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Former intelligence chief sentenced to death in Afghanistan
 KABUL - A court in Afghanistan on Saturday sentenced to death a former intelligence chief who was found guilty of systematic killings and other human rights violations during Afghanistans communist era. Asadullah Sarwari headed the feared intelligence department of the first communist government in 1978 and the relatives of people who were killed or went missing when he was in charge also attended the trial. Sarwari was sentenced to death for killing thousands of mujahedin (holy warriors) and Muslims while he was the head of intelligence, judge Abdul Basit Bakhtiari who headed the trial told AFP.
| Sarwari was, I believe, the head of KAM, which was the predecessor to KhAD, the Afghan commie equivalent of the KGB. They were a pretty brutal bunch. He was held by the Northern Alliance, and they took him with them when the Talibs chased them out of Kabul. |
He was cleared of the second charge of conspiracy against the Islamic government in the year 1992, said Bakhtiari.
| I think he was actually in jug then, so his conspiring days were over. |
Sarwari has the right to appeal under Afghanistans justice system.
Russian-educated Sarwari had served as an air force pilot under the monarchy, and later as the air force garrison commander under President Daud Khan in 1973. After a communist coup Sarwari was installed as head of Afghan intelligence for a period of one year.
| That was under the Taraki regime. I don't know what he did under the Najibullah regime — probably a sinecure job, or maybe house arrest. |
After the collapse of the communist regime Sarwari was arrested and remained in prison for more than 13 years before being brought to trial in December last year.
| Didn't take the right side in late 2001, did he? |
| He didn't have a choice. He made his choices back in the '70s. Good riddance. |
Posted by: Steve White 2006-02-26 |
