Ministry of Defense (Afghanistan)

{{Short description|Afghan government ministry responsible for military and national defense matters}}

{{Infobox government agency

| agency_name = Ministry of Defense

| type = Department

| nativename = {{langx|prs| وزارت دفاع ملی}}
{{langx|ps|د ملي دفاع وزارت}}

| logo = Emblem Ministry of Defense (Afghanistan) 2021.png

| logo_width = 200px

| logo_caption = Emblem of the Ministry of Defense of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan

| picture = Flag of Ministry of Defense (Afghanistan).png

| picture_width = 200px

| picture_caption = Flag of the Ministry of Defense of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan

| formed =

| jurisdiction = Government of Afghanistan

| headquarters = Kabul

| coordinates = {{coord|34.523938|N|69.186437|E|region:AF|display=inline,title}}

| minister1_name = Mullah Yaqoob
(Acting)

| minister2_pfo =

| deputyminister1_name = Abdul Qayyum Zakir
(Acting)

| deputyminister2_pfo =

| chief1_name = Muhammad Ali Akhund

| chief1_position = Director of Intelligence{{Cite web|url=https://bakhtarnews.af/ps/د-اسلامي-امارت-په-تشکیلاتو-کې-نوي-کسان-پ/|title=د اسلامي امارت په تشکیلاتو کې نوي کسان پر دندو وګومارل شول|date=October 4, 2021|website=باختر خبری آژانس}}

| chief2_name = Qari Lutfullah "Habibi"

| chief2_position = Spokesperson{{Cite web|url=https://mod.gov.af/index.php/dr/%D8%B3%D8%AE%D9%86%DA%AF%D9%88%DB%8C-%D9%88%D8%B2%D8%A7%D8%B1%D8%AA-%D8%AF%D9%81%D8%A7%D8%B9-%D9%85%D9%84%DB%8C-%D9%85%D8%B9%D8%B1%D9%81%DB%8C-%D8%B4%D8%AF|title=سخنگوی وزارت دفاع ملی معرفی شد | وزارت دفاع ملی|website=mod.gov.af}}

| child1_agency = General Directorate of Intelligence

| website = {{URL|https://mod.gov.af/en}}
[https://m.youtube.com/@modafghanistan1?si=v177hHgxjidkKWy2 Official YouTube channel]

}}

The Ministry of Defense ({{langx|prs|وزارت دفاع ملی}}, {{Transliteration|prs|Wizārat-e Difā'-e Millī}}, {{langx|ps|د ملي دفاع وزارت}}, {{Transliteration|ps|Də Millī Difā' Wizārat}}) is the cabinet ministry of Afghanistan responsible for overseeing the Afghan Armed Forces (currently referred to as the Islamic Emirate Armed Forces). The ministry is located in Kabul.{{cite news |url=http://www.militarytimes.com/story/military/2015/06/12/afghanistan-gets-mini-pentagon-as-troops-struggle/71110264/ |title=Afghanistan gets 'mini-Pentagon' as troops struggle |publisher=Associated Press |date=June 12, 2015 |access-date=February 1, 2016}}

The Democratic Republic period

File:Roundel of Afghanistan (1987–1992) – Army.svg

From the 30th of April until 9 August 1978, Abdul Qadir succeeded the slain Ghulam Haidar Rasuli as Defense Minister of the DRA, responsible for the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan, until being succeeded by General Aslam Watanjar. In 1990 forces loyal to Minister of Defense Shahnawaz Tanai and Hezbi Islami leader Gulbuddin Hekmatyar attempted a fail coup against then President Najibullah. His forces were thwarted by General Aslam Watanjar who was rewarded the post of Minister of Defence. Watanjar would be the last Minister of Defense of the DRA/ROA.{{Cite news |last1=Burns |first1=John F. |date=10 May 1990 |title=Kabul Journal; in Power Still, Afghan Can Thank His 4-Star Aide |newspaper=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1990/05/10/world/kabul-journal-in-power-still-afghan-can-thank-his-4-star-aide.html}}{{Cite news |last1=Crossette |first1=Barbara |date=21 March 1990 |title=Failed Kabul Coup Changes Opinions |newspaper=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1990/03/21/world/failed-kabul-coup-changes-opinions.html}}{{Cite web |title=Archives |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1990-03-07-mn-1897-story.html |website=Los Angeles Times}} The government collapsed in 1992.

Additionally, the Ministry of Defense also had their own annual publication titled “The Military Magazine” ({{langx|ps|د اردو مجله}}, {{langx|prs|مجله ارتش}}) which began in 1967, under the Kingdom of Afghanistan. This was continued under the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan.{{Cite book |last=Ketabton.com |url=https://ketabton.com/book/14159 |title=د اردو مجله - 11 - 12 - 1360 |language=EN}}

The Islamic Republic period

File:Old logo Ministry of Defense (Afghanistan) 2018.png

During the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan (2004–2021), the defense minister was nominated by the President of Afghanistan and the National Assembly made the final approval.

One of the functions of the Defense Ministry during that period was the continuance of disarming insurgent groups, through programmes such as the Afghan New Beginnings Programme (which included the rehabilitation and reintegration of child soldiers). These militant groups coalesced from warlords and former army personnel after the collapse of the Najibullah government in 1992.{{cite book |last1=Bhatia |first1=Michael |last2=Sedra |first2=Mark |date=2008 |title=Afghanistan, Arms and Conflict: Armed groups, disarmament, and security in a postwar society |location=Abingdon |publisher=Routledge |pages=122–123 |isbn=978-0-415-47734-5}}

List of ministers

Prior to 1929, Afghanistan had no ministers of defense but rather ministers of war.

= Ministers of War =

Mohammad Nadir, May 1919 to January 1922
Mohammad Hashim, January 1922 to September 1922
Mohammad Nadir, September 1922 to April 1924
Muhammad Wali, April 1924 to June 1924
Abdul Aziz Barakzai, June 1924 to January 1929

= Ministers of Defense =

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" ! rowspan=2\| {{Abbr\|No.\|Number}} ! rowspan=2\| Portrait ! rowspan=2\| Name {{small\|(Birth–Death)}} ! colspan=3\| Term of office ! colspan=2 rowspan=2\| Political affiliation ! rowspan=2\| {{Abbr\|Ref.\|Refences}}
Took office ! Left office ! Time in office
1 \| 80px \| Sayyid Husayn {{small\|(?–1929)}} \| January 1929 \| March 1929 \| {{age in years and months\|1929\|01\|1\|1929\|03\|1}} ! style="background:{{party color\|Saqqawists}}" \| \| Saqqawist \|
2 \| \| Purdil Khan {{small\|(?–1930)}} \| March 1929 \| October 1929 \| {{age in years and months\|1929\|03\|1\|1929\|10\|1}} ! style="background:{{party color\|Saqqawists}}" \| \| Saqqawist \|
3 \| 80px \| Shah Mahmud Khan {{small\|(1890–1959)}} \| 1929 \| 1947 \| {{age in years\|1929\|1947}} years ! style="background:{{party color\|Independent}}" \| \| Independent \| {{cite book \|last1=Adamec \|first1=Ludwig \|date=1975 \|isbn=3201009210 \|title=Historical and Political Who's Who of Afghanistan by Ludwig W. Adamec \|language=en}}
– \| \| Amanul Mulk {{small\|(?–{{circa\|2011}})}}{{efn\|Rebel defence minister in the Eastern Province, during the 1944–47 tribal revolts.}} \| {{Circa\|1944}} \| {{Circa\|1946}} \| {{age in years\|1944\|1946}} years ! style="background:" \| \| Unknown \|
4 \| 80px \| Mohammad Daoud Khan {{small\|(1909–1978)}} \| 1947 \| 1948 \| {{age in years\|1947\|1948}} years ! style="background:{{party color\|Independent}}" \| \| Independent \|
5 \| \| Gen. Muhammad Umar {{small\|(1898–1964)}} \| 1948 \| 1952 \| {{age in years\|1948\|1952}} years ! style="background:" \| \| Unknown \|
6 \| \| Muhammad Aref \| 1952 \| 1958 \| {{age in years\|1952\|1958}} years ! style="background:" \| \| Unknown \|
(4) \| 80px \| Mohammad Daoud Khan {{small\|(1909–1978)}} \| 1958 \| 1963 \| {{age in years\|1958\|1963}} years ! style="background:{{party color\|Independent}}" \| \| Independent \|
7 \| 80px \| Khan Muhammad {{small\|(–)}} \| 1963 \| 1973 \| {{age in years\|1963\|1973}} years ! style="background:" \| \| Unknown \|
(4) \| 80px \| Mohammad Daoud Khan {{small\|(1909–1978)}} \| 1973 \| 1973 \| {{age in years\|1973\|1973}} years ! style="background:{{party color\|Independent}}" \| \| Independent \|
8 \| \| Abdul Karim Mustaghni {{small\|(1911–2004)}} \| 1973 \| 1977 \| {{age in years\|1973\|1977}} years ! style="background:{{party color\|National Revolutionary Party of Afghanistan}}" \| \| Republican {{small\|(from 1974)}} \|
9 \| 80px \| Ghulam Haidar Rasuli {{small\|(1919–1978)}} \| 7 November 1977 \| 28 April 1978 \| {{ayd\|1977\|11\|07\|1978\|04\|28}} ! style="background:{{party color\|National Revolutionary Party of Afghanistan}}" \| \| Republican \|
10 \| \| Abdul Qadir {{small\|(1944–2014)}} \| 27 April 1978 \| 17 August 1978 \| {{ayd\|1978\|04\|27\|1978\|08\|17}} ! style="background:{{party color\|People's Democratic Party of Afghanistan}}" \| \| PDPA–Parcham \|
11 \| 80px \| Nur Muhammad Taraki {{small\|(1917–1979)}} \| 17 August 1978 \| 1 April 1979 \| {{ayd\|1978\|08\|17\|1979\|04\|01}} ! style="background:{{party color\|People's Democratic Party of Afghanistan}}" \| \| PDPA–Khalq \| {{Cite book\|last1=Bradsher\|first1=Harry\|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=eAFuAAAAMAAJ\|title=Afghan Communism and Soviet Intervention\|date=1999\|publisher=Oxford University Press\|isbn=0195790170\|pages=35–36}}
12 \| 80px \| Mohammad Aslam Watanjar {{small\|(1946–2000)}} \| 1 April 1979 \| 28 July 1979 \| {{ayd\|1979\|04\|01\|1979\|07\|28}} ! style="background:{{party color\|People's Democratic Party of Afghanistan}}" \| \| PDPA–Khalq \|
13 \| \| Hafizullah Amin {{small\|(1929–1979)}} \| 28 July 1979 \| 27 December 1979{{efn\|Assassinated by Soviet special forces during the Operation Storm-333.{{cite web\|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/8428701.stm\|title=How Soviet troops stormed Kabul palace\|date=27 December 2009\|publisher=BBC\|access-date=3 August 2021}}}} \| {{ayd\|1979\|07\|28\|1979\|12\|27}} ! style="background:{{party color\|People's Democratic Party of Afghanistan}}" \| \| PDPA \|
14 \| \| Mohammed Rafie {{small\|(born 1946)}} \| 28 December 1979 \| 1982 \| {{age in years\|1979\|1982}} years ! style="background:{{party color\|People's Democratic Party of Afghanistan}}" \| \| PDPA
(10) \| \| Abdul Qadir {{small\|(1944–2014)}} \| 1982 \| September 1984 \| {{age in years\|1982\|1984}} years ! style="background:{{party color\|People's Democratic Party of Afghanistan}}" \| \| PDPA–Parcham \|
15 \| \| Nazar Mohammad {{small\|(1935–1998)}} \| 4 December 1984 \| 4 December 1986 \| {{age in years\|1984\|12\|04\|1986\|12\|04}} years ! style="background:{{party color\|People's Democratic Party of Afghanistan}}" \| \| PDPA–Khalq \|
(14) \| \| Mohammed Rafie {{small\|(born 1946)}} \| December 1986 \| May 1988 \| {{age in years and months\|1986\|12\|1\|1988\|05\|1}} ! style="background:{{party color\|People's Democratic Party of Afghanistan}}" \| \| PDPA \|
16 \| \| Shahnawaz Tanai {{small\|(1950–2022)}} \| May 1988 \| March 1990{{efn\|Dismissed following the 1990 Afghan coup attempt.}} \| {{age in years and months\|1988\|05\|1\|1990\|03\|1}} ! style="background:{{party color\|People's Democratic Party of Afghanistan}}" \| \| PDPA–Khalq \|
(12) \| 80px \| Mohammad Aslam Watanjar {{small\|(1946–2000)}} \| March 1990 \| April 1992 \| {{age in years and months\|1990\|03\|1\|1992\|04\|1}} ! style="background:{{party color\|People's Democratic Party of Afghanistan}}" \| \| PDPA–Khalq \|
style="background:#e6e6aa;"\| – \| rowspan=2\| 80px \| rowspan=2\| Ahmad Shah Massoud {{small\|(1953–2001)}} \| style="background:#e6e6aa;"\| 28 April 1992 \| style="background:#e6e6aa;"\| 28 June 1992 \| style="background:#e6e6aa;"\| {{ayd\|1992\|04\|28\|1992\|06\|28}} ! rowspan=2 style="background:{{party color\|Jamiat-e Islami}}" \| \| rowspan=2\| Jamiat-e Islami \| rowspan=2\|
17 \| 28 June 1992 \| 9 September 2001 \| {{ayd\|1992\|06\|28\|2001\|09\|09}}
18 \| \| Obaidullah Akhund {{small\|(1968–2010)}} \| April 1997 \| 9 September 2001 \| {{age in years and months\|1997\|04\|1\|2001\|09\|09}} ! style="background:{{party color\|Taliban}}" \| \| Taliban \|
19 \| 80px \| Mohammed Fahim {{small\|(1957–2014)}} \| 9 September 2001 \| 23 December 2004 \| {{ayd\|2001\|09\|09\|2004\|12\|23}} ! style="background:{{party color\|Jamiat-e Islami}}" \| \| Jamiat-e Islami \|
20 \| 80px \| Abdul Rahim Wardak {{small\|(born 1945)}} \| 23 December 2004 \| 7 August 2012 \| {{ayd\|2004\|12\|23\|2012\|08\|07}} ! style="background:{{party color\|National Islamic Front of Afghanistan}}" \| \| Mahaz-e-Milli-ye Islami \|
style="background:#e6e6aa;" \| – \| 80px \| Enayatullah Nazari {{small\|(born 1954) acting}} \| 8 August 2012 \| 15 September 2012 \| {{ayd\|2012\|08\|08\|2012\|09\|15}} ! style="background:{{party color\|Jamiat-e Islami}}" \| \| Jamiat-e Islami \|
21 \| 80px \| Bismillah Khan Mohammadi {{small\|(born 1961)}} \| 15 September 2012 \| 24 May 2015 \| {{ayd\|2012\|09\|15\|2015\|05\|24}} ! style="background:{{party color\|Jamiat-e Islami}}" \| \| Jamiat-e Islami \|
style="background:#e6e6aa;" \| – \| 80px \| Mohammed Masoom Stanekzai {{small\|(born 1958) acting}} \| 24 May 2015 \| 20 June 2016 \| {{ayd\|2015\|05\|24\|2016\|06\|20}} ! style="background:{{party color\|Independent politician}}" \| \| Independent {{small\|(Military)}} \|
22 \| 80px \| Abdullah Habibi {{small\|(born 1952)}} \| 20 June 2016 \| 24 April 2017 \| {{ayd\|2016\|06\|20\|2017\|04\|24}} ! style="background:{{party color\|Independent politician}}" \| \| Independent {{small\|(Military)}} \|
23 \| 80px \| Tariq Shah Bahramee {{small\|(born 1967)}} \| 24 April 2017 \| 23 December 2018 \| {{ayd\|2017\|04\|24\|2018\|12\|23}} ! style="background:{{party color\|Independent politician}}" \| \| Independent {{small\|(Military)}} \|
style="background:#e6e6aa;"\| – \| rowspan=2\| 80px \| rowspan=2\| Asadullah Khalid {{small\|(born 1970)}} \| style="background:#e6e6aa;"\| 23 December 2018 \| style="background:#e6e6aa;"\| 21 November 2020 \| style="background:#e6e6aa;"\| {{ayd\|2018\|12\|23\|2020\|11\|21}} ! rowspan=2 style="background:{{party color\|Islamic Dawah Organisation of Afghanistan}}" \| \| rowspan=2\| Ittehad-e Islami \| rowspan=2\|
24 \| 21 November 2020 \| 19 March 2021 \| {{ayd\|2020\|11\|21\|2021\|03\|19}}
style="background:#e6e6aa;" \| – \| 80px \| Yasin Zia {{small\|acting}} \| 19 March 2021 \| 19 June 2021 \| {{ayd\|2021\|03\|19\|2021\|06\|19}} ! style="background:{{party color\|Independent politician}}" \| \| Independent {{small\|(Military)}} \|
(21) \| 80px \| Bismillah Khan Mohammadi {{small\|(born 1961)}} \| 19 June 2021 \| 15 August 2021 \| {{ayd\|2021\|06\|19\|2021\|08\|15}} ! style="background:{{party color\|Jamiat-e Islami}}" \| \| Jamiat-e Islami \| {{Cite web\| title = Afghan president replaces security ministers amid Taliban advance\|url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/6/19/afghan-president-replaces-security-ministers-amid-taliban-advance\|date=2021-06-19}}
style="background:#e6e6aa;" \| – \| \| Abdul Qayyum Zakir {{small\|(born 1973) acting}} \| 24 August 2021 \| 7 September 2021 \| {{ayd\|2021\|08\|24\|2021\|09\|07}} ! style="background:{{party color\|Taliban}}" \| \| Taliban \| {{Cite web\|date=2021-08-24\|title=Taliban appoints former Guantanamo detainee as acting defense minister, Al Jazeera says\|url=https://www.reuters.com/world/taliban-appoints-former-guantanamo-detainee-acting-defense-minister-al-jazeera-2021-08-24/\|access-date=2021-08-24\|website=Reuters\|language=en\|archive-date=2021-08-24\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210824180823/https://www.reuters.com/world/taliban-appoints-former-guantanamo-detainee-acting-defense-minister-al-jazeera-2021-08-24/\|url-status=live}}
style="background:#e6e6aa;" \| – \| 80px \| Mullah Yaqoob {{small\|(born 1990) acting}} \| 7 September 2021 \| Incumbent \| {{ayd\|2021\|09\|07}} ! style="background:{{party color\|Taliban}}" \| \| Taliban \| {{cite news \| title= Taliban announce new government for Afghanistan \| date= 2021-09-07 \|newspaper= BBC News \| url= https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-58479750 \|access-date= 2021-09-07 \|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20210907212403/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-58479750 \|archive-date= 2021-09-07 \|url-status=live }}

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"

! rowspan=2| {{Abbr|No.|Number}}

! rowspan=2| Portrait

! rowspan=2| Name
{{small|(Birth–Death)}}

! colspan=3| Term of office

! colspan=2 rowspan=2| Political affiliation

! rowspan=2| {{Abbr|Ref.|Refences}}

Took office

! Left office

! Time in office

Ministry of Defense (Afghanistan)

The Democratic Republic period

The Islamic Republic period

List of ministers

= Ministers of War =

= Ministers of Defense =

Notes

See also

References

External links