Eastern Shura

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During the American aerial bombardment of Afghanistan, when the United States struck at Afghanistan's Taliban regime, regional and tribal leaders rose up to oust the Taliban in Khowst Province and Nangarhar Province formed an alliance known as the Eastern Shura.[1] The leaders of the Shura (council) were:

Hazrat Ali
  • Based in Towr Kham, a small town, in Nangarhar Province, on the border with Pakistan.
  • Speculation links him to the drug trade, and to bribes that enabled al Qaeda and the Taliban's leadership to escape Tora Bora.
Abdul Qadir
  • Former governor of Nangarhar Province, prior to the Taliban regime.
  • Close ties to the family of Mohammed Zahir, the last king of Afghanistan.
  • Went to the Bonn Conference to endorse the choice of Hamid Karzai as leader of the Afghan Transitional Administration.
  • Assassinated in July 2002.
Hajji Mohammed Zaman
  • The Shura's "Defense Chief".[2]
Rostom Sherzad
  • Brought 120 fighters to the alliance.[3]

[edit] References

  1. ^ Pepe Escobar. "Taking a spin in Tora Bora", Asia Times, December 7, 2001. Retrieved on 2008-05-19. 
  2. ^ "Battle for Mountains Will Be Tough", Fox News, Sunday, December 9, 2001. Retrieved on 2008-05-20. 
  3. ^ "Taliban likely preparing for guerrilla war", St Petersburg Times, October 21, 2001. Retrieved on 2008-05-20.