By late 1985, Abdur Rashid Dostum (also spelled Dostam), born in 1954, in Khowja Dokoh, Juzjan Province, commands the Juzjani " Dostum Militia" with, reputedly, 50,000 regular militia forces in the northern provinces of Afghanistan.

Dostum joins with Dr. Najibullah's Soviet-backed government and fights against the mujahideen resistance.

Najibullah awards Dostum the " Hero of the Republic of Afghanistan" medal.