List of heads of state of Afghanistan

Monarch of Afghanistan
Monarch of Afghanistan
Pashto: د افغانستان پاچا ; Persian: پادشاه افغانستان
	Royal Standard ; (1931–1973)
	Last to reign: ; Mohammed Zahir Shah ; 8 November 1933 – 17 July 1973
Details
Style	His Majesty
First monarch	Mirwais Hotak (Emir)
Last monarch	Mohammed Zahir Shah (King)
Formation	1709
Abolition	17 July 1973
Residence	Kabul: Bala Hissar ; (18th century – 1880); Arg-e-Shahi ; (19th century – 1973);
Appointer	Hereditary
Pretender(s)	Ahmad Shah Khan, Crown Prince of Afghanistan

This article lists the heads of state of Afghanistan since the foundation of the first Afghan state, the Hotak Empire, in 1709.

History[]

The Hotak Empire was formed after a successful uprising led by Mirwais Hotak and other Afghan tribal chiefs from the Kandahar region against Mughal and Safavid Persian rule.^[1]^[2]^[3]

After a long series of wars, the Hotak Empire was eventually replaced by the Durrani Afghan Empire, founded by Ahmad Shah Durrani in 1747.^[4]^[5]

After the collapse of the Durrani Empire in 1823, the Barakzai dynasty founded the Emirate of Afghanistan. The Durrani dynasty regained power in 1839, during the First Anglo-Afghan War, when former ruler Shah Shujah Durrani seized the throne under the British auspices. Shah Shujah was assassinated in 1842, following the British retreat. Afterwards the Barakzai dynasty regained power, eventually transformed the Emirate into the Kingdom of Afghanistan in 1926, and ruled the country (with an interruption in 1929) until the last king, Mohammed Zahir Shah, was deposed in the 1973 coup d'état, led by his first cousin Mohammed Daoud Khan. Despite being part of the Barakzai dynasty, Daoud Khan departed from tradition and did not proclaim himself Shah, instead abolished the monarchy and established the Republic of Afghanistan, with himself as President.^[6]^[7] The Republic lasted until the Saur Revolution in 1978.^[8]

Since 1978, Afghanistan has been in a state of continuous internal conflict and foreign interventions.

The former president Hamid Karzai became the first ever democratically elected head of state of Afghanistan on 7 December 2004. His successor, Ashraf Ghani, had been in power from 29 September 2014 to 15 August 2021, when he went to exile as Kabul fell to the Taliban during their 2021 offensive, following the withdrawal of US troops from the country.^[9]

The Taliban officially restored the Islamic Emirate on 19 August 2021 and their leader Hibatullah Akhundzada became the new head of state.^[10]

List of heads of state[]

(Dates in italics indicate de facto continuation of office)

Monarchs[]

Hotak Empire (1709–1738)

Name	Lifespan	Reign start	Reign end	Notes	Family
Mirwais Hotak Mirwais the Grandfather	1673–1715	1709	1715	Founder of the Hotaki dynasty	Hotak
Abdul Aziz Hotak	Died 1717	1715	1717	Brother of Mirwais Hotak, short reign and was deposed by his nephew	Hotak
Mahmud Hotak	1697 – 22 April 1725	1717	22 April 1725	Son of Mirwais Hotak	Hotak
Ashraf Hotak	Died 1730	22 April 1725	1730	Nephew of Mirwais Hotak	Hotak
Hussain Hotak	Died 1738	1730	24 March 1738 (deposed)	Son of Mirwais Hotak, deposed by Nader Shah in Siege of Kandahar	Hotak

Durrani Empire (1747–1823)

Name	Lifespan	Reign start	Reign end	Notes	Family
Ahmad Shah Durrani the Father of the Nation	1722 – 16 October 1773	1747	16 October 1773	Founder of the Durrani dynasty and the Durrani Empire, considered founder of modern Afghanistan	Durrani
Timur Shah Durrani	1748 – 20 May 1793	16 October 1773	20 May 1793	Son of Ahmad Shah Durrani	Durrani
Zaman Shah Durrani	1770–1844	20 May 1793	25 July 1801 (deposed)	Son of Timur Shah Durrani	Durrani
Mahmud Shah Durrani (1st reign) Shah Mahmud	1769 – 18 April 1829	25 July 1801	13 July 1803 (deposed)	Son of Timur Shah Durrani	Durrani
Shah Shujah Durrani (1st reign) Inayat-i-llahi, Shuja ul-Mulk, Muhammad Bahadur	4 November 1785 – 5 April 1842	13 July 1803	3 May 1809 (deposed)	Son of Timur Shah Durrani	Durrani
Mahmud Shah Durrani (2nd reign) Shah Mahmud	1769 – 18 April 1829	3 May 1809	1818 (deposed)	Son of Timur Shah Durrani	Durrani
Ali Shah Durrani		1818	1819 (deposed)	Son of Timur Shah Durrani	Durrani
Ayub Shah Durrani	Died 1 October 1837	1819	1823 (deposed)	Son of Timur Shah Durrani	Durrani

Emirate of Afghanistan (1823–1926)

Name	Lifespan	Reign start	Reign end	Notes	Family
Sultan Mohammad Khan Mohammad Khan Telai	1792–1834	1823	1826 (deposed)	Son of Sardar Payendah Khan, brother of Dost Mohammad Khan	Barakzai
Dost Mohammad Khan (1st reign) Amir al-Mu'minin, Amir-i Kabir	23 December 1793 – 9 June 1863	Summer 1826	6 August 1839 (deposed)	Son of Sardar Payendah Khan	Barakzai
Shah Shujah Durrani (2nd reign) Inayat-i-llahi, Shuja ul-Mulk, Muhammad Bahadur	4 November 1785 – 5 April 1842	7 August 1839	5 April 1842 ^{[note 1]}	Son of Timur Shah Durrani	Durrani
Akbar Khan Amīr Akbar Khān, Mohammad Akbar Khān	1816–1847	May 1842	1843	Son of Dost Mohammad Khan	Barakzai
Dost Mohammad Khan (2nd reign) Amir al-Mu'minin, Amir-i Kabir	23 December 1793 – 9 June 1863	1843	9 June 1863	Son of Sardar Payendah Khan	Barakzai
Sher Ali Khan (1st reign)	1825 – 21 February 1879	9 June 1863	May 1866 (deposed)	Son of Dost Mohammad Khan	Barakzai
Mohammad Afzal Khan	1815 – 7 October 1867	May 1866	7 October 1867	Son of Dost Mohammad Khan	Barakzai
Mohammad Azam Khan	1820–1870	7 October 1867	21 August 1868	Son of Dost Mohammad Khan	Barakzai
Sher Ali Khan (2nd reign)	1825 – 21 February 1879	9 September 1868	21 February 1879	Son of Dost Mohammad Khan	Barakzai
Mohammad Yaqub Khan	1849 – 15 November 1923	21 February 1879	12 October 1879 (deposed)	Son of Sher Ali Khan	Barakzai
Ayub Khan the Victor of Maiwand the Afghan Prince Charlie	1857 – 7 April 1914	12 October 1879	31 May 1880 (deposed)	Son of Sher Ali Khan	Barakzai
Abdur Rahman Khan the Iron Amir	1840/44 – 1 October 1901	31 May 1880	1 October 1901	Son of Mohammad Afzal Khan	Barakzai
Habibullah Khan	3 June 1872 – 20 February 1919	1 October 1901	20 February 1919	Son of Abdur Rahman Khan	Barakzai
Nasrullah Khan	1874–1920	20 February 1919	28 February 1919 (deposed)	Son of Abdur Rahman Khan	Barakzai
Amanullah Khan	1 June 1892 – 25 April 1960	28 February 1919	9 June 1926	Son of Habibullah Khan	Barakzai

Kingdom of Afghanistan (1926–1929)

Name	Lifespan	Reign start	Reign end	Notes	Family	Image
Amanullah Khan	1 June 1892 – 25 April 1960	9 June 1926	14 January 1929 (abdicated)	Son of Habibullah Khan	Barakzai
Inayatullah Khan	20 October 1888 – 12 August 1946	14 January 1929	17 January 1929 (deposed)	Son of Habibullah Khan	Barakzai

Saqqawist Emirate and the 1928–1929 civil war

Name	Lifespan	Reign start	Reign end	Notes	Family
Habibullāh Kalakāni Bacha-ye Saqao	19 January 1891 – 3 November 1929	17 January 1929 ^{[note 2]}	13 October 1929	Styled as king and emir ^{[note 3]}; contested the throne during the 1928–29 civil war;^[16] deposed and executed^[17]	Non-dynastic
Ali Ahmad Khan	1883 – 11 July 1929	17 January 1929	9 February 1929	Styled as King; rose in opposition to Kalakāni during the 1928–29 civil war; captured and executed	Barakzai
Amanullah Khan	1 June 1892 – 25 April 1960	March 1929	23 May 1929	Son of Habibullah Khan Former King; returned to Afghanistan to contest the throne during the 1928–29 civil war; eventually retreated back into British India;^[18] See also Amanullah loyalism	Barakzai

Kingdom of Afghanistan (restored; 1929–1973)

Name	Lifespan	Reign start	Reign end	Notes	Family	Image
Mohammed Nadir Shah	9 April 1883 – 8 November 1933	15 October 1929^[19]	8 November 1933 ^{[note 4]}	Great-nephew of Dost Mohammed Khan	Barakzai
Mohammed Zahir Shah the Father of the Nation (from 2004) ^{[note 5]}	15 October 1914 – 23 July 2007	8 November 1933	17 July 1973 (deposed)^[6]	Son of Mohammed Nadir Shah	Barakzai

Local monarchs[]

Some rulers tried to take advantage of internal conflicts in Afghanistan to claim the throne. However, their rule was limited only to certain areas.

Name	Lifespan	Reign start	Reign end	Notes	Family
Jehandad Khan	Died 1914	May 1912	May 1912 (deposed)	Styled as Emir; ruled only in Khost during the 1912 rebellion	Non-dynastic
Abd-al Karim	1897 – 18 February 1927	July 1924	30 January 1925 (deposed)	Son of Mohammad Yaqub Khan Styled as Emir; rule limited to the Southern Province during the 1924–1925 rebellion	Barakzai
Salemai		c. 1944	c. 1946 (deposed)	Styled as King; rule limited to the Eastern Province during the 1944–47 tribal revolts	Non-dynastic

Non-monarchs[]

Name		Portrait	Lifespan	Term of office			Political party
Name		Portrait	Lifespan	Took office	Left office	Time in office	Political party
Republic of Afghanistan (1973–1978)
	Mohammed Daoud Khan		1909–1978	17 July 1973	28 April 1978	4 years, 285 days	Independent (until 1974)
				17 July 1973	28 April 1978	4 years, 285 days	National Revolutionary Party
				President; Member of the Barakzai dynasty (first cousin of Mohammed Zahir Shah); Assassinated with most of his family during the Saur Revolution;^[20] Supposedly killed for refusing to surrender to the new authorities^[21]^[8]
Democratic Republic of Afghanistan (1978–1992)
	Colonel Abdul Qadir		1944–2014	28 April 1978	30 April 1978	2 days	People's Democratic Party (Khalq faction)
	Colonel Abdul Qadir		1944–2014	Chairman of the Presidium of the Military Revolutionary Council
	Nur Muhammad Taraki		1917–1979	30 April 1978	14 September 1979	1 year, 137 days	People's Democratic Party (Khalq faction)
	Nur Muhammad Taraki		1917–1979	Chairman of the Presidium of the Revolutionary Council; Assassinated by orders of Hafizullah Amin
	Hafizullah Amin		1929–1979	14 September 1979	27 December 1979	104 days	People's Democratic Party (Khalq faction)
	Hafizullah Amin		1929–1979	Chairman of the Presidium of the Revolutionary Council; Assassinated by Soviet special forces during the Operation Storm-333^[22]
	Babrak Karmal		1929–1996	27 December 1979	24 November 1986	6 years, 332 days	People's Democratic Party (Parcham faction)
	Babrak Karmal		1929–1996	Chairman of the Presidium of the Revolutionary Council; Dismissed
	Haji Mohammad Chamkani		1947–2012	24 November 1986	30 September 1987	310 days	Independent
	Haji Mohammad Chamkani		1947–2012	Chairman of the Presidium of the Revolutionary Council; Appointed as part of the National Reconciliation process
	Mohammad Najibullah		1947–1996	30 September 1987	16 April 1992	4 years, 199 days	People's Democratic Party (Parcham faction) (until 1990)
				30 September 1987	16 April 1992	4 years, 199 days	Homeland Party
				President (Chairman of the Presidium of the Revolutionary Council until 30 November 1987); Resigned
	Abdul Rahim Hatif		1926–2013	16 April 1992	28 April 1992	12 days	Homeland Party
	Abdul Rahim Hatif		1926–2013	Acting President; Deposed
Islamic State of Afghanistan (1992–1996)
	Sibghatullah Mojaddedi		1926–2019	28 April 1992	28 June 1992	61 days	National Liberation Front of Afghanistan
	Sibghatullah Mojaddedi		1926–2019	Acting President; Resigned
	Burhanuddin Rabbani		1940–2011	28 June 1992	27 September 1996	4 years, 91 days	Jamiat-e Islami
	Burhanuddin Rabbani		1940–2011	President; Deposed during the fall of Kabul;^[23] Continued to claim the position in rebellion during the 1996–2001 Civil War until the recapture of Kabul on 13 November 2001; Between 1996 and 2001, the Islamic State remained the internationally recognized government, despite only controlling about 10% of Afghan territory
Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (1996–2001)
	Mullah Mohammed Omar		1960–2013	27 September 1996	13 November 2001	5 years, 47 days	Taliban
	Mullah Mohammed Omar		1960–2013	Head of the Supreme Council, Leader and Commander of the Faithful; Deposed during the fall of Kabul; Continued to claim the position in rebellion during the Taliban insurgency until his death on 23 April 2013; Between 1996 and 2001, the Islamic Emirate never attained widespread international recognition, despite controlling about 90% of Afghan territory
Islamic State of Afghanistan (2001–2002)
	Burhanuddin Rabbani		1940–2011	13 November 2001	22 December 2001	39 days	Jamiat-e Islami
	Burhanuddin Rabbani		1940–2011	President; Reinstated following the recapture of Kabul
	Hamid Karzai		born 1957	22 December 2001	13 July 2002	203 days	Independent
	Hamid Karzai		born 1957	Acting President; Appointed by the 2001 Bonn Conference
Transitional Islamic State of Afghanistan (2002–2004)
	Hamid Karzai		born 1957	13 July 2002	7 December 2004	2 years, 147 days	Independent
	Hamid Karzai		born 1957	Transitional President; Appointed by the 2002 loya jirga
Islamic Republic of Afghanistan (2004–2021)
	Hamid Karzai		born 1957	7 December 2004	29 September 2014	9 years, 296 days	Independent
	Hamid Karzai		born 1957	President; First democratically elected head of state; Elected in 2004 and re-elected in 2009
	Ashraf Ghani		born 1949	29 September 2014	15 August 2021	6 years, 320 days	Independent
	Ashraf Ghani		born 1949	President; First peaceful transition of power; Elected in 2014 and re-elected in 2019; Deposed during the fall of Kabul
Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (2021–present)
	Mullah Mawlawi Hibatullah Akhundzada		born 1961	15 August 2021	Incumbent	135 days	Taliban
	Mullah Mawlawi Hibatullah Akhundzada		born 1961	Leader and Commander of the Faithful; Claimed the position in rebellion during the Taliban insurgency from 25 May 2016 until the recapture of Kabul. The Islamic Emirate is currently not internationally recognized, despite controlling the majority of Afghan territory

Timeline from 1880[]

Standards of heads of state[]

Standard of the King of Afghanistan, 1931–1973.
Standard of the President of Afghanistan, 2004–2013.
Standard of the President of Afghanistan, 2013–2021.

Notes[]

^ Shah Shujah was murdered in the aftermath of the 1842 retreat from Kabul.
^ Most sources list 17 January 1929, the day that Kalakāni captured Kabul, as the date that his reign began.^[11]^[12] However, he had been formally claiming the title of emir since 14 December 1928.^[13]
^ Kalakāni referred to himself as both "king"^[14] and "emir".^[15]
^ Nadir Shah was assassinated by Abdul Khaliq Hazara. "King of Afghanistan Is Slain at Kabul; Stable Boy Won Throne by Military Skill". The New York Times. 9 November 1933. Retrieved 3 August 2021.
^ "The late King was always fondly referred to by all Afghans, cutting across ethnic boundaries, as "Baba-e-Millat" or 'Father of the Nation', a position given to him in the country's Constitution promulgated in January 2004, about two years after the collapse of Taliban rule. The title of the 'Father of the Nation' dissolves with his death." "Last King of Afghanistan dies at 92". Archived from the original on 30 September 2007.CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)

References[]

^ "An Outline Of The History Of Persia During The Last Two Centuries (A.D. 1722-1922)". Edward Granville Browne. London: Packard Humanities Institute. p. 29. Retrieved 2010-09-24.
^ Otfinoski, Steven (2004). Afghanistan. Infobase Publishing. p. 7. ISBN 0-8160-5056-2. Retrieved 2010-09-27.
^ Malleson, George Bruce (1878). History of Afghanistan, from the Earliest Period to the Outbreak of the War of 1878. London: Elibron.com. p. 227. ISBN 1-4021-7278-8. Retrieved 2010-09-27.
^ "Afghanistan". The World Factbook. Central Intelligence Agency. Retrieved 2010-10-23. Ahmad Shah DURRANI unified the Pashtun tribes and founded Afghanistan in 1747.
^ "Last Afghan empire". Louis Dupree, Nancy Hatch Dupree and others. Encyclopædia Britannica Online Version. Retrieved 2010-09-24.
^ ^a ^b "Afghan King Overthrown; A Republic Is Proclaimed". The New York Times. 18 July 1973. Retrieved 3 May 2020.
^ Barfield, Thomas (25 March 2012). Afghanistan: A Cultural and Political History (Princeton Studies in Muslim Politics). Princeton University Press. ISBN 978-0691154411.
^ ^a ^b William Borders (28 April 1978). "Coup Is Reported in Afghanistan". The New York Times. Retrieved 3 August 2021.
^ "President Ashraf Ghani flees Afghanistan as Taliban enters Kabul". South China Morning Post. Reuters. 2021-08-15. Retrieved 2021-08-15.
^ Mychael, Schnell (19 August 2021). "Taliban declare 'Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan'". The Hill. Retrieved 29 September 2021.
^ Qassem, Dr Ahmad Shayeq (2013-03-28). Afghanistan's Political Stability: A Dream Unrealised. Ashgate Publishing, Ltd. p. 175. ISBN 9781409499428.
^ Wazir, Azmatullah Khan (2002). The immediate solution of Afghan crisis. A.K. Wazir. p. 8.
^ Muḥammad, Fayz̤; McChesney, R. D. (1999). Kabul under siege: Fayz Muhammad's account of the 1929 Uprising. Markus Wiener Publishers. p. 37. ISBN 9781558761544.
^ "ExecutedToday.com » 1929: Habibullah Kalakani, Tajik bandit-king". 1 November 2016. Retrieved 2019-11-14.
^ Muḥammad, Fayz̤; Hazārah, Fayz̤ Muḥammad Kātib; Muḥammad, Faiḍ (1999). Kabul Under Siege: Fayz Muhammad's Account of the 1929 Uprising. Markus Wiener Publishers. p. 1. ISBN 978-1-55876-155-1.
^ "Rebel Becomes King in Afghanistan". The New York Times. 18 January 1929. Retrieved 3 August 2021.
^ "Afghan Usurper Yields to New King". The New York Times. 24 October 1929. Retrieved 3 August 2021.
^ "Amanullah Hungry in Flight to India". The New York Times. 26 May 1929. Retrieved 3 August 2021.
^ "Nadir Khan is Elected Amir of Afghanistan". The New York Times. 18 October 1929. Retrieved 3 August 2021.
^ "There was, therefore, little to hinder the assault mounted by the rebel 4th Armored Brigade, led by Major Mohammad Aslam Watanjar, who had also been prominent in Daoud's own coup five years before. Watanjar first secured the airport, where the other coup leader, Colonel Abdul Qadir, left by helicopter for the Bagram air base. There he took charge and organized air strikes on the presidential palace, where Daoud and the presidential guard were conducting a desperate defense. Fighting continued the whole day and into the night, when the defenders were finally overwhelmed. Daoud and almost all of his family members, including women and children, died in the fighting. Altogether there were possibly as many as two thousand fatalities, both military and civilian." p. 88 of Ewans, Martin (2002) Afghanistan: A Short History of Its People and Politics HarperCollins, New York, Page 88 ISBN 0-06-050507-9
^ "1978: Afghan coup rebels claim victory". April 29, 1978 – via news.bbc.co.uk.
^ "How Soviet troops stormed Kabul palace". BBC. 27 December 2009. Retrieved 3 August 2021.
^ Barbara Crossette (26 September 1996). "Kabul Falls to Islamic Militia; Afghans Accuse Pakistan". The New York Times. Retrieved 11 September 2021.

External links[]

Presidency of Afghanistan

[murder-11] Shah Shujah was murdered in the aftermath of the 1842 retreat from Kabul.

[14dec1928-15] Most sources list 17 January 1929, the day that Kalakāni captured Kabul, as the date that his reign began.^[11]^[12] However, he had been formally claiming the title of emir since 14 December 1928.^[13]

[rulerofafghanistan-18] Kalakāni referred to himself as both "king"^[14] and "emir".^[15]

[assassination-23] Nadir Shah was assassinated by Abdul Khaliq Hazara. "King of Afghanistan Is Slain at Kabul; Stable Boy Won Throne by Military Skill". The New York Times. 9 November 1933. Retrieved 3 August 2021.

[fatherofthenation-24] "The late King was always fondly referred to by all Afghans, cutting across ethnic boundaries, as "Baba-e-Millat" or 'Father of the Nation', a position given to him in the country's Constitution promulgated in January 2004, about two years after the collapse of Taliban rule. The title of the 'Father of the Nation' dissolves with his death." "Last King of Afghanistan dies at 92". Archived from the original on 30 September 2007.CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)

[1] "An Outline Of The History Of Persia During The Last Two Centuries (A.D. 1722-1922)". Edward Granville Browne. London: Packard Humanities Institute. p. 29. Retrieved 2010-09-24.

[Otfinoski-2] Otfinoski, Steven (2004). Afghanistan. Infobase Publishing. p. 7. ISBN 0-8160-5056-2. Retrieved 2010-09-27.

[3] Malleson, George Bruce (1878). History of Afghanistan, from the Earliest Period to the Outbreak of the War of 1878. London: Elibron.com. p. 227. ISBN 1-4021-7278-8. Retrieved 2010-09-27.

[4] "Afghanistan". The World Factbook. Central Intelligence Agency. Retrieved 2010-10-23. Ahmad Shah DURRANI unified the Pashtun tribes and founded Afghanistan in 1747.

[5] "Last Afghan empire". Louis Dupree, Nancy Hatch Dupree and others. Encyclopædia Britannica Online Version. Retrieved 2010-09-24.

[NYT1-6] "Afghan King Overthrown; A Republic Is Proclaimed". The New York Times. 18 July 1973. Retrieved 3 May 2020.

[7] Barfield, Thomas (25 March 2012). Afghanistan: A Cultural and Political History (Princeton Studies in Muslim Politics). Princeton University Press. ISBN 978-0691154411.

[NYT2-8] William Borders (28 April 1978). "Coup Is Reported in Afghanistan". The New York Times. Retrieved 3 August 2021.

[9] "President Ashraf Ghani flees Afghanistan as Taliban enters Kabul". South China Morning Post. Reuters. 2021-08-15. Retrieved 2021-08-15.

[The_Hill_Emirate_declared-10] Mychael, Schnell (19 August 2021). "Taliban declare 'Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan'". The Hill. Retrieved 29 September 2021.

[12] Qassem, Dr Ahmad Shayeq (2013-03-28). Afghanistan's Political Stability: A Dream Unrealised. Ashgate Publishing, Ltd. p. 175. ISBN 9781409499428.

[13] Wazir, Azmatullah Khan (2002). The immediate solution of Afghan crisis. A.K. Wazir. p. 8.

[14] Muḥammad, Fayz̤; McChesney, R. D. (1999). Kabul under siege: Fayz Muhammad's account of the 1929 Uprising. Markus Wiener Publishers. p. 37. ISBN 9781558761544.

[:4-16] "ExecutedToday.com » 1929: Habibullah Kalakani, Tajik bandit-king". 1 November 2016. Retrieved 2019-11-14.

[:1-17] Muḥammad, Fayz̤; Hazārah, Fayz̤ Muḥammad Kātib; Muḥammad, Faiḍ (1999). Kabul Under Siege: Fayz Muhammad's Account of the 1929 Uprising. Markus Wiener Publishers. p. 1. ISBN 978-1-55876-155-1.

[NYT3-19] "Rebel Becomes King in Afghanistan". The New York Times. 18 January 1929. Retrieved 3 August 2021.

[NYT4-20] "Afghan Usurper Yields to New King". The New York Times. 24 October 1929. Retrieved 3 August 2021.

[NYT5-21] "Amanullah Hungry in Flight to India". The New York Times. 26 May 1929. Retrieved 3 August 2021.

[NYT6-22] "Nadir Khan is Elected Amir of Afghanistan". The New York Times. 18 October 1929. Retrieved 3 August 2021.

[25] "There was, therefore, little to hinder the assault mounted by the rebel 4th Armored Brigade, led by Major Mohammad Aslam Watanjar, who had also been prominent in Daoud's own coup five years before. Watanjar first secured the airport, where the other coup leader, Colonel Abdul Qadir, left by helicopter for the Bagram air base. There he took charge and organized air strikes on the presidential palace, where Daoud and the presidential guard were conducting a desperate defense. Fighting continued the whole day and into the night, when the defenders were finally overwhelmed. Daoud and almost all of his family members, including women and children, died in the fighting. Altogether there were possibly as many as two thousand fatalities, both military and civilian." p. 88 of Ewans, Martin (2002) Afghanistan: A Short History of Its People and Politics HarperCollins, New York, Page 88 ISBN 0-06-050507-9

[26] "1978: Afghan coup rebels claim victory". April 29, 1978 – via news.bbc.co.uk.

[27] "How Soviet troops stormed Kabul palace". BBC. 27 December 2009. Retrieved 3 August 2021.

[NYT7-28] Barbara Crossette (26 September 1996). "Kabul Falls to Islamic Militia; Afghans Accuse Pakistan". The New York Times. Retrieved 11 September 2021.

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[2]

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[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

[8]

[9]

[10]

[note 1]

[note 2]

[note 3]

[16]

[17]

[18]

[19]

[note 4]

[note 5]

[20]

[21]

[22]

[23]

[11]

[12]

[13]

[14]

[15]

v t Monarchs of Afghanistan
Hotak Empire	Mirwais Hotak Abdul Aziz Hotak Mahmud Hotak Ashraf Hotak Hussain Hotak
Durrani Empire	Ahmad Shah Durrani Timur Shah Durrani Zaman Shah Durrani Mahmud Shah Durrani Shah Shujah Durrani Ali Shah Durrani Ayub Shah Durrani
Barakzai Emirate	Sultan Mohammad Khan Dost Mohammad Khan Akbar Khan Sher Ali Khan Mohammad Afzal Khan Mohammad Azam Khan Mohammad Yaqub Khan Ayub Khan Abdur Rahman Khan Habibullah Khan Nasrullah Khan
Barakzai Kingdom	Amanullah Khan Inayatullah Khan
Saqqawist Emirate (unrecognized)	Habibullāh Kalakāni
Barakzai Kingdom (restored)	Mohammed Nadir Shah Mohammed Zahir Shah Salemai
Italics indicate rebel king in the Eastern Province, during the 1944–47 tribal revolts

v t Heads of state of Afghanistan since 1973
Republic (President)	Mohammed Daoud Khan
Democratic Republic (Chairman)	Nur Muhammad Taraki Hafizullah Amin Babrak Karmal Haji Mohammad Chamkani* Mohammad Najibullah Abdul Rahim Hatif*
Islamic State (President)	Sibghatullah Mojaddedi* Burhanuddin Rabbani
First Islamic Emirate (Head)	Mohammed Omar
Islamic State (President)	Burhanuddin Rabbani Hamid Karzai*
Transitional Islamic State (President)	Hamid Karzai
Islamic Republic (President)	Hamid Karzai Ashraf Ghani
Second Islamic Emirate (Leader)	Hibatullah Akhundzada
* Acting