Afghan Biographies

Salam, Abdul Salaam


Name Salam, Abdul Salaam
Ethnic backgr. Pashtun
Date of birth 1953
Function/Grade Warlord
History and Biodata

3.Biodata:
District chief Abdul Salaam in Musa Qala (Provinz Helmand) is himself a Muslim cleric and former Taliban commander (warlord). His home is in Shah Khariz, 15 km east of Musa Qala. He served as a governor of south central Uruzgan province during the six-year reign of the Taliban, but was mostly a military commander for the Islamist fighters. After the demise of the Taliban regime in 2001, Mullah Abdul Salaam returned to a civilian life, but was later imprisoned by the governor of Helmand province Sher Mohammed Akhundzada for eight months. The two men both belong to the Alizai tribe, but are from rival sub-tribes. Eventually, they reconciled, and Mullah Salaam served as head of Sher Mohammed's security detail, but the enmity between sub-tribes has not abated.

Mullah Salaam later returned to his home town of Musa Qala to become a member of the local tribal council. Mullah Abdul Salaam is a powerful and influential Member of the Alizai tribe, Helmand’s largest Pashtun tribe, and holds sway over hundreds, if not thousands of armed loyalists throughout Musa Qala. His defection was secured 2007 after several secret meetings with Afghan and British officials during October and November. Rival Taliban factions attempted to assassinate him with a suicide-bomber, but British media reveal his body guard contingent of over 200 armed men helped foil the bomber’s plans. The government’s deal with Mullah Abdul Salaam included his future position as Musa Qala’s governor, which he was appointed to on January 7, 2008 and allowed him to pick and choose other local authorities such as the new police chief. On January 1 2009, Taliban militants attacked his house in the village of Shah Kariz, killing 20 of his bodyguards, but Salaam was absent at the time, and escaped without injury.

Last Modified 2017-02-28
Established 2009-11-06