National Islamic Movement of Afghanistan

Primarily Uzbek political party in Afghanistan The National Islamic Movement of Afghanistan (Dari: جنبش ملی اسلامی افغانستان, Junbish-i-Milli Islami Afghanistan), sometimes called simply Junbish, is a political party in Afghanistan founded by Abdul Rashid Dostum in 1992 made from his loyalist remnants from the People's Democratic Party of Afghanistan's communist government. It is described as "an organisation heavily peopled with former Communists and Islamists," and is regarded as somewhat secular and left-leaning. Its voter base is mostly Uzbeks, and it is strongest in Jowzjan, Balkh, Faryab, Sar-e Pol, and Samangan provinces. It was mainly supported by Uzbekistan during the Afghan Civil War of 1992–1996 and the Afghan Civil War of 1996–2001. History Formation Junbish and its military wing, Division 53 started as a "self-defense unit" for the Sheberghan oil fields in northern Afghanistan, growing to a platoon and then a company until it grew to a division of about 40,000 men by 1989. This division joined the Afghan government and was referred to as Division 53. In 1988 Junbish forces replaced departing Soviet Union forces and took control of Kandahar as