Atiqullah Baryalai
{{Short description|Military General, Former Deputy Defense Minister of Islamic Republic of Afghanistan}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| honorific-prefix = Lieutenant General
| name = Atiqullah Baryalai
| birth_date = {{Birth year and age|1965}}
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| death_date =
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| image = Baryalai and Massoud.jpg
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| caption = General Baryalai with Commander Ahmad Shah Massoud
| office = Deputy Defense Minister
| term_start = 2002
| term_end = 2003
| predecessor =
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| allegiance = {{flagicon|Afghanistan|1992}} Northern Alliance
{{flag|Islamic Republic of Afghanistan}}
| branch = File:Afghan National Army emblem.svg Afghan National Army
| serviceyears =
| rank = 30px Lieutenant General (Dagar Jenral)
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General Atiqullah Baryalai (Persian: {{lang|fa|عتیقالله بریالی}}; born 1965) is a key military figure as Lieutenant General. He was a senior commander of the North-Eastern Front; playing a critical role in the fight against the USSR Invasion of Afghanistan, Taliban and Al-Qaeda. He served as the deputy Defense Minister of Afghanistan from 2002 to 2003.{{cite web |title=Rivals row over top Afghan defence posts as Taliban goes on attack |url=http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-afghanistan-war-idUKKBN0N72V320150416 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160123194608/http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-afghanistan-war-idUKKBN0N72V320150416 |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 23, 2016 |access-date=31 July 2015 |website=Reuters}}{{cite web |title=Atmar Resigned Over Differences With Ghani: Ex-Govt Officials |url=https://tolonews.com/afghanistan/atmar-resigned-over-differences-ghani-ex-govt-officials |access-date=12 August 2021 |website=TOLOnews}} General Baryalai also headed the successful Disarmament Demobilization and Re-integration Commission (DDR),{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5PfY3TSSizw |title=Northern Alliance fighters hand over arms to their commander |date=2015-07-21 |last=AP Archive |access-date=2025-02-05 |via=YouTube}} the Revival and Rebuilding of National Army Commission and the Reform Committee of the Ministry of Defense{{cite web|title=Barialay, Atiqullah Gen|url=http://www.afghan-bios.info/index.php?option=com_afghanbios&id=3296&task=view&total=3352&start=590&Itemid=2|website=Afghan Biographies|access-date=20 March 2018}} until 2003.
General Atiqullah Baryalai was one of the key commanders Northern Alliance;{{Cite news |last=Filkins |first=Dexter |date=2001-10-16 |title=A NATION CHALLENGED: THE COMBAT; A Leader of Afghan Rebels Says They Are Near a Crucial Taliban City |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2001/10/16/world/nation-challenged-combat-leader-afghan-rebels-says-they-are-near-crucial-taliban.html |access-date=2024-06-14 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}} he worked closely and extensively with its leader, Ahmad Shah Massoud, in the resistance against the 1980s Soviet invasion of Afghanistan and the continuous fight against the Taliban, Al-Qaeda and War on Terrorism. From the 1990s onwards, he developed innovative mechanized units that were crucial in defeating the Taliban and Al-Qaeda, later forming the foundation of Afghanistan’s national army. In 2001 General Baryalai recaptured numerous, vital territories against the Taliban such as in Mazar-e-Sharif,{{Cite web |title=CNN.com - Northern Alliance claims victory near Mazar-e Sharif - November 3, 2001 |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2001/WORLD/asiapcf/central/11/03/ret.nalliance.report/index.html |access-date=2024-06-14 |website=edition.cnn.com}} Kunduz{{Cite web |title=Hundreds of Taliban Surrender at Kunduz |url=https://abcnews.go.com/International/story?id=80387&page=1 |access-date=2024-06-14 |website=ABC News |language=en}}{{Cite news |date=2024-01-18 |title=Hundreds of Taliban Troops Give Up |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/2001/11/25/hundreds-of-taliban-troops-give-up/0ba1e49d-9de0-43f9-982b-aa54a53164e5/ |access-date=2024-06-14 |work=Washington Post |language=en-US |issn=0190-8286}} and Kabul.
He is a Tajik from Panjshir Province. General Baryalai studied at prestigious Royal College of Defence Studies in London. He was educated at Naderia High School, the National Military Academy of Afghanistan (BA, 1994) and University of East Anglia (MA International Relations and Development Studies, 2012).
Criticisms of Karzai, Ghani Governments & US Strategy in Afghanistan
General Baryalai has long been an outspoken critic of the administrations of Presidents Hamid Karzai and Ashraf Ghani, particularly concerning issues of corruption, sectarianism, and ethnic bias. These characteristics of the two presidents have severely held back Afghanistan's prosperity, furthered divisions and led to Taliban resurgence.
= Karzai Government =
General Baryalai condemned President Karzai for accepting foreign cash payments, describing it as "shameful for him to take money directly from an intelligence organization."{{Cite web |date=2013-05-01 |title=Secret Cash To Afghan Leader: Corruption Or Just Foreign Aid? |url=https://www.keranews.org/2013-05-01/secret-cash-to-afghan-leader-corruption-or-just-foreign-aid |access-date=2025-01-31 |website=KERA News |language=en}} He pointed out that Karzai used these funds to buy loyalty rather than serve the country's interests. This is criticism of Karzai was echoed by President Obama, who in 2009, warned 'Karzai to focus on corruption'. It was this rampant corruption and drug trade that fuelled the Taliban resurgence.{{Cite news |last=Cooper |first=Helene |last2=Zeleny |first2=Jeff |date=2009-11-02 |title=Obama Warns Karzai to Focus on Tackling Corruption |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/03/world/asia/03afghan.html |access-date=2025-01-31 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}
General Baryalai strongly criticised President Karzai's refusal to sign a Bilateral Security Agreement (BSA) with the US in 2013, despite the Grand Council and citizens overwhelmingly endorsing it.{{Cite web |last=Zucchino |first=David |last2= |date=2013-11-25 |title=Afghanistan: Karzai baffles, frustrates as he rejects advice |url=https://www.latimes.com/world/worldnow/la-fg-wn-afghanistan-karzai-rejects-advice-20131125-story.html |access-date=2025-01-31 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}}
General Baryalai expressed his disapproval of Karzai's inconsistent condemnations. He highlighted that while Karzai was vocal against U.S. actions leading to civilian harm, he often remained silent or less responsive when the Taliban, were responsible even more devastating attacks.{{Cite web |date=2013-11-30 |title=Furious over drone death, Karzai silent after Taliban attack |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/furious-over-drone-death-karzai-mum-after-taliban-attack/ |access-date=2025-01-31 |website=The Seattle Times |language=en-US}} General Baryalai's critique underscored concerns about Karzai's leadership approach and his handling of Afghanistan's complex security challenges.
= Ghani Government =
Regarding President Ghani's administration, General Baryalai has expressed concerns about ethnic favoritism. In a 2018 interview, he criticized Ghani for appointing individuals from his own ethnic group to key government positions, arguing that such practices undermined national unity and fuelled ethnic tensions.
= US Strategy =
Baryalai critiqued the lack of a clear military and political strategy, highlighting insurgency and regional radicalism as the primary threats. He advocated for a national security strategy centered on these challenges, recommending mobile, cost-effective weapons like helicopters and light artillery.{{Cite news |title=U.S., Afghanistan At Odds Over Weapons Wish List |url=https://www.npr.org/2013/02/06/171194064/u-s-afghanistan-at-odds-over-weapons-wish-list |access-date=2025-02-05 |work=NPR |language=en}} These strategic gaps eventually led to the fall of Afghanistan in 2021.
References
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Category:Graduates of the Royal College of Defence Studies