Prime Minister of Afghanistan

Prime Minister of Afghanistan
(Pashto: د افغانستان لومړی وزیر‎
Dari: رئیس‌الوزرای افغانستان‎)
Prime Minister of Afghanistan ; (Pashto: د افغانستان لومړی وزیر‎ ; Dari: رئیس‌الوزرای افغانستان‎)
	Emblem of Afghanistan
	Flag of Afghanistan
	Incumbent; Hasan Akhund; (Acting); since 7 September 2021
	Cabinet of Afghanistan
Member of	Supreme Council (1996–2001)
Seat	Kabul
Appointer	King (1927–1973); President (1978–1996); Emir (1996–2001; 2021–present)
Term length	No fixed term
Formation	25 October 1927 (first incarnation); 1 May 1978 (second incarnation); 7 September 2021 (third incarnation)
First holder	Shir Ahmad
Abolished	17 July 1973 (first incarnation); 13 November 2001 (second incarnation)
Deputy	Abdul Ghani Baradar (acting, first); Abdul Salam Hanafi (acting, second)

The Prime Minister of Afghanistan (Pashto: د افغانستان لومړی وزیر‎, Dari: رئیس‌الوزرای افغانستان‎) is a post within the cabinet of Afghanistan. The position was created in 1927 as an official appointed by the King of Afghanistan. The holder served mostly as an advisor, until the end of the Kingdom of Afghanistan in 1973. During the 1980s, the position was the head of government. The post was abolished after the US invasion, after which a presidential form of government was established which lasted from 2004 to 2021. After the US withdrawal and the re-establishment of the Taliban rule, the post was revived.

On September 7, 2021 the Taliban officials who exercise de facto control of most of Afghanistan announced Mullah Hasan Akhund as Acting Prime Minister in a new interim government of the recently re-established Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan.^[1] The government is subject to the oversight of the Head of the Islamic Emirate, Mullah Mawlawi Hibatullah Akhundzada.

History of the office[]

Kingdom[]

The chairman of the Council of Ministers was not the prime minister, but the King. Only during his absence was the prime minister the acting chairman of the Council.

Until 1963, King Mohammed Zahir Shah appointed his relatives as prime ministers. King Zahir Shah also had the power to dismiss or transfer the prime minister. From 1963 onwards, this was changed, stating that the head of the Afghan government was the prime minister, and that the government consisted of its ministers. It was the first time that King Zahir Shah did not play an important role in the government, leaving it to an elected authority. However, it also stated that they cannot engage in any other profession during their tenure of office.

The 1964 Constitution also granted the prime minister the power to summon the Electoral College in case of the death of the king. The prime minister only answered to the Wolesi Jirga about the General Policy of the government, and individually for their prescribed duties.^[2]

Democratic Republic[]

In April 1978, Mohammed Daoud Khan was killed during a coup that started the Saur Revolution. The People's Democratic Party of Afghanistan (PDPA) revived the office of prime minister that year, and it remained throughout the 1980s.

The president was in charge of the appointment of the prime minister, who in turn appointed the Council of Ministers. The Council's stated purpose was to formulate and implement domestic and foreign policies, to formulate economic development plans and state budgets, and to ensure public order.

Under the 1987 Constitution, the president was required to appoint the prime minister in order to form the government. The prime minister had the power to dissolve the government. Several Afghan presidents during the Democratic Republic era were also appointed as prime minister. With the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, the prime minister was no longer in charge of the government. The general secretary of the PDPA or the director of the KHAD exercised greater power.

Also, the 1990 Constitution established that only Afghan-born citizens are eligible to hold the office, something that was not specified in the previous documents.

Islamic State[]

After the collapse of Mohammad Najibullah's government, a transitional state was created. Thus, the office of prime minister once again played an important role in the history of the nation.

There was constant friction between the president and the premier during this period. The state had collapsed and there was not an effective central government from 1992 until 1996. Thus, the position became de facto ceremonial, with little power in what was left of the government.

Islamic Emirate[]

The title was abolished when the Taliban forces of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan took over control in 1996. The deputy leader of the Taliban was often known as the prime minister throughout its rule. With the death of Mohammad Rabbani in 2001,^[3] the Taliban decided not to revive the office.

Until September 1997, the government which the Taliban had ousted, which remained in rebellion until the end of the Taliban rule in 2001, had a prime minister in the government, but the position was abolished.

On September 7, 2021, the Taliban reinstated the position of prime minister.

List of heads of government[]

(Dates in italics indicate de facto continuation of office)

Name		Portrait	Lifespan	Term of office			Political party
Name		Portrait	Lifespan	Took office	Left office	Time in office	Political party
Kingdom of Afghanistan (1926–1973)
	Shir Ahmad		c. 1885–?	25 October 1927	January 1929	1 year, 2 months	Independent
	Shir Ahmad		c. 1885–?	Prime Minister; Deposed
	Shir Giyan		died 1929	January 1929	1 November 1929	10 months	Independent
	Shir Giyan		died 1929	Prime Minister; Deposed
	Mohammad Hashim Khan		1884–1953	1 November 1929	9 May 1946	16 years, 189 days	Independent
	Mohammad Hashim Khan		1884–1953	Prime Minister; Member of the Barakzai dynasty
	Amanat Lewana		Unknown	c. 1944	c. 1946	c. 2 years	Unknown
	Amanat Lewana		Unknown	Prime Minister under king Salemai; Eastern Province only during the 1944–47 tribal revolts
	Shah Mahmud Khan		1890–1959	9 May 1946	7 September 1953	7 years, 121 days	Independent
	Shah Mahmud Khan		1890–1959	Prime Minister; Member of the Barakzai dynasty
	Mohammed Daoud Khan		1909–1978	7 September 1953	10 March 1963	9 years, 184 days	Independent
	Mohammed Daoud Khan		1909–1978	Prime Minister; Member of the Barakzai dynasty
	Mohammad Yusuf		1917–1998	10 March 1963	2 November 1965	2 years, 237 days	Independent
	Mohammad Yusuf		1917–1998	Prime Minister
	Mohammad Hashim Maiwandwal		1919–1973	2 November 1965	11 October 1967	1 year, 343 days	Independent (until 1966)
				2 November 1965	11 October 1967	1 year, 343 days	Progressive Democratic Party
				Prime Minister
	Abdullah Yaqta		1914–2003	11 October 1967	1 November 1967	21 days	Independent
	Abdullah Yaqta		1914–2003	Acting Prime Minister
	Mohammad Nur Ahmad Etemadi		1921–1979	1 November 1967	9 June 1971	3 years, 220 days	Independent
	Mohammad Nur Ahmad Etemadi		1921–1979	Prime Minister
	Abdul Zahir		1910–1982	9 June 1971	12 November 1972	1 year, 156 days	Independent
	Abdul Zahir		1910–1982	Prime Minister
	Mohammad Musa Shafiq		1932–1979	12 November 1972	17 July 1973	247 days	Independent
	Mohammad Musa Shafiq		1932–1979	Prime Minister; Deposed during the 1973 coup d'état^[4]
Post abolished (17 July 1973–27 April 1978)
Democratic Republic of Afghanistan (1978–1992)
	Nur Muhammad Taraki		1917–1979	1 May 1978	27 March 1979	330 days	People's Democratic Party (Khalq faction)
	Nur Muhammad Taraki		1917–1979	Chairman of the Council of Ministers
	Hafizullah Amin		1929–1979	27 March 1979	27 December 1979	275 days	People's Democratic Party (Khalq faction)
	Hafizullah Amin		1929–1979	Chairman of the Council of Ministers; Assassinated by Soviet special forces during the Operation Storm-333^[5]
	Babrak Karmal		1929–1996	27 December 1979	11 June 1981	1 year, 166 days	People's Democratic Party (Parcham faction)
	Babrak Karmal		1929–1996	Chairman of the Council of Ministers
	Sultan Ali Keshtmand		born 1935	11 June 1981	26 May 1988	6 years, 350 days	People's Democratic Party (Parcham faction)
	Sultan Ali Keshtmand		born 1935	Chairman of the Council of Ministers; First Tenure
	Mohammad Hasan Sharq		born 1925	26 May 1988	21 February 1989	271 days	Independent
	Mohammad Hasan Sharq		born 1925	Chairman of the Council of Ministers; Appointed as part of the National Reconciliation process
	Sultan Ali Keshtmand		born 1935	21 February 1989	8 May 1990	1 year, 76 days	People's Democratic Party (Parcham faction)
	Sultan Ali Keshtmand		born 1935	Chairman of the Council of Ministers; Second Tenure
	Fazal Haq Khaliqyar		1934–2004	8 May 1990	15 April 1992	1 year, 343 days	People's Democratic Party (Parcham faction) (until June 1990)
				8 May 1990	15 April 1992	1 year, 343 days	Homeland Party
				Chairman of the Council of Ministers; Resigned
Islamic State of Afghanistan (1992–2002)
	Abdul Sabur Farid Kohistani		1952–2007	6 July 1992	15 August 1992	40 days	Hezb-e Islami Gulbuddin
	Abdul Sabur Farid Kohistani		1952–2007	Prime Minister
Post vacant (15 August 1992–17 June 1993)
	Gulbuddin Hekmatyar		born 1947	17 June 1993	28 June 1994	1 year, 11 days	Hezb-e Islami Gulbuddin
	Gulbuddin Hekmatyar		born 1947	Prime Minister; First Tenure
	Arsala Rahmani Daulat		1937–2012	28 June 1994	1995	0–1 years	Ittehad-e Islami
	Arsala Rahmani Daulat		1937–2012	Acting Prime Minister
	Ahmad Shah Ahmadzai		born 1944	1995	26 June 1996	0–1 years	Ittehad-e Islami
	Ahmad Shah Ahmadzai		born 1944	Acting Prime Minister
	Gulbuddin Hekmatyar		born 1947	26 June 1996	11 August 1997	1 year, 46 days	Hezb-e Islami Gulbuddin
	Gulbuddin Hekmatyar		born 1947	Prime Minister; Second Tenure; Deposed during the fall of Kabul on 27 September 1996;^[6] Continued to claim the position in rebellion during the 1996–2001 Civil War; Between 1996 and 2001, the Islamic State remained the internationally recognized government, despite only controlling about 10% of Afghan territory
	Abdul Rahim Ghafoorzai		1947–1997	11 August 1997	21 August 1997	10 days	Independent
	Abdul Rahim Ghafoorzai		1947–1997	Prime Minister; Claimed the position in rebellion during the 1996–2001 Civil War; Killed in an aircraft crash
Post vacant (21 August 1997–13 July 2002)
Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (1996–2001 and 2021–present)
	Mullah Mohammad Rabbani		1955–2001	27 September 1996	13 April 2001	4 years, 198 days	Taliban
	Mullah Mohammad Rabbani		1955–2001	Deputy Head of the Supreme Council; Prime Minister; Deputy leader of the Taliban; Died in office; Between 1996 and 2001, the Islamic Emirate never attained widespread international recognition, despite controlling about 90% of Afghan territory
	Mawlawi Abdul Kabir		born 1958	16 April 2001	13 November 2001	211 days	Taliban
	Mawlawi Abdul Kabir		born 1958	Acting Deputy Head of the Supreme Council; Acting Prime Minister; Deposed during the fall of Kabul
Post abolished (13 November 2001–7 September 2021)
	Mullah Hasan Akhund		between 1945 and 1958^[7]	7 September 2021	Incumbent	12 days	Taliban
	Mullah Hasan Akhund		between 1945 and 1958^[7]	Acting Prime Minister; The Islamic Emirate is currently not internationally recognized, despite controlling the majority of Afghan territory

Timeline[]

References[]

^ https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-58479750
^ Richard S. Newell (1997). Peter R. Blood (ed.). Afghanistan: A country study. Federal Research Division. The Constitutional Period, 1964-73. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
^ Dugger, Celia W. (20 April 2001). "Muhammad Rabbani, Advocate of Some Moderation in Taliban". The New York Times. Retrieved 29 September 2012.
^ "Afghan King Overthrown; A Republic Is Proclaimed". The New York Times. 18 July 1973. Retrieved 3 August 2021.
^ "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.
^ "Security Council 1988 Committee Amends 105 Entries on Its Sanctions List | Meetings Coverage and Press Releases". www.un.org. Retrieved 2021-09-08.

External links[]

Internet Page that has copies of several Afghan Constitutions

[1] ttps://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-58479750

[cs-2] Richard S. Newell (1997). Peter R. Blood (ed.). Afghanistan: A country study. Federal Research Division. The Constitutional Period, 1964-73. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.

[nytimes01-3] Dugger, Celia W. (20 April 2001). "Muhammad Rabbani, Advocate of Some Moderation in Taliban". The New York Times. Retrieved 29 September 2012.

[NYT1-4] "Afghan King Overthrown; A Republic Is Proclaimed". The New York Times. 18 July 1973. Retrieved 3 August 2021.

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

[NYT2-6] Barbara Crossette (26 September 1996). "Kabul Falls to Islamic Militia; Afghans Accuse Pakistan". The New York Times. Retrieved 11 September 2021.

[:0-7] "Security Council 1988 Committee Amends 105 Entries on Its Sanctions List | Meetings Coverage and Press Releases". www.un.org. Retrieved 2021-09-08.

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show v t Prime ministers of Afghanistan
Kingdom	Shir Ahmad Shir Giyan Mohammad Hashim Khan Amanat Lewana Shah Mahmud Khan Mohammed Daoud Khan Mohammad Yusuf Mohammad Hashim Maiwandwal Abdullah Yaqta* Mohammad Nur Ahmad Etemadi Abdul Zahir Mohammad Musa Shafiq
Democratic Republic	Nur Muhammad Taraki Hafizullah Amin Babrak Karmal Sultan Ali Keshtmand Mohammad Hasan Sharq Sultan Ali Keshtmand Fazal Haq Khaliqyar
Islamic State	Abdul Sabur Farid Kohistani Gulbuddin Hekmatyar Arsala Rahmani Daulat* Ahmad Shah Ahmadzai* Gulbuddin Hekmatyar Abdul Rahim Ghafoorzai
Islamic Emirate (de facto) (1996–2001 and since 2021)	Mohammad Rabbani Abdul Kabir* Hasan Akhund*
* Acting Italics indicate rebel prime minister in the Eastern Province, during the 1944–47 tribal revolts