Battles of Mazar-i-Sharif (1997–1998)

The Battles of Mazar-i-Sharif (1997–1998) refer to a series of armed conflicts for control of the city of Mazar-i-Sharif in northern Afghanistan. The city, strategically important due to its economic significance and location on key trade routes, became a focal point in the Afghan Civil War following the collapse of the Soviet-backed government in 1992.

The primary combatants included the Taliban, seeking to expand their control from the south, and various anti-Taliban factions, most notably the Hezb-i-Wahdat, a predominantly Hazara Shia group led by Abdul Ali Mazari (until his death in 1995) and later by others, and Junbish-i-Milli, an Uzbek group led by General Abdul Rashid Dostum.

The fighting was characterized by shifting alliances, brutal tactics, and significant civilian casualties. In May 1997, the Taliban briefly captured Mazar-i-Sharif, but their rule was short-lived. Their attempts to disarm local populations and impose their strict interpretation of Islamic law triggered a violent uprising. The Taliban were driven out of the city in a large-scale offensive led by Dostum and Hezb-i-Wahdat forces. This defeat was a major setback for the Taliban at the time.

However, the anti-Taliban alliance proved fragile. Infighting between Dostum's and Hezb-i-Wahdat's forces weakened their position. In August 1998, the Taliban launched a new offensive and successfully seized Mazar-i-Sharif after fierce fighting. This time, their control was more secure, marked by massacres of Hazara civilians and the consolidation of Taliban power in northern Afghanistan. The fall of Mazar-i-Sharif was a turning point in the Afghan Civil War, significantly strengthening the Taliban's overall position.