Chief of General Staff (Afghanistan)

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Chief of Staff of the Islamic Emirate Armed Forces
د افغانستان د ملي اردو لوی درستیز
Incumbent
Qari Fasihuddin
since 7 September 2021
Ministry of Defense
Reports toMinister of Defense
SeatKabul
AppointerSupreme Leader

The Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces[1] (Pashto: د افغانستان د ملي اردو لوی درستیز) is the highest-ranking military officer in the military of Afghanistan (currently the Islamic Emirate Armed Forces), who is responsible for maintaining the operational command of the military.

List of chiefs[edit]

Abdul Karim Mustaghni was army chief of staff until the 1973 overthrow of the monarchy.[2] Under the rule of Hafizullah Amin, his brother in law Mohammed Yaqub served as Chief of the General Staff until being executed by Soviet-Parcham forces in December of 1979. In the late 1980s, during the communist regime, Nazar Mohammad served as army chief of staff, followed by Shahnawaz Tanai, from the Khalq faction of the PDPA[3] (August 1988 – March 1990), who was succeeded by Mohammed Asif Delawar following the 1990 coup attempt, which was led by Tanai.

Republic of Afghanistan (1973–1978)[edit]

Democratic Republic of Afghanistan (1978–1992)[edit]

No. Portrait Name
(Birth–Death) 		Term of office Defence branch Ref.
Took office Left office Time in office
Lieutenant general
Shahnawaz Tanai
(1950–2022) 		1985 ? ? Army [4]

Afghan Armed Forces (Islamic Republic era)[edit]

No. Portrait Chief of General Staff Took office Left office Time in office Defence branch Ref.
1
Bismillah Khan Mohammadi
Mohammadi, BismullahLieutenant general
Bismillah Khan Mohammadi
(born 1961)		8 March 200230 June 20108 years, 114 days Afghan National Army[5][6]
2
Sher Mohammad Karimi
Karimi, SherGeneral
Sher Mohammad Karimi
(born 1945)		30 June 201022 May 20154 years, 326 days Afghan National Army[5][7]
3
Qadam Shah Shahim
Shahim, QadamGeneral
Qadam Shah Shahim
(born 1962)		22 May 201524 April 20171 year, 337 days Afghan National Army[5][8]
4
Mohammad Sharif Yaftali
Yaftali, MohammadLieutenant general
Mohammad Sharif Yaftali		26 April 201713 March 20191 year, 323 days Afghan National Army[5][9]
5
Bismillah Waziri
Waziri, BismillahLieutenant general
Bismillah Waziri		13 March 20197 July 20201 year, 116 days Afghan National Army[5]
6
Yasin Zia
Zia, YasinLieutenant general
Yasin Zia		7 July 202019 June 2021347 days Afghan National Army[10]
7
Wali Mohammad Ahmadzai
Ahmadzai, Wali MohammadLieutenant general
Wali Mohammad Ahmadzai		19 June 202111 August 202153 days Afghan National Army[11]
8
Hebatullah Alizai
Alizai, HebatullahLieutenant general
Hebatullah Alizai		11 August 202115 August 20214 days Afghan National Army[12][13]

Islamic Emirate Armed Forces[edit]

No. Portrait Chief of General Staff Took office Left office Time in office Defence branch Ref.
1
Qari Fasihuddin
Fasihuddin, QariQari Fasihuddin7 September 2021Incumbent2 years, 233 days* Islamic National Army[14]

* Incumbent's time in office last updated: 27 April 2024.

References[edit]

  1. ^ "فارياب او جوزجان ولايتونو ته د ملي دفاع وزارت سرپرست وزير او د وسلوال پوځ لوى درستيز سفر | د ملی دفاع وزارت". mod.gov.af (in Pashto). Retrieved 20 February 2022.
  2. ^ Nyrop & Seekins 1986, p. 294.
  3. ^ Barnett R. Rubin, Afghanistan: "Back to Feudalism", Current History, Vol. 88, No. 542, South Asia (DECEMBER, 1989), p. 444
  4. ^ Nyrop & Seekins 1986, p. 324.
  5. ^ a b c d e "Yaftali, Mohammad Sharif LtGen". Who is who in Afghanistan?. 12 August 2018. Retrieved 25 June 2019.
  6. ^ Davis, Anthony. Interview: General Bismillah Khan Mohammadi, Chief of General Staff, Afghan National Army. Jane's Defence News. 18 January 2008.
  7. ^ "Karimi, General Shir Mohammad Sher Sheer". 18 November 2017. Retrieved 25 June 2019.
  8. ^ Kakar, Javed Hamim (19 May 2015). "Defence minister-designate, new army chief named". Pajhwok Afghan News. Archived from the original on 27 December 2016. Retrieved 27 December 2016.
  9. ^ "GENERAL MOHAMMAD SHARIF "YAFTALI"". Ministry of Defence. Retrieved 25 June 2019.[permanent dead link]
  10. ^ "Governors' Appointments Ongoing, Cabinet Member Choices Stalled". TOLOnews. Retrieved 17 July 2020.
  11. ^ "Afghan president replaces two top ministers, army chief as violence grows". Reuters. 20 June 2021. Retrieved 5 August 2021.
  12. ^ Syed, Azaz (11 August 2021). "Afghan Chief of Army replaced amid escalating violence". Ariana News. Retrieved 11 August 2021.
  13. ^ "Afghanistan army chief removed from post: sources". www.geo.tv. 11 August 2021. Retrieved 11 August 2021.
  14. ^ "Taliban announce new government for Afghanistan". BBC News. 7 September 2021. Archived from the original on 7 September 2021. Retrieved 7 September 2021.

Bibliography[edit]

  • Nyrop, Richard F.; Donald M. Seekins (January 1986). Area Handbook Series: Afghanistan: A Country Study. Fort Belvoir, VA: Defense Technical Information Center.
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