Gul Haider

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Gul Haider (or Gul Haidar) is a former official in the ministry of defense of Hamid Karzai's Afghan government.[1]

During the Soviet invasion, Gul Haider was a Mujahideen commander, serving under Ahmad Shah Massoud in the Panjshir Valley. He lost a leg to a mine, and Massoud sent him to London to receive an artificial limb, after which he returned to Afghanistan to continue the war.

He remained loyal to Massoud, even after the rise of the Taliban, and was instrumental in preventing them from taking the Panjshir in 1996.[2]

Guantanamo detainee Abdullah Mujahid requested Haider as one of the witnesses who could refute the accusation that he was fired because he was suspected of collusion with anti-government forces.[1][3][4] Haider was one of the members of a commission who recommended a promotion for Mujahid.

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b Detainees not given access to witnesses: But in one case, 3 quickly found, Boston Globe, June 18, 2006
  2. ^ Davies, Will & Shariat, Abdullah(2004); Fighting Masoud's war; Lothian books ISBN 0-7344-0590-1, p.168
  3. ^ Guardian finds Afghan witnesses US couldn't, The Guardian, June 30, 2006
  4. ^ Found: The 'unfindable' men, Mail and Guardian, July 1, 2006
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