Battle of Sheberghan

Battle of Sheberghan
Part of the Afghan Civil War (1996–2001)

Map of territorial control in Afghanistan before the battle
Date1 August 1997
Location
Sheberghan, Jowzjan Province, Afghanistan
Result Taliban victory
Belligerents
Taliban
Pakistan		 Islamic State of Afghanistan
Commanders and leaders
Unknown Abdul Rashid Dostum
Ahmad Shah Massoud
Burhanuddin Rabbani
Strength
~1,500 Pakistan Army commandos
Pakistan Air Force
Taliban ground forces (unknown number)		 Several thousand Northern Alliance troops
Casualties and losses
Unknown Heavy

The Battle of Sheberghan was fought on 1 August 1997 during the Afghan Civil War (1996–2001). It resulted in the fall of the strategic northern Afghan city of Sheberghan to the Taliban, aided by Pakistani military involvement. The loss was a major setback for Abdul Rashid Dostum and his Junbish militia, aligned with the Northern Alliance.

Background

Following the Taliban’s 1996 capture of Kabul, their forces continued pushing northward. Sheberghan, a key stronghold of Uzbek warlord Abdul Rashid Dostum, became a focal point of Taliban ambitions. Dostum’s faction, part of the broader Northern Alliance coalition led by Ahmad Shah Massoud and Burhanuddin Rabbani, prepared for defense.[1][2]

Battle

According to multiple sources, including Dostum himself, the Taliban offensive was heavily supported by Pakistan:

These claims, though denied by Islamabad, have been widely cited in academic and intelligence analyses of the conflict.[2][3][4][5]

Aftermath

The capture of Sheberghan opened a path to further Taliban gains in northern Afghanistan, particularly toward Mazar-i-Sharif. It also intensified international criticism of Pakistan’s interference in Afghan affairs, drawing concern from neighboring Iran, Russia, and India.

See also

References

  1. ^ "Northern Alliance". Jagran Josh. 19 August 2021. Retrieved 2025-06-28.
  2. ^ a b Clements, Frank (2003). Conflict in Afghanistan: A Historical Encyclopedia. ABC-CLIO. p. 542. ISBN 978-1-85109-402-8.
  3. ^ Goodson, Larry P. (2002). War Without End: The Rise of Islamist Terrorism and Global Response. Routledge. p. 263.
  4. ^ Chand, Manish (2020). Terror Network in the Indo-Pacific. Routledge. p. 91.
  5. ^ Conflict in Afghanistan. Taylor & Francis. 2022. p. 54.
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