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From Citizendium, the Citizens' Compendium

Abdul Haq (died 2001) was a Northern Alliance leader who was captured and killed trying to lead an uprising against the Taliban during the United States bombing campaign in Afghanistan.^[1][2]

He was a member of politically prominent family in Afghanistan, with ties to former king Zahir Shah. His brother Abdul Qadir was an early backer of Hamid Karzai, who was rewarded with a cabinet position, before he was assassinated in 2002.

An obituary in The Guardian called him an "astute leader", and one of the few leaders capable of working to bring together a working pan-ethnic loya jirga.^[3]

The Guardian reported that when Haq first engaged in the fight against communist domination of Afghanistan, in 1977, he fought in Gulbuddin Hekmatyar faction of Hezb-I-Islami.^[3] He later switched to the faction lead by Younis Khalis. The Guardian reported that his tactical skills and bravery lead to his achieving a remarkable reputation and leadership positions.

The Guardian reported that Haq was injured twelve times, including losing part of one leg, so he entered battle on pony-back.^[3]

The Guardian reported that Haq was briefly a cabinet minister during the period after the ouster of the communists, and the Taliban's assumption of power -- but he left due to the internecine struggles, and settled in Dubai, where he was a successful trader.^[3]

In 1998 he became a United Nations Peace Mediator.^[3]

In 1998 gunmen raided his home in Peshawar and murdered his wife and some of his children.^[4]

Following the al Qaeda attacks of September 11, 2001 Haq tried to lead an uprising against the Taliban, was captured, and executed on October 26 2001. The Guardian speculates that his capture was due to a betrayal by double agents.^[3]

References

1. ↑ Barbara Slavin, Jonathan Weisman. "Taliban foe's death sparks criticism of U.S. goals", USA Today, 2001 October 31. Retrieved on 2007-11-22.
2. ↑ M. Ismail Khan. "Taliban execute ex-guerilla commander: Last moment rescue operation fails", Dawn (Pakistan newspaper), 2001 October 27. Retrieved on 2007-11-22.
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5} Abdul Haq: Veteran Afghan leader seeking post-Taliban consensus rule, The Guardian, October 29 2001
4. ↑ AFGHANISTAN: Detention and killing of political personalities. Amnesty International (1999 March 1). Retrieved on 2007-11-23.