Leaders of Afghanistan (Islamic Republic of Afghanistan)

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Look for biographies of the leaders (in Spanish) at CIDOB website.

Sardar Mohammad Hashim Khan (1885-1953), royal Prime Minister from Nov 1929 to May 1946; uncle of King Zahir and elder brother of Sardar Shah Mahmud Khan (see below).

Mohammad Zahir Shah (1914-2007), King from 8 Nov 1933 to 17 Jul 1973; overthrown by former PM Daud (his cousing and brother-in-law, see below); exiled in Rome.

Sardar Shah Mahmud Khan (1890-1959), royal Prime Minister from May 1946 to Sep 1953; uncle of King Zahir and younger brother of Sardar Mohammad Hashim Khan (see above).

Sardar Mohammad Daud Khan (1909-1978), cousin and brother-in-law of King Zahir, president of the Republic from 17 Jul 1973 to 27 Apr 1978; previously, royal Prime Minister from 7 Sep 1953 to 10 Mar 1963; overthrown and assassinated in the coup ("Saur Revolution") staged by the military and the Communist Party on 27 Apr 1978.

Mohammad Hashim Maiwandwal (1919-1973), royal Prime Minister from 2 Nov 1965 to 11 Oct 1967. Arrested and dead in prison shortly after Daud's (see above) takeover in 1973.

Mohammad Nur Ahmad Etemadi (1921-1979), royal Prime Minister from 1 Nov 1967 to 9 Jun 1971.

Mohammad Musa Shafiq (1932-1979), royal Prime Minister from 12 Dec 1972 to 17 Jul 1973. Executed by the Communist regime in 1979.

Nur Mohammad Taraki (1917-1979), President of the Democratic Republic and of the Revolutionary Council from 30 Apr 1978 to 16 Sep 1979; Prime Minister from 1 May 1978 to 27 Mar 1979; leader of the HDKA-Khalq; arrested on 16 Sep 1979 and executed shortly after by order of Amin (see below).

Hafizullah Amin (1929-1979), President of the Democratic Republic and of the Revolutionary Council from 16 Sep to 27 Dec 1979; Prime Minister from 27 Mar 1979; head of the HDKA-Khalq; overthrown and killed by the Soviet Army on 27 Dec 1979.

Babrak Karmal (1929-1996), President of the Democratic Republic and of the Revolutionary Council from 27 Dec 1979 to 20 Nov 1986; Prime Minister to 11 Jun 1981; general secretary of the HDKA from 27 Dec 1979 to 4 May 1986, formerly head of the HDKA-Parcham faction; removed from power at the Soviet request; died on 3 Dec 1996 in Moscow.

Mohammad Najibullah (1947-1996), President of the Republic from 30 Sep 1987 to 16 Apr 1992; from 4 May 1986 general secretary of the HDKA, since Jun 1990 called HW; forced to resign on the advance of the mujaheddin over Kabul; captured and executed by the Taliban on 27 Sep 1996.

Pir Sibghatullah Mojaddedi (1925-), Pashtun spiritual leader of the Naqshbandi Sufi order; interim President of the Islamic State as chairman of the Jihad Council from 28 Apr to 28 Jun 1992; head of the pro-monarchy mujahed party JNMA.

Burhanuddin Rabbani (1940-), President of the Islamic State from 28 Jun 1992; head of the mujahed party JIA; forced to flee Kabul on 26 Sep 1996 by the triumphant taliban; in rebellion during the Taliban rule (1996-2001), recognized by most countries and the United Nations as the legitimate president of Afghanistan; political leader of the anti-taliban UINFSA, or Northern Alliance, since 13 Jun 1997. Reinstalled in Kabul claiming to be the provisional president on 17 Nov 2001. Shortly after accepted to be replaced by the Interim Administration chaired by Hamid Karzai and inaugurated in Kabul on 22 Dec (see bellow).

Ahmad Shah Masud (1953-2001), called the "Lion of Panjshir", Tajik mujahed commander of the JIA and then top military chief of the anti-taliban UINFSA (1997-2001), also called Northern Alliance; since 1997 minister of Defence of the Government of the Islamic State internationally recognized; died on 15 Sep 2001 from his wounds sustained in an assassination atempt suffered on 9 Sep.

Gulbuddin Hekmatyar (1947?-), Pashtun mujahed commander and head of the HIA party; Prime Minister twice, from 17 Jun 1993 to 28 Jun 1994 and from 26 Jun to 27 Sep 1996.

Abdul Rashid Dostum (1954-), Uzbek general and warlord based on Mazar-e-Sharif; head of the JMI party; member of the anti-taliban UINFSA (1997-2001), or Northern Alliance. In Dec 2001 named deputy minister of Defence of the Interim Administration chaired by Hamid Karzai (see below).

Abdul Ali Mazari (1946-1995), late head of the Hazara mujahed alliance HWIA; died in custody of the taliban (supposedly assassinated) on 11 Mar 1995.

Ismail Khan (1946-), Tajik warlord and governor of Herat; former anti-taliban chief linked to the UINFSA (1997-2001), or Northern Alliance.

Pir Sayed Ahmad Gailani (1932-), Pashtun spiritual leader of the Qadiri Sufi order and head of the pro-monarchy mujahed party MMIA.

Abdul Karim Khalili (?-), head of the Hazara mujahed party HWIA, member of the anti-taliban UINFSA (1997-2001), or Northern Alliance; named vicepresident of the Transitional Administration inaugurated on 24 Jun 2002.

Abdul Rasul Sayyaf (1946-), head of the Pashtun mujahed party IIBAA, member of the anti-taliban UINFSA (1997-2001), or Northern Alliance; deputy prime minister of B. Rabbani's (see above) administration before the takeover of Hamid Karzai (see below).

Mawlawi Mohammad Yunus Khalis (1919-), head of the pro-taliban Pashtun mujahed party HIK.

Mawlawi Mohammad Nabi Mohammadi (?-2002), Pashtun mujahed commander and head of the HII party.

Abdul Malik Pahlawan (?-), former maverick commander (1997) of the JMI party.

Mullah Mohammad Omar Akhund (1959/1962?-), spiritual and political leader of the Taliban movement (f. 1994) and regime (1996-2001), self-proclaimed Amir ul-Momenin ("Commander of the Faithful") on 4 Apr 1996.

Mullah Mohammad Rabbani Akhund (1956/1957-2001), reportedly the late second-ranking person of the Taliban movement as deputy head of the Supreme Council (or Shura) installed in Kandahar in 1994 and since 26 Sep 1996 head of the Shura installed in Kabul, which acted as a Provisional Government. Died on 16 Apr 2001.

Mawlawi Abdul Wakil Muttawakil (1958?-), the taliban minister of Foreign Affairs from 1999 to the collapse of the regime in Nov 2001.

Mullah Abdul Salam Zaif (?-), the taliban ambassador to Pakistan and spokesman of the Taliban Government during the US military campaign ("Operation Swift Freedom") in late 2001.

Abdul Haq (?-2001), a Pashtun, retired mujahed commander of the HIK faction and supporter of former King Zahir (see above); captured and executed by the taliban on 26 Oct 2001. Brother of Abdul Qadir (see below).

Mohammad Daud (?-), Tajik commander of the JIA party and of the anti-taliban UINFSA or Northern Alliance.

Abdullah Abdullah (1961-), the minister of Foreign Affairs of the Government headed by Burhanuddin Rabbani (see above) and of the anti-taliban UINFSA (1997-2001), or Northern Alliance; member of the JIA party; confirmed at the Bonn Talks on Afghanistan as Foreign minister of the Afghan Interim Administration inaugurated on 22 Dec 2001; retained in the cabinet of the Transitional Administration inaugurated on 24 Jun 2002.

Mohammad Qasem Fahim (1957-), the minister of Defence of the Government headed by Burhanuddin Rabbani (see above) and top military chief of the anti-taliban UINFSA (1997-2001), or Northern Alliance; member of the JIA party; confirmed at the Bonn Talks on Afghanistan as Defence minister, as well a deputy chair, of the Afghan Interim Administration inaugurated on 22 Dec 2001; retained, with the added post of vicepresident, in the cabinet of the Transitional Administration inaugurated on 24 Jun 2002.

Mohammad Yunus Qanuni (?-), the minister of the Interior of the Government headed by Burhanuddin Rabbani (see above); member of the JIA party; head of the party delegation at the UN Talks on Afghanistan held in Bonn, Germany, from 27 Nov to 5 Dec 2001; confirmed as Interior minister of the Afghan Interim Administration inaugurated on 22 Dec 2001; named Education minister and adviser on Internal Security to the Presidency in the cabinet of the Transitional Administration inaugurated on 24 Jun 2002.

Sayed Hamed Gailani (?-), head of the Peshawar delegation at the UN Talks on Afghanistan held in Bonn, Germany, from 27 Nov to 5 Dec 2001.

Abdul Satar Sirat (?-), head of the Rome delegation (supporters of former King Zahir, see above) at the UN Talks on Afghanistan held in Bonn, Germany, from 27 Nov to 5 Dec 2001.

Abdul Qadir (?-2002), Governor of Nangarhar province before and briefly after the Taliban regime (26 Sep 1996 - 13 Nov 2001); Pashtun delegate of the UINFSA or Norther Alliance, at the UN Talks on Afghanistan held in Bonn, Germany, from 27 Nov to 5 Dec 2001; designated head of the Department of Urban Development of the Afghan Interim Administration inaugurated on 22 Dec 2001; vicepresident and minister of Public Works in the Transitional Administration inaugurated on 24 Jun 2002; assassinated on 6 Jul 2002; brother of late mujahed commander Abdul Haq (see above).

Gul Agha Sherzai (?-), pashtun warlord and governor of Kandahar province before and after the Taliban rule (1994-2001).

Hamid Karzai (1957-), Pashtun Khan of the Dorrani Popalzai tribe; designated chairman of the Afghan Interim Administration inaugurated on 22 Dec 2001 at the UN Talks on Afghanistan held in Bonn, Germany, from 27 Nov to 5 Dec 2001; elected on 13 Jun 2002 head of State for the Transitional Administration by the Emergency Loya Jirga (11-19 Jun) and was sworn in on 19 Jun.

Heads of State

King Mohammad Zahir Shah 8 Nov 1933 - 17 Jul 1973 (+2007) [picture] [picture] [picture] President of the Republic Sardar Mohammad Daud Khan 17 Jul 1973 - 27 Apr 1978 (+)a [picture] n/p, HIM Revolutionary Council of the Armed Forces Abdul Qadir (chairman) 27 Apr 1978 - 30 Apr 1978 military Presidents of the Republic/Chairmen of the Revolutionary Council Nur Mohammad Taraki 30 Apr 1978 - 16 Sep 1979 (+)a [picture] HDKA-Khalq Hafizullah Amin 16 Sep 1979 - 27 Dec 1979 (+)a [picture] HDKA-Khalq Babrak Karmal 27 Dec 1979 - 20 Nov 1986 (+1996) [picture] HDKA-Parcham, HDKA Mohammad Chamkani 20 Nov 1986 - 30 Sep 1987 HDKA Mohammad Najibullah 30 Sep 1987 - 30 Nov 1987 (+1996)e [picture] HDKA Presidents of the Republic Mohammad Najibullah 30 Nov 1987 - 16 Apr 1992 (+1996)e [picture] HDKA, HW Abdul Rahim Hatef 16 Apr 1992 - 28 Apr 1992 HW (acting) Chairman of the Jihad Council (interim) Sibghatullah Mojaddedi 28 Apr 1992 - 28 Jun 1992 [picture] JNMA President of the Islamic State Burhanuddin Rabbani 28 Jun 1992 - 26 Sep 1996 [picture] JIA Head of the Supreme Council (*) Mullah Mohammad Rabbani 26 Sep 1996 - 16 Apr 2001 (+) [picture] Taliban --> No head of State or Government since 16 Apr 2001 President of the Islamic State (**) Burhanuddin Rabbani 17 Nov 2001 - 22 Dec 2001 [picture] JIA/UINFSA Chairman of the Interim Administration Hamid Karzai 22 Dec 2001 - 19 Jun 2002 [picture] n/p Head of State for the Transitional Administration Hamid Karzai 19 Jun 2002 - 7 Dec 2004 [picture] n/p President of the Islamic Republic Hamid Karzai 7 Dec 2004 [picture] n/p

(**) The Government of deposed president B. Rabbani, a leader of the Northern Alliance as head of the Jamiat-e-Islami faction, controlled a tiny territory in rebellion and enjoyed diplomatic recognition of a majority of countries. On 13 Nov 2001 the UINFSA, or Northern Alliance, took Kabul, the Taliban fled southward and on 17 Nov Rabbani returned to the capital claiming to be the provisional president pending the formation of a post-taliban, broad-based and multiethnic Government. That executive was inaugurated on 22 Dec 2001.

Prime Ministers

Sardar Mohammad Hashim Khan 14 Nov 1929 - May 1946 (+1953) [picture] n/p Sardar Shah Mahmud Khan May 1946 - 7 Sep 1953 (+1959) [picture] n/p Sardar Mohammad Daud Khan 7 Sep 1953 - 10 Mar 1963 (+1978)a [picture] n/p Mohammad Yusuf Khan 10 Mar 1963 - 2 Nov 1965 (+1998) [picture] n/p Mohammad Hashim Maiwandwal 2 Nov 1965 - 11 Oct 1967 (+1973)e [picture] n/p Abdullah Yaqta 11 Oct 1967 - 1 Nov 1967 n/p (interim) Mohammad Nur Ahmad Etemadi 1 Nov 1967 - 9 Jun 1971 (+1979) [picture] n/p Sharifi Abdul Zahir 9 Jun 1971 - 12 Dec 1972 [picture] n/p Mohammad Musa Shafiq 12 Dec 1972 - 17 Jul 1973 (+1979)e [picture] n/p Sardar Mohammad Daud Khan 17 Jul 1973 - 27 Apr 1978 (+)a [picture] n/p, HIM Nur Mohammad Taraki 1 May 1978 - 27 Mar 1979 (+)a [picture] HDKA-Khalq Hafizullah Amin 27 Mar 1979 - 27 Dec 1979 (+)a [picture] HDKA-Khalq Babrak Karmal 27 Dec 1979 - 11 Jun 1981 (+1996) [picture] HDKA-Parcham Sultan Ali Keshtmand 11 Jun 1981 - 26 May 1988 HDKA Mohammad Hasan Sharq 26 May 1988 - 21 Feb 1989 HDKA Sultan Ali Keshtmand 21 Feb 1989 - 8 May 1990 HDKA Fazal Haq Khaliqyar 8 May 1990 - 15 Apr 1992 HW Abdul Sabur Farid Kuhestani 6 Jul 1992 - 15 Aug 1992 (+2007)a HIA Gulbuddin Hekmatyar 17 Jun 1993 - 28 Jun 1994 [picture] HIA Arsala Rahmani Nov 1994 - 1995 (acting) Ahmad Shah Ahmadzai 1995 - 26 Jun 1996 [picture] (acting) Gulbuddin Hekmatyar 26 Jun 1996 - 27 Sep 1996 [picture] HIA

John Chalmers McColl          10 Jan 2002 - 20 Jun 2002          [picture] United Kingdom (ISAF I, British command)
Akin Zorlu                    20 Jun 2002 - 10 Feb 2003          [picture] Turkey (ISAF II, Turkish command)
Norbert van Heyst             10 Feb 2003 - 11 Aug 2003          [picture] Germany (ISAF III, German-Dutch command)
Götz Gliemeroth               11 Aug 2003 -  9 Feb 2004          [picture] Germany (ISAF IV, NATO command)
Rick J. Hillier                9 Feb 2004 -  9 Aug 2004          [picture] Canada (ISAF V, NATO command) 
Jean-Louis Py                  9 Aug 2004 - 13 Feb 2005          [picture] France (ISAF VI, Eurocorps command)   
Ethem Erdagi                  13 Feb 2005 -  5 Aug 2005          [picture] Turkey (ISAF VII, NATO command) 
Mauro Del Vecchio              5 Aug 2005 -  4 May 2006          [picture] Italy (ISAF VIII, NATO command) 
David J. Richards              4 May 2006 -  4 Feb 2007          [picture] United Kingdom (ISAF IX, NATO command)       
Dan K. McNeill                 4 Feb 2007 -  3 Jun 2008                    United States (ISAF X and XI, NATO command)
David D. McKiernan             3 Jun 2008 - 15 Jun 2009                    United States (NATO command)
Stanley A. McChrystal         15 Jun 2009 -                                United States (NATO command)

Babrak Karmal                 27 Dec 1979 -  4 May 1986 (+1996)  [picture]
Mohammad Najibullah            4 May 1986 - 16 Apr 1992 (+1996)e [picture]

© Copyright ZPC, Roberto Ortiz de Zárate, 1996-2009 http://www.terra.es/personal2/monolith/afghanst.htm | mothman@teleline.es