30 Years On; The Killing of Former Afghan President Dr. Najibullah Remains a Dark Chapter in Afghanistan’s History
Bareen Media – September 27 marks 30 years since the killing of former Afghan President Dr. Najibullah Ahmad and his brother, Ahmadzai, after the Taliban seized Kabul in 1996.
Dr. Najibullah Ahmad had remained inside the United Nations compound in Kabul since April 1992, after the collapse of his government and the takeover of the capital by mujahideen forces. He stayed there for more than four years, unable to leave Afghanistan safely.
On September 26, 1996, the Taliban captured Kabul. The following morning, Taliban fighters entered the UN compound and took Dr. Najibullah and his brother away. They were killed, and their bodies were publicly displayed at a major intersection near the presidential palace.
The killing took place during a period of major political and military upheaval in Afghanistan. The Taliban takeover of Kabul marked a major turning point in the country’s modern history and was followed by the establishment of the group’s first government.
Dr. Najibullah’s years in power, his policies, and the final period of his life remain subjects of debate among Afghans and historians. However, his killing while under the protection of the United Nations remains one of the most significant and controversial events surrounding the Taliban’s first takeover of Kabul.
Three decades later, the anniversary continues to draw attention to Afghanistan’s unresolved history of political violence, conflict, and the treatment of former officials and civilians during periods of war.
