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Prime Minister of Afghanistan
Head of government of Afghanistan
Head of government of Afghanistan
| Field | Value | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| post | Prime Minister | ||||
| body | the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan | ||||
| native_name | |||||
| insignia | Arms of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan.svg | ||||
| insigniacaption | Emblem of Afghanistan | ||||
| flagborder | yes | ||||
| flagcaption | Flag of Afghanistan | ||||
| image | Hasan Akhund.png | ||||
| incumbent | Hasan Akhund | ||||
| incumbentsince | 7 September 2021 | ||||
| department | Government of Afghanistan | ||||
| type | Head of government | ||||
| member_of | Cabinet | ||||
| reports_to | Leadership | ||||
| seat | Kabul | ||||
| appointer | Supreme Leader | ||||
| termlength | At the pleasure of the supreme leader | ||||
| constituting_instrument | 1998 *dastur* | ||||
| formation | {{indented plainlist | ||||
| *{{start date | df | y | 1927 | 10 | 25}} (original) |
| *{{start date | df | y | 2021 | 9 | 7}} (current form) |
| first | Shir Ahmad | ||||
| succession | No (Deputy Leader succeeds Supreme Leader) | ||||
| deputy | Deputy Prime Minister | ||||
| salary | monthly | ||||
| website |
- (original)
- (current form) The prime minister of Afghanistan, officially the prime minister of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, is the head of government 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 that ousted the Taliban regime, 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.
The prime minister and government are subject to the instruction of the supreme leader. On September 7, 2021 the Taliban officials who exercised de facto control of Afghanistan announced Islamic scholar Hasan Akhund as acting prime minister in a new interim government of the recently re-established Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan. On August 15, 2025 Akhund and other members of his cabinet were appointed on a permanent rather than acting basis.
History
Kingdom
Main article: Kingdom of Afghanistan
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 Mohammad Zahir Shah appointed his relatives as prime ministers. The king 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 the king 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 (lower house of the Parliament) about the General Policy of the government, and individually for their prescribed duties.
Democratic Republic
Main article: Democratic Republic of Afghanistan
In April 1978, Mohammad 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
Main article: Islamic State of Afghanistan
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
Main article: Taliban
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, 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 with the formation of a new interim government.
List of prime ministers
(Dates in italics indicate de facto continuation of office)
| Name | Portrait | Lifespan | Term of office | Political affiliation | Took office | Left office | Time in office | Kingdom of Afghanistan (1926–1973) | Independent politician}}" | Saqqawists}}" | Independent politician}}" | Independent politician}}" | Independent politician}}" | Independent politician}}" | Independent politician}}" | Progressive Democratic Party of Afghanistan}}" | Independent politician}}" | Independent politician}}" | Independent politician}}" | Independent politician}}" | Democratic Republic of Afghanistan (1978–1992) | People's Democratic Party of Afghanistan}}" | People's Democratic Party of Afghanistan}}" | People's Democratic Party of Afghanistan}}" | People's Democratic Party of Afghanistan}}" | Independent politician}}" | People's Democratic Party of Afghanistan}}" | People's Democratic Party of Afghanistan}}" | Islamic State of Afghanistan (1992–2002) | Hezb-e Islami Gulbuddin}}" | Hezb-e Islami Gulbuddin}}" | Islamic Dawah Organisation of Afghanistan}}" | Islamic Dawah Organisation of Afghanistan}}" | Hezb-e Islami Gulbuddin}}" | Independent politician}}" | Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (1996–2001) | Taliban}}" | Taliban}}" | Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (2021–present) | Taliban}}" | Taliban}}" | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| **Shir Ahmad** | [[File:No image.svg | 100px]] | –? | 25 October 1927 | January 1929 | Independent | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Prime Minister; Deposed. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| **Shir Giyan** | [[File:No image.svg | 100px]] | died 1929 | January 1929 | 1 November 1929 | Saqqawist | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Prime Minister of the Emirate of Afghanistan (1929); Deposed. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| **Mohammad Hashim Khan** | [[File:Mohammad Hashim Khan - NAC - PIC 1-E-222.jpg | 100px]] | 1884–1953 | 1 November 1929 | 9 May 1946 | Independent | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Prime Minister; Member of the Barakzai dynasty. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| **Amanat Lewana** | [[File:No image.svg | 100px]] | Unknown | Unknown | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Prime Minister under king Salemai; Eastern Province only during the 1944–47 tribal revolts. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| **Shah Mahmud Khan** | [[File:Sardar shahvali khan.png | 100px]] | 1890–1959 | 9 May 1946 | work= The New York Times | title= AFGHAN LEADER QUITS; Uncle of the King Resigns as Prime Minister | url= https://www.nytimes.com/1953/09/08/archives/afghan-leader-quits-uncle-of-the-king-resigns-as-prime-minister.html | date= 8 September 1953 | access-date= 1 April 2022 | archive-date= 1 April 2022 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20220401161453/https://www.nytimes.com/1953/09/08/archives/afghan-leader-quits-uncle-of-the-king-resigns-as-prime-minister.html | url-status= live }} | Independent | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Prime Minister; Member of the Barakzai dynasty. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| **Mohammad Daoud Khan** | [[File:Prime Minister Mohammad Daoud Khan.jpg | 100px]] | 1909–1978 | 7 September 1953 | 10 March 1963 | Independent | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Prime Minister; Member of the Barakzai dynasty. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| **Mohammad Yusuf** | [[File:No image.svg | 100px]] | 1917–1998 | 10 March 1963 | 2 November 1965 | Independent | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Prime Minister. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| **Mohammad Hashim Maiwandwal** | [[File:Mohammad Hashim Maiwandwal (cropped).jpg | 100px]] | 1919–1973 | 2 November 1965 | 11 October 1967 | Independent | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (until 1966) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Progressive Democratic Party | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Prime Minister. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| **Abdullah Yaqta** | [[File:No image.svg | 100px]] | 1914–2003 | 11 October 1967 | 1 November 1967 | Independent | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Acting Prime Minister. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| **Mohammad Nur Ahmad Etemadi** | [[File:No image.svg | 100px]] | 1921–1979 | 1 November 1967 | 9 June 1971 | Independent | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Prime Minister. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| **Abdul Zahir** | [[File:Abdul Zahir White House.png | 100px]] | 1910–1982 | 9 June 1971 | 12 November 1972 | Independent | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Prime Minister. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| **Mohammad Musa Shafiq** | [[File:No image.svg | 100px]] | 1932–1979 | 12 November 1972 | 17 July 1973 | Independent | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Prime Minister; Deposed during the [1973 coup d'état](1973-afghan-coup-d-etat). | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| *Post abolished (17 July 1973 – 1 May 1978)* | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| **Nur Muhammad Taraki** | [[File:Nur Muhammad Taraki.png | 100px]] | 1917–1979 | 1 May 1978 | 27 March 1979 | People's Democratic Party | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| *(Khalq faction)* | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Chairman of the Council of Ministers. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| **Hafizullah Amin** | [[File:Hafizullah Amin.jpg | 100px]] | 1929–1979 | 27 March 1979 | 27 December 1979 | People's Democratic Party | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| *(Khalq faction)* | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Chairman of the Council of Ministers; Assassinated by Soviet special forces during the Operation Storm-333. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| **Babrak Karmal** | [[File:Babrak Karmal January 1980 (cropped).jpg | 100px]] | 1929–1996 | 27 December 1979 | 11 June 1981 | People's Democratic Party | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| *(Parcham faction)* | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Chairman of the Council of Ministers. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| **Sultan Ali Keshtmand** | [[File:No image.svg | 100px]] | born 1935 | 11 June 1981 | 26 May 1988 | People's Democratic Party | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| *(Parcham faction)* | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Chairman of the Council of Ministers; First tenure. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| **Mohammad Hasan Sharq** | [[File:No image.svg | 100px]] | born 1925 | 26 May 1988 | 21 February 1989 | Independent | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Chairman of the Council of Ministers; Appointed as part of the National Reconciliation process. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| **Sultan Ali Keshtmand** | [[File:No image.svg | 100px]] | born 1935 | 21 February 1989 | 8 May 1990 | People's Democratic Party | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| *(Parcham faction)* | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Chairman of the Council of Ministers; Second tenure. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| **Fazal Haq Khaliqyar** | [[File:No image.svg | 100px]] | 1934–2004 | 8 May 1990 | 15 April 1992 | People's Democratic Party | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| *(Parcham faction)* | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (until June 1990) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Homeland Party | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Chairman of the Council of Ministers; Resigned. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| **Abdul Sabur Farid Kohistani** | [[File:No image.svg | 100px]] | 1952–2007 | 6 July 1992 | 15 August 1992 | Hezb-e Islami Gulbuddin | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Prime Minister. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| *Post vacant (15 August 1992 – 17 June 1993)* | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| **Gulbuddin Hekmatyar** | [[File:Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, BBC Persian - Sep 28, 2019.jpg | 100px]] | born 1947 | 17 June 1993 | 28 June 1994 | Hezb-e Islami Gulbuddin | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Prime Minister; First tenure. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| **Arsala Rahmani Daulat** | [[File:No image.svg | 100px]] | 1937–2012 | 28 June 1994 | 1995 | ≈ 1 year | Ittehad-e Islami | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Acting Prime Minister. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| **Ahmad Shah Ahmadzai** | [[File:No image.svg | 100px]] | 1944–2021 | 1995 | 26 June 1996 | ≈ 1 year | Ittehad-e Islami | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Acting Prime Minister. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| **Gulbuddin Hekmatyar** | [[File:Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, BBC Persian - Sep 28, 2019.jpg | 100px]] | born 1947 | 26 June 1996 | 11 August 1997 | Hezb-e Islami Gulbuddin | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Prime Minister; Second tenure; Fled Kabul following its fall to the Taliban on 27 September 1996; Continued to serve as Prime Minister in areas controlled by the Northern Alliance 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** | [[File:No image.svg | 100px]] | 1947–1997 | 11 August 1997 | 21 August 1997 | Independent | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Prime Minister; Served only in areas controlled by the Northern Alliance due to 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; Killed in an aircraft crash. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mullah | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| **Mohammad Rabbani** | [[File:No image.svg | 100px]] | 1955–2001 | 27 September 1996 | 13 April 2001 | Taliban | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 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** | [[File:Abdul Kabir 2021.jpg | 100px]] | born 1958 | 16 April 2001 | 13 November 2001 | Taliban | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 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** | [[File:Hasan Akhund.png | 100px]] | between 1945 and 1958 | 7 September 2021 | *Incumbent* | Taliban | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Prime Minister; Served in acting capacity until 15 August 2025; The Islamic Emirate currently has limited international recognition, despite controlling all Afghan territory. Hasan Akhund spent 17 May to 17 July 2023 in Kandahar recovering from an illness, during which his deputy Abdul Kabir carried out the duties of the prime minister. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mawlawi | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| **Abdul Kabir** | [[File:Abdul Kabir 2021.jpg | 100px]] | born 1958 | 17 May 2023 | 17 July 2023 | Taliban | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Acting Prime Minister *pro tempore* while Hasan Akhund was recovering from an illness. |
Timeline
This is a graphical lifespan timeline of the heads of government of Afghanistan. They are listed in order of first assuming office.
ImageSize = width:1000 height:auto barincrement:15 PlotArea = top:3 bottom:100 right:150 left:20 AlignBars = late
Define $today =
DateFormat = dd/mm/yyyy Period = from:1927 till:$today TimeAxis = orientation:horizontal
Colors = id:independent value:rgb(0.87,0.87,0.87) legend:None_(Independent) id:pdp value:rgb(0.82,0.20,0.22) legend:Progressive_Democratic_Party id:pdpa value:rgb(0.86,0.07,0.1) legend:People's_Democratic_Party id:hp value:rgb(0.96,0.07,0.1) legend:Homeland_Party id:hezb value:rgb(0.24,0.68,0.46) legend:Hezb-e_Islami_Gulbuddin id:ittehad value:rgb(0,0.57,0.24) legend:Islamic_Dawah_Organisation id:taliban value:rgb(0,0,0) legend:Taliban
id:gray1 value:gray(0.85) id:gray2 value:gray(0.95)
ScaleMajor = gridcolor:gray1 unit:year increment:10 start:1930 ScaleMinor = gridcolor:gray2 unit:year increment:1 start:1927
Legend = columns:3 left:200 top:60 columnwidth:190
TextData = pos:(20,65) textcolor:black fontsize:M text:"Political affiliation:"
BarData = bar:ShirAhmad bar:ShirGiyan bar:HashimKhan bar:AmanatLewana bar:MahmudKhan bar:DaoudKhan bar:Yusuf bar:Maiwandwal bar:Yaqta bar:Etemadi bar:Zahir bar:Shafiq bar:Taraki bar:Amin bar:Karmal bar:Keshtmand bar:Sharq bar:Khaliqyar bar:Kohistani bar:Hekmatyar bar:Daulat bar:Ahmadzai bar:Rabbani bar:Ghafoorzai bar:Kabir bar:Akhund
PlotData = width:5 align:left fontsize:9 shift:(5,-4) anchor:till
bar:ShirAhmad from: 25/10/1927 till: 01/01/1929 color:independent text:"Shir Ahmad" bar:ShirGiyan from: 01/01/1929 till: 01/11/1929 color:independent text:"Shir Giyan" bar:HashimKhan from: 01/11/1929 till: 09/05/1946 color:independent text:"Mohammad Hashim Khan" bar:AmanatLewana from: 01/01/1944 till: 01/01/1946 color:independent text:"Amanat Lewana (rebel)" bar:MahmudKhan from: 09/05/1946 till: 07/09/1953 color:independent text:"Shah Mahmud Khan" bar:DaoudKhan from: 07/09/1953 till: 10/03/1963 color:independent text:"Mohammad Daoud Khan" bar:Yusuf from: 10/03/1963 till: 02/11/1965 color:independent text:"Mohammad Yusuf" bar:Maiwandwal from: 02/11/1965 till: 01/01/1966 color:independent from: 01/01/1966 till: 11/10/1967 color:pdp text:"Mohammad Hashim Maiwandwal" bar:Yaqta from: 11/10/1967 till: 01/11/1967 color:independent text:"Abdullah Yaqta (acting)" bar:Etemadi from: 01/11/1967 till: 09/06/1971 color:independent text:"Mohammad Nur Ahmad Etemadi" bar:Zahir from: 09/06/1971 till: 12/11/1972 color:independent text:"Abdul Zahir" bar:Shafiq from: 12/11/1972 till: 17/07/1973 color:independent text:"Mohammad Musa Shafiq" bar:Taraki from: 01/05/1978 till: 27/03/1979 color:pdpa text:"Nur Muhammad Taraki" bar:Amin from: 27/03/1979 till: 27/12/1979 color:pdpa text:"Hafizullah Amin" bar:Karmal from: 27/12/1979 till: 11/06/1981 color:pdpa text:"Babrak Karmal" bar:Keshtmand from: 11/06/1981 till: 26/05/1988 color:pdpa from: 21/02/1989 till: 08/05/1990 color:pdpa text:"Sultan Ali Keshtmand" bar:Sharq from: 26/05/1988 till: 21/02/1989 color:independent text:"Mohammad Hasan Sharq" bar:Khaliqyar from: 08/05/1990 till: 01/06/1990 color:pdpa from: 01/06/1990 till: 15/04/1992 color:hp text:"Fazal Haq Khaliqyar" bar:Kohistani from: 06/07/1992 till: 15/08/1992 color:hezb text:"Abdul Sabur Farid Kohistani" bar:Hekmatyar from: 17/06/1993 till: 28/06/1994 color:hezb from: 26/06/1996 till: 11/08/1997 color:hezb text:"Gulbuddin Hekmatyar" bar:Daulat from: 28/06/1994 till: 01/01/1995 color:ittehad text:"Arsala Rahmani Daulat (acting)" bar:Ahmadzai from: 01/01/1995 till: 26/06/1996 color:ittehad text:"Ahmad Shah Ahmadzai (acting)" bar:Rabbani from: 27/09/1996 till: 13/04/2001 color:taliban text:"Mohammad Rabbani" bar:Ghafoorzai from: 11/08/1997 till: 21/08/1997 color:independent text:"Abdul Rahim Ghafoorzai" bar:Kabir from: 16/04/2001 till: 13/11/2001 color:taliban from: 17/05/2023 till: 17/07/2023 color:taliban text:"Abdul Kabir (acting)" bar:Akhund from: 07/09/2021 till: $today color:taliban text:"Hasan Akhund"
The following chart lists heads of government by lifespan (living heads of government on the green line), with the years outside of their tenure in beige. Heads of government with an unknown birth date or death date are shown with only their tenure or their earlier or later life.
Define $width = 1000 # 2.78 pixels per year ($end - $start) × 2.78 Define $warning = 880 # $width - 120 Define $height = 1325 # 47 × 25 + 150 Define $footnote = 600 # $width - 400
Define $dy = -5 # shift text to button side of bar Define $start = 01/01/1880 # Just before eldest (Mohammad Hashim Khan) was born Define $end = 01/01/2030 # Next 5-year multiple after this year Define $now =
DateFormat = dd/mm/yyyy
ImageSize = width:$width height:$height PlotArea = right:10 left:1 bottom:80 top:60 Period = from:$start till:$end TimeAxis = orientation:horizontal Legend = orientation:vertical columns:1 left:0 top:50 columnwidth:500
Colors = id:bg value:white id:lightline value:rgb(0.8, 0.8, 0.8) id:lighttext value:rgb(0.5, 0.5, 0.5) id:LIFESPAN value:rgb(0.88, 0.90, 0.70) Legend: Lifespan id:MONARCH value:rgb(0.67, 0.67, 0.67) Legend: Monarch id:INDEPENDENT value:rgb(0.87, 0.87, 0.87) Legend: Independent id:PrDPA value:rgb(0.89, 0.24, 0.16) Legend: Progressive_Democratic_Party_of_Afghanistan id:PeDPA value:rgb(0.86, 0.04, 0.07) Legend: People's_Democratic_Party_of_Afghanistan id:HPA value:rgb(0.03, 0.7, 0.99) Legend: Homeland_Party_of_Afghanistan id:HeIG value:rgb(0, 0.5, 0.23) Legend: Hezb-e_Islami_Gulbuddin id:IDOA value:rgb(0, 0.5, 0) Legend: Islamic_Dawah_Organisation_of_Afghanistan id:TALIBAN value:rgb(0, 0, 0) Legend: Taliban id:NAME value:rgb(0.15, 0.13, 0.05) id:TODAY value:green
BackgroundColors = canvas:bg ScaleMinor = gridcolor:lightline unit:year increment:1 start:$start ScaleMajor = gridcolor:lighttext unit:year increment:10 start:01/01/1880
LineData= at:$now color:TODAY width:0.1
PlotData= bar:1 width:18 color:LIFESPAN align:center fontsize:M from:01/01/1885 till:25/10/1927 shift:(-0,$dy) textcolor:NAME text:Shir Ahmad color:INDEPENDENT from:25/10/1927 till:17/01/1929
bar:2 width:18 color:INDEPENDENT align:center fontsize:M from:17/01/1929 till:01/11/1929 shift:(-0,$dy) textcolor:NAME text:Shir Giyan
bar:3 width:18 color:LIFESPAN align:center fontsize:M from:01/01/1884 till:09/11/1929 shift:(-0,$dy) textcolor:NAME text:Mohammad Hashim Khan color:INDEPENDENT from:09/11/1929 till:09/05/1946 color:LIFESPAN from:09/05/1946 till:26/10/1953
bar:4 width:18 color:INDEPENDENT align:center fontsize:M from:01/01/1944 till:01/01/1946 shift:(-0,$dy) textcolor:NAME text:Amanat Lewana
bar:5 width:18 color:LIFESPAN align:center fontsize:M from:01/01/1890 till:09/05/1946 shift:(-0,$dy) textcolor:NAME text:Shah Mahmud Khan color:INDEPENDENT from:09/05/1946 till:07/09/1953 color:LIFESPAN from:07/09/1953 till:27/12/1959
bar:6 width:18 color:LIFESPAN align:center fontsize:M from:18/07/1909 till:07/09/1953 shift:(-0,$dy) textcolor:NAME text:Mohammad Daoud Khan color:INDEPENDENT from:07/09/1953 till:10/03/1963 color:LIFESPAN from:10/03/1963 till:28/04/1978
bar:7 width:18 color:LIFESPAN align:center fontsize:M from:21/01/1917 till:10/03/1963 shift:(-0,$dy) textcolor:NAME text:Mohammad Yusuf color:INDEPENDENT from:10/03/1963 till:02/11/1965 color:LIFESPAN from:02/11/1965 till:23/01/1998
bar:8 width:18 color:LIFESPAN align:center fontsize:M from:12/03/1921 till:02/11/1965 shift:(-0,$dy) textcolor:NAME text:Mohammad Hashim Maiwandwal color:INDEPENDENT from:02/11/1965 till:01/01/1966 color:PrDPA from:01/01/1966 till:11/10/1967 color:LIFESPAN from:11/10/1967 till:20/10/1973
bar:9 width:18 color:LIFESPAN align:center fontsize:M from:01/01/1918 till:11/10/1967 shift:(-0,$dy) textcolor:NAME text:Abdullah Yaqta color:INDEPENDENT from:11/10/1967 till:01/11/1967 color:LIFESPAN from:01/11/1967 till:17/07/2003
bar:10 width:18 color:LIFESPAN align:center fontsize:M from:22/02/1921 till:01/11/1967 shift:(-0,$dy) textcolor:NAME text:Mohammad Nur Ahmad Etemadi color:INDEPENDENT from:01/11/1967 till:09/06/1971 color:LIFESPAN from:09/06/1971 till:16/09/1979
bar:11 width:18 color:LIFESPAN align:center fontsize:M from:03/05/1910 till:09/06/1971 shift:(-0,$dy) textcolor:NAME text:Abdul Zahir color:INDEPENDENT from:09/06/1971 till:12/12/1972 color:LIFESPAN from:12/12/1972 till:21/10/1982
bar:12 width:18 color:LIFESPAN align:center fontsize:M from:01/01/1932 till:12/12/1972 shift:(-0,$dy) textcolor:NAME text:Mohammad Musa Shafiq color:INDEPENDENT from:12/12/1972 till:17/07/1973 color:LIFESPAN from:17/07/1973 till:01/01/1979
bar:13 width:18 color:LIFESPAN align:center fontsize:M from:14/07/1917 till:01/05/1978 shift:(-0,$dy) textcolor:NAME text:Nur Muhammad Taraki color:PeDPA from:01/05/1978 till:27/03/1979 color:LIFESPAN from:27/03/1979 till:09/10/1979
bar:14 width:18 color:LIFESPAN align:center fontsize:M from:01/08/1929 till:27/03/1979 shift:(-0,$dy) textcolor:NAME text:Hafizullah Amin color:PeDPA from:27/03/1979 till:27/12/1979
bar:15 width:18 color:LIFESPAN align:center fontsize:M from:06/01/1929 till:27/12/1979 shift:(-0,$dy) textcolor:NAME text:Babrak Karmal color:PeDPA from:27/12/1979 till:11/06/1981 color:LIFESPAN from:11/06/1981 till:03/12/1996
bar:16 width:18 color:LIFESPAN align:center fontsize:M from:22/05/1935 till:11/06/1981 shift:(-0,$dy) textcolor:NAME text:Sultan Ali Keshtmand color:PeDPA from:11/06/1981 till:26/05/1988 color:LIFESPAN from:26/05/1988 till:21/02/1989 color:PeDPA from:21/02/1989 till:08/05/1990 color:LIFESPAN from:08/05/1990 till:$now
bar:17 width:18 color:LIFESPAN align:center fontsize:M from:17/07/1925 till:26/05/1988 shift:(-0,$dy) textcolor:NAME text:Mohammad Hasan Sharq color:INDEPENDENT from:26/05/1988 till:21/02/1989 color:LIFESPAN from:21/02/1989 till:$now
bar:18 width:18 color:LIFESPAN align:center fontsize:M from:01/01/1934 till:08/05/1990 shift:(-0,$dy) textcolor:NAME text:Fazal Haq Khaliqyar color:PeDPA from:08/05/1990 till:01/06/1990 color:HPA from:01/06/1990 till:15/04/1992 color:LIFESPAN from:15/04/1992 till:16/07/2004
bar:19 width:18 color:LIFESPAN align:center fontsize:M from:01/01/1952 till:06/07/1992 shift:(-0,$dy) textcolor:NAME text:Abdul Sabur Farid Kohistani color:HeIG from:06/07/1992 till:15/08/1992 color:LIFESPAN from:15/08/1992 till:02/05/2007
bar:20 width:18 color:LIFESPAN align:center fontsize:M from:01/08/1949 till:17/06/1993 shift:(-0,$dy) textcolor:NAME text:Gulbuddin Hekmatyar color:HeIG from:17/06/1993 till:28/06/1994 color:LIFESPAN from:28/06/1994 till:26/06/1996 color:HeIG from:26/06/1996 till:11/08/1997 color:LIFESPAN from:11/08/1997 till:$now
bar:21 width:18 color:LIFESPAN align:center fontsize:M from:01/01/1944 till:28/06/1994 shift:(-0,$dy) textcolor:NAME text:Arsala Rahmani Daulat color:IDOA from:28/06/1994 till:01/01/1995 color:LIFESPAN from:01/01/1995 till:13/05/2012
bar:22 width:18 color:LIFESPAN align:center fontsize:M from:30/03/1944 till:01/01/1995 shift:(-0,$dy) textcolor:NAME text:Ahmad Shah Ahmadzai color:IDOA from:01/01/1995 till:26/06/1996 color:LIFESPAN from:26/06/1996 till:17/10/2021
bar:23 width:18 color:LIFESPAN align:center fontsize:M from:01/01/1955 till:27/09/1996 shift:(-0,$dy) textcolor:NAME text:Mohammad Rabbani color:TALIBAN from:27/09/1996 till:16/04/2001
bar:24 width:18 color:LIFESPAN align:center fontsize:M from:01/01/1947 till:11/08/1997 shift:(-0,$dy) textcolor:NAME text:Abdul Rahim Ghafoorzai color:INDEPENDENT from:11/08/1997 till:21/08/1997
bar:25 width:18 color:LIFESPAN align:center fontsize:M from:01/01/1963 till:16/04/2001 shift:(-0,$dy) textcolor:NAME text:Abdul Kabir color:TALIBAN from:16/04/2001 till:13/11/2001 color:LIFESPAN from:13/11/2001 till:17/05/2023 color:TALIBAN from:17/05/2023 till:17/07/2023 color:LIFESPAN from:17/07/2023 till:$now
bar:26 width:18 color:LIFESPAN align:center fontsize:M from:01/01/1955 till:07/09/2021 shift:(-0,$dy) textcolor:NAME text:Hasan Akhund color:TALIBAN from:07/09/2021 till:$now
TextData = fontsize:M textcolor:green pos:($warning,30) text:Updated /
TextData = pos:(340,$height) fontsize:L textcolor:black text:"Lifespan of each Afghan head of government"
The following chart shows heads of government by their age (living heads of government in green), with the years of their tenure in blue. Heads of government with an unknown birth or death date are excluded. The vertical black line at 35 years indicates the minimum age to be chairman of the Council of Ministers during the existence of the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan.
ImageSize = width:1000 height:700 PlotArea = width:900 height:670 left:80 bottom:30 AlignBars = justify
Colors = id:pre value:rgb(0.7,0.7,0.7) # grey id:pres value:rgb(0,0,1) # blue id:post value:rgb(0.7,0.7,0.7) # grey id:alive value:rgb(0.5,0.8,0.5) # green
Period = from:0 till:100.5 TimeAxis = orientation:horizontal ScaleMajor = gridcolor:black unit:year increment:10 start:0 ScaleMinor = unit:year increment:1 start:0
PlotData= align:center width:8 shift:(0,-0)
bar:HashimKhan color:pre from:0 till:45.86 bar:HashimKhan color:pres from:45.86 till:62.35 bar:HashimKhan color:post from:62.35 till:69.82
bar:MahmudKhan color:pre from:0 till:56.35 bar:MahmudKhan color:pres from:56.35 till:63.68 bar:MahmudKhan color:post from:63.68 till:69.99
bar:DaoudKhan color:pre from:0 till:44.14 bar:DaoudKhan color:pres from:44.14 till:53.64 bar:DaoudKhan color:post from:53.64 till:68.78
bar:Yusuf color:pre from:0 till:46.13 bar:Yusuf color:pres from:46.13 till:48.78 bar:Yusuf color:post from:48.78 till:81.01
bar:Maiwandwal color:pre from:0 till:44.64 bar:Maiwandwal color:pres from:44.64 till:46.58 bar:Maiwandwal color:post from:46.58 till:52.61
bar:Yaqta color:pre from:0 till:49.78 bar:Yaqta color:pres from:49.78 till:49.84 bar:Yaqta color:post from:49.84 till:85.54
bar:Etemadi color:pre from:0 till:46.69 bar:Etemadi color:pres from:46.69 till:50.29 bar:Etemadi color:post from:50.29 till:58.56
bar:Zahir color:pre from:0 till:61.1 bar:Zahir color:pres from:61.1 till:62.61 bar:Zahir color:post from:62.61 till:72.47
bar:Taraki color:pre from:0 till:60.8 bar:Taraki color:pres from:60.8 till:61.7 bar:Taraki color:post from:61.7 till:62.27
bar:Amin color:pre from:0 till:49.65 bar:Amin color:pres from:49.65 till:50.41
bar:Karmal color:pre from:0 till:50.97 bar:Karmal color:pres from:50.97 till:52.43 bar:Karmal color:post from:52.43 till:67.91
bar:Keshtmand color:alive from:0 till:46.05 bar:Keshtmand color:pres from:46.05 till:53.01 bar:Keshtmand color:alive from:53.01 till:53.75 bar:Keshtmand color:pres from:53.75 till:54.96 bar:Keshtmand color:alive from:54.96 till:
bar:Sharq color:alive from:0 till:62.86 bar:Sharq color:pres from:62.86 till:63.6 bar:Sharq color:alive from:63.6 till:
bar:Khaliqyar color:pre from:0 till:56.35 bar:Khaliqyar color:pres from:56.35 till:58.29 bar:Khaliqyar color:post from:58.29 till:70.54
bar:Kohistani color:pre from:0 till:40.51 bar:Kohistani color:pres from:40.51 till:40.62 bar:Kohistani color:post from:40.62 till:55.33
bar:Hekmatyar color:alive from:0 till:43.88 bar:Hekmatyar color:pres from:43.88 till:44.91 bar:Hekmatyar color:alive from:44.91 till:46.9 bar:Hekmatyar color:pres from:46.9 till:48.03 bar:Hekmatyar color:alive from:48.03 till:
bar:Daulat color:pre from:0 till:50.49 bar:Daulat color:pres from:50.49 till:51 bar:Daulat color:post from:51 till:68.37
bar:Ahmadzai color:pre from:0 till:50.76 bar:Ahmadzai color:pres from:50.76 till:52.24 bar:Ahmadzai color:post from:52.24 till:77.55
bar:Rabbani color:pre from:0 till:41.74 bar:Rabbani color:pres from:41.74 till:46.64
bar:Ghafoorzai color:pre from:0 till:50.61 bar:Ghafoorzai color:pres from:50.61 till:50.64
bar:Kabir color:alive from:0 till:38.29 bar:Kabir color:pres from:38.29 till:38.87 bar:Kabir color:alive from:38.87 till:60.38 bar:Kabir color:pres from:60.38 till:60.54 bar:Kabir color:alive from:60.54 till:
bar:Akhund color:alive from:0 till:66.68 bar:Akhund color:pres from:66.68 till:
LineData= layer:front at:35 width:1.5 color:black # Minimum age to be President
Notes
References
References
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- (13 September 2021). "What the Taliban's new government reveals about how they will rule". [[Vox (website).
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- (19 August 2025). "Taliban Officials Are No Longer ‘Acting’". [[The Diplomat (magazine).
- {{Country study. (1997). Richard S. Newell
- Dugger, Celia W.. (20 April 2001). "Muhammad Rabbani, Advocate of Some Moderation in Taliban". The New York Times.
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- (27 December 2009). "How Soviet troops stormed Kabul palace". BBC.
- (27 September 1996). "Afghan Fundamentalists Sweep Into Kabul". The New York Times.
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- (25 August 2006). "Terrorism and Global Disorder – Adrian Guelke – Google Libros". Bloomsbury Academic.
- [[David S. Rohde]] with [[Dexter Filkins]]. (13 November 2001). "Taliban Troops Abandon Capital Without a Fight". The New York Times.
- "Security Council 1988 Committee Amends 105 Entries on Its Sanctions List {{!}} Meetings Coverage and Press Releases".
- Trofimov, Yaroslav. (2021-09-13). "As Taliban Seek International Acceptance, Countries Seek to Engage—but Stop Short of Recognition". Wall Street Journal.
- (20 December 2022). "Frustrated with the Taliban, US Officials Meet Anti-Taliban Figures". [[Voice of America]].
- Trevelyan, Mark. (2025-07-03). "Russia becomes first country to recognise Taliban government of Afghanistan". Reuters.
- (2023-05-17). "Afghan Taliban appoint Mawlawi Abdul Kabir as new premier".
- (17 May 2023). "Mawlawi Kabir Appointed Acting PM As Mullah Hassan Akhund is Ill: Mujahid". [[TOLOnews]].
- (9 September 2023). "Prime Minister's Absence From Meetings Raises Questions". [[TOLOnews]].
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