Sher Mohammad Akhundzada

Sher Mohammed Akhundzada (also known as Sher Ahmed Akhundzada) is an Alizai tribal leader who was the Governor of Helmand in Afghanistan from 2001 to 2005. As governor, he implemented various agricultural projects in Helmand, including canal excavation from the Kajaki dam for irrigation and electricity generation projects. He was deeply involved in opium production and smuggling, leading to his removal from office by the Afghan government in 2005 after lobbying by the British, who were leading counter-narcotic efforts in Afghanistan at the time. He was succeeded as governor of Helmand by Mohammad Daoud.

Sher Mohammad Akhundzada
Governor of Helmand, Afghanistan
In office
2001–2005
Preceded byMullah Abdul Bari
Succeeded byMohammad Daoud
Personal details
BornAfghanistan

Early life

Sher Mohammed was born to the Akhundzada family in northern Helmand province, which played an important role in the Soviet–Afghan War.[1] Belonging to the main tribe of Helmand, the Alizais, they hailed from the district of Musa Qala.[2] His uncle was Mohammad Nasim Akhundzada who became a leading jihadi commander in Helmand. After Nasim was assassinated in 1990, his brother Rasul Akhundzada (Sher Mohammad's father) became governor of Helmand.[3] Another brother, Abdul Ghafar Akhundzada, became governor when Rasul died of cancer.[4] Abdul Ghafar was assassinated in Quetta, Pakistan on 18 March 2000.

Governor of Helmand

Sher Mohammed Akhundzada was appointed as Governor by the President Hamid Karzai in 2001 and served until 2005.

Talking to journalists in Kabul, Sher Muhammad Akhundzada claimed that while he was governor of Helmand for four years, NATO did not drop a single bomb on the province, no civilians were killed, and no districts fell to the Taliban. "If I were still there, I am sure things would be the same as before."[5]

He identified agricultural projects to be implemented in Helmand such as the excavation of a canal from the Kajaki dam to irrigate northern Helmand, construction of an intake on Musa Qala River to irrigate the arable lands and generate electricity, and construction of an intake on Helmand river in Kamal Khan to irrigate unproductive farms.

Sher Mohammad was also deeply involved in the production and smuggling of opium.[6] He also led efforts to disarm the tribal militias in Helmand. This was supposed to pave the way for the creation of a national Afghan army as the United States had requested. However, in reality, Sher Mohammed used this to disarm rival tribes and take control of their territory and opium. This had the effect of weakening Helmand's defenses, leaving it vulnerable to attacks by the Taliban.[7]

In June 2005[8] Sher Mohammad's compound was raided by US forces, which claimed to have found a large stash of opium. Britain—which had been designated the "lead nation" for counter-narcotics activities in Afghanistan—successfully lobbied for Sher Muhammad's deposition before deploying ISAF forces to Helmand.[9]

2009 Presidential election

During the 2009 presidential election, Akhundzada and Ahmed Wali Karzai, a half-brother of the incumbent president, were accused of buying up voter registration cards in Helmand Province.[10][11]

References
  1. Malkasian, Carter (2013). War Comes to Garmser: Thirty Years of Conflict on the Afghan Frontier. Oxford University Press. p. 21. ISBN 978-0-19-997375-0.
  2. (2006) Antionio Giustozzi, Crisis States Research Centre, LSE and Noor Ullah. "'Tribes' and Warlords in Southern Afghanistan, 1980-2005."
  3. Malkasian 2013, p. 49
  4. Malkasian 2013, p. 55.
  5. Ilyas Dayee, Mohammad; MacKenzie, Jean; Gardesh, Hafizullah. "Helmand Ex-Governor Joins Karzai Blame Game". Institute for War & Peace Reporting. Retrieved 27 April 2015.
  6. Malkasian 2013, p. 83.
  7. Malkasian, Carter (2021). The American War in Afghanistan: A History. Oxford University Press. pp. 125–126, 129. ISBN 978-0-19-755077-9.
  8. Bergen, Peter. "Helmand: bombs, drugs, and the Taliban". Foreign Policy. Retrieved 7 November 2022.
  9. Suhrke, Astri (2011). When More is Less: The International Project in Afghanistan. London: C. Hurst. p. 107. ISBN 978-1-84904-164-5.
  10. President Karzai’s supporters ‘buy’ votes for Afghanistan election, The Times, 2009-08-12
  11. "President Karzai’s supporters ‘buy’ votes for Afghanistan election"
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