Afghanistan
 

1881 - c.1901                          c.1901 - 1919               1919 - 1921; 14-17 Jan 1929                        1921 - Jun 1928                    Jun 1928 - Sep 1928                  Sep 1928 - 14 Jan 1929              17 Jan 1929 - 13 Oct 1929               13 Oct 1929 - 31 Oct 1931                 31 Oct 1931 - 17 Jul 1973               17 Jul 1973 - 9 May 1974              9 May 1974 - 27 Apr 1978              27 Apr 1978 - 19 Oct 1978                      19 Oct 1978 - 21 Apr 1980                      21 Apr 1980 - 30 Nov 1987                       30 Nov 1987 - 27 Apr 1992                 27 Apr 1992 - 2 Dec 1992 (provisional)        2 Dec 1992 - 27 Sep 1996; 13 Nov 2001-27 Jan 2002   (27 Sep 1996-13 Nov 2001 UN recognized Govt. Flag)      27 Sep 1996 - 27 Oct 1997 Taliban Flag        27 Oct 1997 - 13 Nov 2001 Taliban Flag                        27 Jan 2002 - 4 Jan 2004             27 Jun 2002 - 4 Jan 2004 Official Variant                   Adopted  4 Jan 2004   Map of Afghanistan Hear National Anthem "Sououd-e-Melli" (Hymn of the People) Adopted 14 May 2006 -------------------------- Former National Anthem "Sououd-e-Melli" (Hymn of the People) (1992-1999, 2002-2006) Hear Former Anthem (1978-1992) (No Anthem 1999-2002) ------------------------------ Former Anthem (1973 - 1978) ------------------------------ Former Anthem (1943-1973) -------------------------------- Former Anthem  (1926-1943) Constitution (16 Jan 2004) --------------------- Former Constitutions (1923, '63,'76, '87,'90) Capital: Kabul (Kandahar 1747-1774) Currency: Afghani (AFA) National Holiday: 19 Aug (1919) Independence Day Population: 31,889,923 (2007)  GDP: $21.5 billion (2004) Exports: $471 million (2005) Imports: $3.87 billion (2005) Ethnic groups: Pashtun 42%, Tajik 27%, Hazara 9%, Uzbek 9%, Aimak 4%, Turkmen 3%, Baloch 2%, others 4% (2004) Total Armed Forces: 13,000 (2004) International Security Forces: 8,000 (2004) U.S. Forces: 18,000 (2004) Merchant marine: None (2007) Religions: Sunni Muslim 80%, Shi'a Muslim 19%, other 1% (2004) International Organizations/Treaties: ADB, APM, BTWC, CP, CTBT, ECO, ENMOD, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, Intersputnik, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISESCO, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, MIGA, NAM, NPT, NTBT, OIC, OPCW, OSCE (partner),  SAARC, SACEP, UN, UNCLOS (signatory), UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFCC, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer) Afghanistan Index Chronology 1504                       Divided between the Moghul Empire (Kabul)                              and Persia (Herat) with control of Qandahar                               alternating between them. 21 Apr 1709                Mir Wais frees Qandahar from Persian rule.  12 Oct 1722 - 25 Apr 1725  Afghans under Mir Mahmud occupy Isfahan in Persia 12 Mar 1738                Persia under Nadir Shah reasserts control over                               Qandahar, renamed Nadirabad; Kabul (from 19 Jun                              1738), Herat (already from 22 Aug 1731) and                              Lahore (from 12 Jan 1739). Jun/Jul 1747               Independence (Emirate [or Empire] of Afghanistan)                              under Kabul; supremacy is contested from                              Herat, Ghazni, Qandahar, and Peshwar.  7 Aug 1839 -  6 Jan 1842  British occupation of Kabul.  7 Aug 1839 -  6 Jan 1842  British protectorate declared. 19 Jun 1877                British annex Baluchistan and Afghanistan becomes                              landlocked.   8 Oct 1879 - 11 Aug 1880  British occupation of Kabul. 12 Oct 1879 -  8 Aug 1919  British protectorate.  2 Oct 1881                State of Afghanistan 30 Mar 1885                Russia annexes the Panjdeh Oasis and Afghan                              territory north of the Oxus River.  8 Aug 1919                Independence proclaimed (from 22 Nov 1921,                              recognized by Britain).  9 Jun 1926                Kingdom of Afghanistan 17 Jul 1973                Republic of Afghanistan 30 Apr 1978                Democratic Republic of Afghanistan 25 Dec 1979 - 15 Feb 1989  Occupied by the Soviet Union. 30 Nov 1987                Republic of Afghanistan 28 Apr 1992                Islamic State of Afghanistan                               (from 27 Sep 1996, largely retaining                              international recognition). 26 Oct 1997                Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan                               (not internationally recognized). 13 Nov 2001                Islamic State of Afghanistan 19 Jun 2002                Transitional Islamic State of Afghanistan 26 Jan 2004                Islamic Republic of Afghanistan Afghanistan (since 1880) Kabul (1747-1901) Herat (1747-1881) Kandahar (1708-1881)  Peshawar (1747-1823)  Ghazni (1879-1880) Exiled Government (1988-1992) Other Polities Andkhui (1731-1880) Badakhshan (1657-1873)  Konduz (1698-c.1900)  Maimana (1747-c.1900) Sar-i-Pul (1831-c.1880) Shibarghan (1757-1875) 1849 Map of Aghanistan

Note: Before 1881 there were essentially four rulers' capitals: Kabul, Herat, Qandahar, 
and Peshawar (the last now in Pakistan).  All rulers of Kabul, Herat Qandahar, and Peshawr belong belong to the Abdali tribal group, whose name was changed to Dorrani on the accession of Ahmad Shah. They belong either to the Saddozay segment of the Popalzay clan (typically with the style padshah [king]) or to the Mohammadzay segment of the Barakzay clan (typically with the style Amir, in full Amir al-Mo´menin [Leader of the Faithful]). The Mohammadzay also furnished the Saddozay kings frequently with top counselors, who served occasionally as regents, identified with the epithet Mohammadzay.

Kabul
 

Kings
Jul 1747 - 16 Oct 1772     Ahmad Shah "Dorr-e Dorran"         (b. 1724 - d. 1772)
16 Oct 1772 - 18 May 1793  Timur Shah                         (b. 1748 - d. 1793)
23 May 1793 - 1801         Zaman Shah                         (b. 1770/72 - d. 1844)
25 Jul 1801 - Jul 1803     Mahmud Shah (1st time)
13 Jul 1803 - 1809         Shoja` al-Molk Shah (1st time)     (b. c.1792 - d. 1842)
 3 May 1808 - 1808         Qaysar Shah (in rebellion)
 3 May 1809 - 1818         Mahmud Shah (2nd time)
1818 - 1819                Soltan `Ali Shah
1819 - 1823                Ayyub Shah
1823                       Habibollah Shah
1823 - 1826                Soltan Mohammad Khan
                             Mohammadzay -Regent
1826 - 1836                Dost Mohammad Khan                 (b. 1789 - d. 1863)
                             Mohammadzay -Regent
Emir
1836 -  2 Aug 1839         Dost Mohammad Khan (1st time)      (s.a.) 
King
 8 May 1839 -  5 Apr 1842  Shoja` al-Molk Shah (2nd time)     (s.a.)
1841 - Apr 1842            Mohammad Zaman Khan 
                             Mohammadzay -Regent 
                             (in rebellion)
Emirs
29 Jun 1842 - 12 Oct 1842  Fath Jang Khan
12 Oct 1842 - Dec 1842     Shahpur Khan
Dec 1842 -  9 Jun 1863     Dost Mohammad Khan (2nd time)      (s.a.)
                             (British prisoner 1840-1842)
1863 - May 1866            Shir `Ali Khan (1st time)          (b. 1825 - d. 1879)
May 1866 -  7 Oct 1867     Mohammad Afzal Khan                (b. 1811 - d. 1867)
 7 Oct 1867 -  8 Sep 1868  Mohammad A`zam Khan                (b. 18.. - d. 1869)
 8 Sep 1868 - 21 Feb 1879  Shir `Ali Khan (2nd time)          (s.a.)
21 Feb 1879 - 12 Oct 1879  Mohammad Ya`qub Khan               (b. 1849 - d. 1923)
1879 - 31 Mar 1880         Mohammad Jan -Minister-regent      (b. .... - d. 1880)
22 Jul 1880 -  3 Oct 1901  Abdor Rahman Khan                  (b. 1844 - d. 1901)
                            (from 2 Oct 1881, Emir of united Afghanistan)

Wazir-i-azam (chief ministers)
1747 - 17..                Haji Jamal Khan Barakzai
bf.1757 - 1773             Shah Wali Khan
17.. - 1793                Payinda Khan Mohammadzai
1793 - 1800                Wafadar Khan
1803 - 1808                Shir Mohammad Khan
1808 - 1809                Nawab Mohammad Usman Khan
1809 - 1818                Fateh Khan
1818                       Dost Mohammad Khan Mohammadzay     (s.a.)
1818 - 1823                Mohammad Azim Khan
1823                       Habibullah Khan
1823 - 1824                Yar Mohammad Khan Alikozay
1824 - 1826                Sultan Muhammad Khan Telai
1826? - 1839               Mirza Sami Khan
1839 - 1840                Mulla Shakur Ishakzai
1840 - 1841                Mohammad Usman Khan Sadozai
1841 - May 1842            Aminullah Khan Logari
                             (in rebellion with Mohammad Zaman Khan)
Jun 1842 - Sep 1842        Mohammad Akbar Khan
Oct 1842 - Dec 1842        Gholam Mohammad Khan Bamizai
                           + Khan Shirin Khan Jawansher
1842 - c.1848?             Mohammad Akbar Khan                 (d. c.1848)
c.1848? - 1855             Gholam Haydar Khan                  (b. 18.. - d. 1858)
1855 - 1863                ....
1863 - 18..                Mohammad Rafiq Khan
c.1869 - Mar 1878          Sayyid Nur Muhammad Khan
c.1878 - 1880              Mirza Mohammad Hasan Khan
22 Jul 1880 -  3 Oct 1901  Vacant

             1818 - 1819, 1819 - 1842

Persian governors
May 1704 - 21 Apr 1709     Gorgin Khan (Giorgi XI of Kartli)   (b. 1651 - d. 1709)
Nov 1709 - 26 Oct 1711     Ki-Khosrow (Kaikhosro of Kartli)    (b. 1674 - d. 1711)
21 Apr 1709 - 1715         Mir Wais Khan Hotaki                (b. 1673 - d. 1715)
                             (in rebellion to 1711)
1715  (6 months)           Mir Abdollah Khan Hotaki            (d. 1715)
1715 - 1722                Mahmud Shah Hotaki                  (b. c.1699 - d. 1725)
1722 - 12 Mar 1738         Husain Sultan Khan Hotaki

1823                       Incorporated into Punjab (officially May 1834).

Kings
Jul 1747 - Aug 1801        see Kabul
Aug 1801 - Sep 1801        Shoja` al-Molk Shah (1st time)      (s.a.)
Sep 1801 - 1818            see Kabul
1818                       Ayyub Shah (1st time)
1818                       Shoja` al-Molk Shah (2nd time)      (s.a.)
1818 - 1823                Ayyub Shah (2nd time)

Emir
24 Dec 1879 - 21 Apr 1880  Musa Jan Khan                       (b. 1868 - d. 1951)

General Secretaries of the People's Democratic (Communist) Party (HDK)
(from Jun 1990 known as Hezb-e-Watan [Fatherland])
1977 - 16 Sep 1979         Nur Mohammad Taraki                (b. 1917 - d. 1979)
16 Sep 1979 - 27 Dec 1979  Hafizullah Amin                    (b. 1929 - d. 1979) 
27 Dec 1979 -  4 May 1986  Babrak Karmal                      (b. 1929 - d. 1996) 
 4 May 1986 - 16 Apr 1992  Mohammad Najibullah                (b. 1947 - d. 1996) 

De facto ruler (from 26 Oct 1997 styled Amir al-Mo´menin)
27 Sep 1996 - 13 Nov 2001  Mullah Mohammad Omar Akhund        (b. 1959/62)         Tal
                             (selected 3 Apr 1996)

Emirs
22 Jul 1880 -  3 Oct 1901  Abdor Rahman Khan                  (b. 1844 - d. 1901)
 3 Oct 1901 - 20 Feb 1919  Habibullah Khan                    (b. 1872 - d. 1919)
21 Feb 1919 - 28 Feb 1919  Nasrullah Khan                     (b. 1875 - d. 1920)
28 Feb 1919 -  9 Jun 1926  Amanullah Khan                     (b. 1892 - d. 1960)
Kings¹
 9 Jun 1926 - 14 Jan 1929  Amanullah Shah                     (s.a.)
14 Jan 1929 - 17 Jan 1929  Inayatullah Shah                   (b. 1888 - d. 1946)
Emirs
17 Jan 1929 - 13 Oct 1929  Habibullah Ghazi                   (b. 1890? - d. 1929)
21 Jan 1929 - 23 May 1929  Amanullah Shah                     (s.a.)
                             (in rebellion, at Qandahar)
28 Jan 1929 - 29 Mar 1929  Sirdar Ali Ahmad Khan              (b. 1883 - d. 1929)
                             (in rebellion, at Jalalabad)
1929 - 15 Jul 1929?        Sirdar Ali Ahmad Khan              (s.a.)
                             (in rebellion, at Qandahar)
1929 - 17 Oct 1929         Mohammad Nadir Khan                (b. 1880 - d. 1933)
                             (in rebellion, at Khost)
Kings¹
17 Oct 1929 -  8 Nov 1933  Mohammad Nadir Shah                (s.a.)
 8 Nov 1933 - 17 Jul 1973  Mohammad Zahir Shah                (b. 1914 - d. 2007)
President
17 Jul 1973 - 27 Apr 1978  Sardar Mohammad Daud Khan          (b. 1909 - d. 1978)None;1976 NRP
Chairman of the Military Council
27 Apr 1978 - 30 Apr 1978  Abdul Qadir                        (b. 1944)            Mil
Presidents of the Revolutionary Council 
30 Apr 1978 - 16 Sep 1979  Nur Mohammad Taraki                (s.a.)               HDK
16 Sep 1979 - 27 Dec 1979  Hafizullah Amin                    (s.a.)               HDK
27 Dec 1979 - 24 Nov 1986  Babrak Karmal                      (s.a.)               HDK
24 Nov 1986 - 30 Sep 1987  Haji Mohammad Chamkani                                  Non-party
30 Sep 1987 - 30 Nov 1987  Mohammad Najibullah                (s.a.)               HDK
Presidents
30 Nov 1987 - 16 Apr 1992  Mohammad Najibullah                (s.a.)               HDK;1990 HW
16 Apr 1992 - 28 Apr 1992  Abdul Rahim Hatef (acting)         (b. 1926)            HW
28 Apr 1992 - 28 Jun 1992  Sibghatullah Mojadedi (interim)    (b. 1925)            JNM
28 Jun 1992 - 27 Sep 1996  Burhanuddin Rabbani (1st time)     (b. 1940)            JIA;1997
                             (continues in rebellion from 27 Sep 1996,             UINFSA
                             largely retaining international recognition)
Heads of the Supreme Council²
27 Sep 1996 - 16 Apr 2001  Mullah Mohammad Rabbani Akhund     (b. 1956 - d. 2001)  Tal
16 Apr 2001 - 13 Nov 2001  Mawlawi Abdul Kabir (acting)                            Tal
President
13 Nov 2001 - 22 Dec 2001  Burhanuddin Rabbani (2nd time)     (s.a.)               JIA/UINFSA
                             (returns to Kabul 17 Nov 2001)
Chairman of the Interim Administration
22 Dec 2001 - 19 Jun 2002  Hamid Karzai                       (b. 1957)            Non-party
President
19 Jun 2002 -              Hamid Karzai                       (s.a.)               Non-party

Chief ministers
1892 - 1901                Mir Abul Qasim 
1905 - 1916                Sirdar Abdul al-Qudduz Khan 
                             (1st time)
1906 - 1916                `Ali Ahmad Ghan Barakzay (acting)
1906 - 1916                Sirdar Mohammad Sulayman Khan 
                             (acting)
1916 - 1919                Sirdar Nasr Ullah Khan
1919 - 1927                Sirdar Abdul al-Qudduz Khan 
                             (2nd time)
Prime ministers
25 Oct 1927 - Jan 1929     Sardar Shir Ahmad Sura-i-Milli     (b. 1885 - d. 19..)  Non-party Jan 1929 -  1 Nov 1929     Shir Giyan                         (b. .... - d. 1929)  Non-party 14 Nov 1929 - May 1946     Sardar Mohammad Hashim Khan        (b. c.1885 - d. 1953)Non-party
May 1946 -  7 Sep 1953     Sardar Shah Mahmud Khan            (b. 1890 - d. 1959)  Non-party  7 Sep 1953 - 10 Mar 1963  Sardar Mohammad Daud Khan          (s.a.)               Non-party
10 Mar 1963 -  2 Nov 1965  Mohammad Yusuf                     (b. 1917 - d. 1998)  Non-party
 2 Nov 1965 - 11 Oct 1967  Mohammad Hashim Maiwandwal         (b. 1919 - d. 1973)  Non-party
11 Oct 1967 -  1 Nov 1967  Abdullah Yaqta (interim)                                Non-party
 1 Nov 1967 -  9 Jun 1971  Mohammad Nur Ahmad Etemadi         (b. 1921 - d. 1979)  Non-party
 9 Jun 1971 - 12 Dec 1972  Abdul Zahir                        (b. 1910 - d. 1982)  Non-party
12 Dec 1972 - 17 Jul 1973  Mohammad Musa Shafiq               (b. 1932 - d. 1979)  Non-party
 1 May 1978 - 27 Mar 1979  Nur Mohammad Taraki                (s.a.)               HDK
27 Mar 1979 - 27 Dec 1979  Hafizullah Amin                    (s.a.)               HDK
27 Dec 1979 - 11 Jun 1981  Babrak Karmal                      (s.a.)               HDK
11 Jun 1981 - 26 May 1988  Sultan Ali Keshtmand (1st time)    (b. 1935)            HDK
26 May 1988 - 21 Feb 1989  Mohammad Hassan Sharq              (b. 1925)            HDK
21 Feb 1989 -  8 May 1990  Sultan Ali Keshtmand (2nd time)    (s.a.)               HDK
 8 May 1990 - 15 Apr 1992  Fazal Haq Khaliqyar                (b. 1934 - d. 2004)  HW
15 Apr 1992 -  6 Jul 1992  Vacant
 6 Jul 1992 - 15 Aug 1992  Abdul Sabur Farid Kuhestani        (b. 1952 - d. 2007)  HI-H
15 Aug 1992 - 17 Jun 1993  Vacant
17 Jun 1993 - 28 Jun 1994  Gulbuddin Hekmatyar (1st time)     (b. 1947)            HI-H
Nov 1994 - 1995            Arsala Rahmani (acting)            (b. 1937)            IT
Jun 1995 - 26 Jun 1996     Ahmad Shah Ahmadzai (acting)       (b. 1944)            II
26 Jun 1996 - 27 Sep 1996  Gulbuddin Hekmatyar (2nd time)     (s.a.)               HI-H
                             (continues under Burhanuddin Rabbani to 11 Aug 1997)
11 Aug 1997 - 21 Aug 1997  Abdul Rahim Ghafoorzai             (b. 19.. - d. 1997)  UINFSA
                             (under Burhanuddin Rabbani)
Aug 1997 - ....            Abdul Ghafoor Ravan Farhadi        (b. 1929)            UINFSA
                             (under Burhanuddin Rabbani)

Commanders of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) 
10 Jan 2002 - 20 Jun 2002  John Chalmers McColl (U.K.)        (b. 1952)
20 Jun 2002 - 10 Feb 2003  Akin Zorlu (Turkey)                (b. 1948)
10 Feb 2003 - 11 Aug 2003  Norbert van Heyst (Netherlands)    (b. 1944)
11 Aug 2003 -  9 Feb 2004  Götz Gliemeroth (Germany)          (b. 1943)
 9 Feb 2004 -  9 Aug 2004  Rick J. Hillier (Canada)           (b. 1956)
 9 Aug 2004 - 13 Feb 2005  Jean-Louis Py (France)             (b. 1948)
13 Feb 2005 -  5 Aug 2005  Ethem Erdagi (Turkey)              (b. 1949) 
 5 Aug 2005 -  4 May 2006  Mauro Del Vecchio (Italy)          (b. 1946)
 4 May 2006 -  6 Feb 2007  David J. Richards (U.K.)           (b. 1952)
 6 Feb 2007 -              Dan K. McNeill (U.S.)              (b. 1946)          
 

British Residents
1837 -  2 Nov 1841         Sir Alexander Burnes               (b. 1805 - d. 1841)
 7 Aug 1839 - 23 Dec 1841  William Hay McNaghten              (b. 1793 - d. 1841)
Dec 1841 -  6 Jan 1842     Eldred Pottinger
Native Vakils (on behalf of Britain)
1856 - Apr 1859            Nawab Foujdar Khan 
Apr 1859 - 1865            Ghulam Husain Khan Allizai 
Feb 1864 - Jan 1868        Bukhiar Khan (acting)
Jan 1868 - 1878            Attah Muhammad Khan Khagwani 
British Residents
24 Jul 1879 -  3 Sep 1879  Louis Napoleon Cavagnari           (b. 1841 - d. 1879)
1880                       Henry Lepel-Griffin
Military Commanders
 8 Oct 1879 -  5 May 1880  Sir Frederick Sleigh Roberts       (b. 1832 - d. 1914)
 5 May 1880 - 11 Aug 1880  Donald Stuart
British Agents (Indian muslim agents of the government of British India)
Jun 1882 - Jun 1885        Sirdar Muhammad Afzal Khan (1st time)
1885 - Jul 1891            Mirza Atta-ullah Khan Sardar 
Jul 1891 - 1894            Sardar Muhammad Afzal Khan (2nd time)
Dec 1894                   Muhammad Izzat Khan (acting)
Dec 1894 - Sep 1895        Muhammad Akram Khan 
1897 - 1900                Maulvi Ghaffur Khan
Mar 1900 - 1903            Hafiz Muhammad Nawaz Khan
Jul 1903 - 1907            Malik Khuda Bakhsh Tawana
Mar 1907 - Jul 1910        Fakir Sajyid Iftikhar-ud-Din
Jul 1910 - Nov 1913        Malik Talib Mahdi Khan
Nov 1913 - 1919            Hafiz Saifullah Khan

Commanders of Soviet Forces (40th Army)
25 Dec 1979 - 23 Sep 1980  Yuri Vladimirovich Tukharinov 
23 Sep 1980 -  7 May 1982  B.T. Tkach
 7 May 1982 -  4 Nov 1983  V.F. Ermakov
 4 Nov 1983 - 19 Apr 1985  I.E. Generalov 
19 Apr 1985 - 30 Apr 1986  Igor N. Rodionov 
30 Apr 1986 -  1 Jun 1987  V.P. Dubynin
 1 Jun 1987 - 15 Feb 1989  Boris V. Gromov 
 

Afghan Government in Exile (in Peshawar, Pakistan)

President
14 Feb 1989 - Apr 1992     Sibghatullah Mojadedi               (s.a.)               JNM

Prime ministers
Jun 1988 - Feb 1989        Shah Ahmed                          (b. 1943)            IT
14 Feb 1989 - Apr 1992     Abdul Rab Rasul Sayyaf              (b. 1947)            IT