Isma'il Khan, born in 1946 in Shindand, Farah province, attends Kabul Military School and Military University, then serves as a lieutenant in the 17th division of the army in Herat when the Afghan Communists take control of the government in 1978.

In March 1979, he defects from the army and participated in the bloody and unsuccessful uprising of the Heratis against the Taraki regime, during which scores of Soviet advisors and regime officers are killed.

The city falls to the rebels, but after three days, Soviet planes bomb the city and the regime forces attack.

Several thousand people are killed and the popular uprising is crushed.

Many people flee to the mountains and some manage to cross the border into Iran.

Isma'il Khan escapes, as does Alauddin Khan, his communications officer.

After the uprising, Isma'il Khan goes to Pakistan and joins Rabbani's Jami'at-e Islami party.

After a few months, Isma'il Khan and Alauddin Khan return to Herat and began an armed struggle against the Soviet-backed regime in Kabul.