Early life and service with the Taliban (flag pictured), but was expelled from the movement in 2014. originally was a religious teacher and
mufti in
First Vice President Abdul Rashid Dostum's home village in
Jowzjan Province. Despite this, Nemat was also increasingly criticised by his superiors for various irregularities, including abuse of authority, harassment and torture of locals over taxation, and corruption. While visiting Pakistan in 2013, Nemat was arrested by the Taliban over these issues, and expelled from the rebel movement in 2014. He and his fighters were promised salaries for six months, and help in finding new civilian jobs. an expert of the
Afghanistan Analysts Network said that he had probably been more motivated by "power-saving opportunism". In course of 2017, ISIL-K grew increasingly powerful in northern Afghanistan, and almost
completely captured Darzab District from the Taliban and government forces, including Dostum's militias, in April. At the time, government officials regarded Nemat as one of the most important Islamic State commanders, stating that "he knows the Darzab District and the area very well; he is a very dangerous guy". Nemat's brother-in-law, as their new leader. Nemat and his fellow fighters, along with their families, consequently fled to government lines in the night, protected by
Commandos and the
Afghan Air Force. Following his surrender, the ISIL-K militants were transported to
Sheberghan, where they were treated rather well despite the protests of many local civilians and soldiers. Nemat subsequently gave several interviews to the press, declaring that "
fake news" were responsible for the Islamic State's bad reputation. He claimed that he and his followers had only launched an insurgency because they were met with hostility by the "whole world", and that he wanted people to accept ISIL's ideology "with their hearts, not by force". Regarding his future, Nemat said that the "Afghan government must save my life and provide me with security" as it promised to do so before the surrender, and that he was not guilty of any crimes. ==Notes==