting the country's transition to stability and prosperity by strengthening Afghan institutions and the public sector. This involves engaging communities and local leadership. For example, the AKDN supports the Chamber of Commerce, business associations, and entrepreneurs. The network also strengthens local civil society organisations as critical partners, such as by extending community savings programmes to further districts.

The AKDN's approach in Afghanistan emphasises comprehensive area development, led by Afghan institutions, and built on partnerships between the government, business, and civil society. Gender equity is also central to the network's work in the country. Its approach tackles social barriers, promotes equitable decision-making, and empowers women and girls through increased voice and agency.

In the field of education, the AKDN has supported the training of teachers and nurses, with the majority being women, to meet the country's health and education needs and provide employment. The network has also established and sustained 74 preschools and early childhood development centres in remote areas, supporting teachers and providing resources.

In the area of economic development, the AKDN has helped create jobs in the agricultural sector, recognising the country's high dependence on agriculture. For instance, in Baghlan, the Aga Khan Foundation is helping to cultivate and irrigate agricultural land, providing work for young men who would otherwise be forced to leave the country.

The AKDN has also supported micro-entrepreneurs in Afghanistan by helping construct 54 market facilities in Baghlan, Takhar, and Badakhshan between 2013 and 2016, including women's bazaars, cold storage, and cross-border markets.

Additionally, the network has provided support in the areas of rural development, healthcare, early childhood development, agriculture, rural infrastructure, energy provision, climate resilience, telecommunications, and hospitality.

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