Najibullah, often referred to as Doctor Najibullah, was a significant figure in late 20th-century Afghan history, serving as the president of Afghanistan from 1986 to 1992. Born in 1947 in Gardīz, Afghanistan, his life journey took him from medical studies to the pinnacle of Afghan politics during a tumultuous period marked by Soviet influence and internal conflict.
Born into a prominent Pashtun family, Najibullah’s early life hinted at a path in medicine. He commenced his medical education at Kabul University in 1964 and successfully earned his degree in 1975. Despite his medical qualifications, which earned him the moniker “Doctor Najibullah,” he never pursued a career in medicine. His interests shifted towards politics, leading him to join the Parcham faction of the People’s Democratic Party of Afghanistan (PDPA) in 1965. His early political engagement led to imprisonment on two separate occasions due to his activities.
In 1978, the PDPA successfully orchestrated a coup, dramatically altering Afghanistan’s political landscape. However, internal power struggles within the PDPA soon emerged, with the Khalq faction gaining dominance over Parcham. Despite being a Parcham member, Najibullah was appointed as ambassador to Iran in 1978. This diplomatic posting was short-lived; within months, he was dismissed and accused of plotting against the regime of Hafizullah Amin. Facing political persecution, Doctor Najibullah went into exile in Eastern Europe until the Soviet Union’s intervention in Afghanistan in 1979. This intervention paved the way for a Parcham-led government to assume power.
Following the Soviet intervention, Najibullah returned to Afghanistan and was appointed head of the secret police. In this powerful role, he gained notoriety for his harsh and uncompromising methods. His tactics, while controversial, were seen as valuable to the Soviet-backed regime as it confronted the escalating guerrilla warfare waged by the Mujahideen. As the conflict intensified and the Soviet Union decided to withdraw its forces, major political changes occurred. In 1986, Najibullah succeeded Babrak Karmal to become president of Afghanistan. As president, Doctor Najibullah attempted to broaden his support base by easing some of Karmal’s stringent policies. However, he remained a divisive figure and faced widespread opposition. By 1992, the Mujahideen rebels, combined with internal military mutinies, forced him to step down from office.
After his removal from power in 1992, Najibullah sought refuge in a United Nations compound in Kabul, where he remained for four years. The factional fighting in Afghanistan continued unabated, and in 1996, the Taliban seized control of Kabul. They swiftly captured Najibullah from the UN compound and summarily executed him. Doctor Najibullah’s life and career encapsulate a critical and tragic chapter in Afghan history, marked by political upheaval, international intervention, and ultimately, violent conflict.
