Hizb-i-Islami Khalis (HIK) [Malawi Khalis]

Islamic Party (HIK) -- Hezb-e-Islami-Khalis was founded by Mawlawi Mohammed Yunis Khalis who left Afghanistan for Pakistan in 1973 after the Daoud coup. Khalis is from Nangrahar Province and is very anti-Shia. His most famous commanders included Abdul Haq in Kabul, Haji Abdul Qadir in Nangrahar and Jalladuddin Hagani of Paktia Province. The party is fundamentalist moderate. Its recruits came from graduates of government schools, religious schools of the Gilhzai, Khugiangi and Jadran tribes as well as the Kabul and Kandahar regions. It also drew a lot of army deserters. Its strength was in Nangrahar, Kabul, Kunar, Lowgar and Wardak provinces.

In October 2003, the Pakistani newspaper The News International reported that Khalis had joined the Taliban's fight against the US and International forces in Afghanistan. Shortly afterwards, Khalis went into hiding and was not heard of until his son announced his death on July 19, 2006. Khalis was 87. Anwar ul-Haq Mujahid, Khalis's son, has taken over the party's leadership.

In August 2007 a new militant organization appeared to have emerged on the scene against the occupying forces in Afghanistan. The organization, called Islami Hizb-e Afghanistan, has sent a one-page fax in Urdu and Pashto to the offices of media organizations in Islamabad. The amir [head] of this organization is said to be Anwar-ul Haq Mujahid. Its goals were described as God's rule in Afghanistan and a jihad against the US-led Christian forces.

New commanders have emerged, including Anwar ul-Haq Mujahid in eastern Nangarhar province [not to be confused with Afghan Finance Minister Anwar ul Haq Ahadi [as of 2008], or former Taliban Commander Maulvi Anwar ul Haq assasinated in November 2004 in Hayatabad, Peshawar]. In April 2008 a group belonging to Anwar ul-Haq conducted a suicide attack on a pro-government tribal jirga in Khogiani district of Nangarhar province. Khogiani is the native town of Anwar ul-Haq's late, Moulvi Younus Khalis. Khalis had announced his decision to battle against NATO forces in 2005, but he died a year later and his son has now taken over command. Anwar ul-Haq's main stronghold is the Tora Bora mountains and Khogiani. His group says it would spread the insurgency to the provincial capital of Jalalabad in 2008. Anwar ul-Haq Mujahid's guerrillas are said to call themselves the Tora Bora Revenge Group.