Cabinet of Afghanistan
The Cabinet of Afghanistan is made of the heads of all the government ministries. The president selects the members of cabinet with the approval of the National Assembly. Candidates for a ministerial position must be an Afghan citizen, be at least 35 years of age and have higher education.[1] Ministers, unlike the president and vice presidents, can have citizenship of another country, but the Wolesi Jirga has in the past rejected ministers for the reason of having dual citizenship.[2]
This article is part of a series on the politics and government of Afghanistan |
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Ghani 1st Term Cabinet of Ministers
National Unity Government
Portfolio | Name | Years | Status |
---|---|---|---|
President | Ashraf Ghani | 2014–present | Chosen by electorate |
First Vice President | Abdul Rashid Dostum Amrullah Saleh | 2014–2020 present | Chosen by electorate |
Second Vice President | Mohammad Sarwar Danish | 2014–present | Chosen by electorate |
Chief Executive Officer | Abdullah Abdullah | 2014–2020 | Position abolished in 2020. |
First Deputy Chief Executive Officer | Mohammad Khan | 2014–2020 | |
Second Deputy Chief Executive Officer | Mohammad Mohaqiq | 2014–2020 | |
Foreign Affairs Minister | Salahuddin Rabbani | 2015–2019 | Acting (First Approved by the National Assembly, but later Rejected by them) |
National Defense Minister | Tariq Shah Bahrami | 2017–2019 | Approved by the National Assembly |
Interior Affairs Minister | Wais Barmak | 2017–2018 | Approved by the National Assembly |
Finance Minister | Eklil Ahmad Hakimi | 2015–2019 | Approved by the National Assembly |
Economy Minister | Mustafa Mastoor | 2017–2020 | Approved by the National Assembly |
Agriculture Minister | Nasir Ahmad Durrani | 2017–2019 | Approved by the National Assembly |
Energy and Water Minister | Ali Ahmad Osmani | 2015–2018 | Approved by the National Assembly |
Minister of Justice | Abdul Basir Anwar | 2015–2018 | Approved by the National Assembly |
Information and Culture Minister | Abdul Bari Jahani | 2015–2017 | Approved by the National Assembly |
Minister of Education | Assadullah Hassan Balkhi | 2015–2017 | |
Higher Education Minister | Najibullah Khwaja Omari | 2017–2018 | Approved by the National Assembly |
Minister of Industry and Commerce | Humayoon Rasaw | 2015–2017 | Approved by the National Assembly |
Transportat Minister | Mohammad Yamma Shams | 2020–2020 | Approved by the National Assembly |
Women's Affairs Minister | Delbar Nazari | 2015–2017 | Approved by the National Assembly |
Haj and Religious Affairs Minister | Faiz Mohammad Osmani | 2015–2019 | Approved by the National Assembly |
Public Health Minister | Ferozuddin Feroz | 2015–2020 | Approved by the National Assembly |
Mines Minister | Nargis Nehan | 2017–2020 | Acting |
Ministry of Communications and Information Technology | Shahzad Gul Ayoubi | 2017–2018 | Approved by the National Assembly |
Minister of Rural Rehabilitation and Development | Pohanmal Mojib ul-Rahman Karimi | 2017–2018 | |
Minister of Labor, Social Affairs, Martyrs and Disabled | Faizullah Zaki | 2017–2018 | Approved by the National Assembly |
Frontiers, Nations, and Tribal Affairs Minister | Gulagha Sherzai | 2017–2020 | Approved by the National Assembly |
Urban Development and Housing Minister | Mansour Nadery | 2015–2019 | Approved by the National Assembly |
Counter Narcotics Minister | Salamat Azimi | 2015–2019 | Approved by the National Assembly |
Refugees and Repatriation Minister | Sayed Hussain Alemi Balkhi | 2015–2020 | Approved by the National Assembly |
Attorney General | Farid Hamidi | 2016–present | |
Director of the National Directorate of Security | Mohammed Masoom Stanekzai | 2016–2019 | Approved by the National Assembly |
National Security Advisor | Mohammad Hanif Atmar | 2015–2019 | Appointed by Ashraf Ghani |
Previous Administrations
Karzai administration 2009–2014
After winning a second term, President Hamid Karzai nominated 23 ministers in December 2009 to be part of his new administration but only 7 were approved by the National Assembly. All the other candidates that Karzai initially selected were rejected by members of the National Assembly.[3] Karzai presented a second list of 18 candidates to the Wolesi Jirga on 9 January 2010. A week later, the Wolesi Jirga again approved only seven of the candidates.[4] Since then, part of the ministries have been governed by acting ministers who do not held approval of the Afghan legislature.
In June 2010, after the resignation of Interior Minister Hanif Atmar, President Karzai submitted 7 names for a third round of confirmation in the National Assembly. Five of them were approved by the National Assembly, leaving only six of the 25 ministries left with an 'acting minister.'[5] In the line chart below is the list of members of the current Afghan Cabinet (2009–2014).[6]
Portfolio | Name | Years | Status |
---|---|---|---|
President | Hamid Karzai | 2009–2014 | Chosen by electorate |
First Vice President | Mohammed Fahim | 2009–2014 | Chosen by electorate, died March 2014 |
Yunus Qanuni | 2014-2014 | Approved by the National Assembly | |
Second Vice President | Karim Khalili | 2009–2014 | Chosen by electorate |
Foreign Affairs Minister | Zalmai Rassoul | 2010–2013 | Resigned in 2013 to run for president |
Zarar Ahmad Moqbel | 2013–2014 | Approved by the National Assembly | |
Defense Minister | Abdul Rahim Wardak | 2010–2012 | Voted out of office by the National Assembly in 2012 |
Bismillah Khan Mohammadi | 2012–2014 | Approved by the National Assembly | |
Interior Minister | Mohammad Hanif Atmar | 2010-2010 | Resigned June 2010 |
Bismillah Khan Mohammadi | 2010–2012 | Approved by the National Assembly, voted out of office by the National Assembly in 2012 | |
Ghulam Mujtaba Patang | 2012–2013 | Was voted out of office by the National Assembly in 2013 | |
Mohammad Omar Daudzai | 2013–2014 | Approved by the National Assembly | |
Finance Minister | Omar Zakhilwal | 2010–2014 | Approved by the National Assembly |
Economic Minister | Abdul Hadi Arghandiwal | 2010–2014 | Approved by the National Assembly |
Justice Minister | Habibullah Ghaleb | 2010–2014 | Approved by the National Assembly, died in March 2014 |
Information and Cultural Affairs Minister | Sayed Makhdum Raheen | 2010–2014 | Approved by the National Assembly |
Education Minister | Ghulam Farooq Wardak | 2010–2014 | Approved by the National Assembly |
Higher Education Minister | Sarwar Danish | 2010–2012 | Rejected by the National Assembly, served as acting minister |
Obaidaullah Obaid | 2012–2014 | Rejected by the National Assembly in 2010, but in 2012 nominated again and approved | |
Trade and Commerce Minister | Ghulam Mohammad Eelaqi | 2010-2010 | Rejected by the National Assembly, served as acting minister |
Anwar ul-Haq Ahady | 2010–2013 | Approved by the National Assembly, resigned in 2013 to run for president | |
Mohammad Shakir Kargar | 2013–2014 | Approved by the National Assembly | |
Water and Energy Minister | Ismail Khan | 2010–2013 | Rejected by the National Assembly in 2010, served as acting minister, approved in 2012. Resigned in 2013 to become running mate of Abdurrab Rasul Sayaf. |
Mohammad Arif Noorzai | 2013–2014 | Approved by the National Assembly | |
Transportation and Aviation Minister | Mohammadulla Batash | 2010-2010 | Rejected by the National Assembly, served half a year as acting minister |
Daoud Ali Najafi | 2010–2014 | Rejected in 2010, served as acting minister, approved by the National Assemblyin 2012[7] | |
Public Works Minister | Sohrab Ali Safari | 2010-2010 | Never proposed to the National Assembly, acting minister until 2010 |
Abdul Qadus Hamidi | 2010–2012 | Approved by the National Assembly in 2010 | |
Najibullah Aoudjan | 2012–2014 | Approved by the National Assembly | |
Women's Affairs Minister | Husn Bano Ghazanfar | 2010–2014 | Rejected by the National Assembly in 2010, served as acting minister and approved in 2012 |
Haj and Islamic Affairs Minister | Mohammad Yousef Niazi | 2010–2014 | Approved by the National Assembly |
Public Health Minister | Suraya Dalil | 2010–2014 | Rejected by the National Assembly in 2010, served as Acting Minister, Approved in 2012[7] |
Agriculture Minister | Mohammad Asif Rahimi | 2010–2014 | Approved by the National Assembly |
Mines Minister | Waheedullah Sharani | 2010–2013 | Approved by the National Assembly, Resigned in 2013 to become running mate to Qayum Karzai. |
Mohammad Akbar Barakzai | 2013–2014 | Approved by the National Assembly | |
Ministry of Communications and Information Technology | Amirzai Sangin | 2010–2014 | Rejected by the National Assembly in 2010, served as Acting Minister, Approved in 2012 |
Rural Rehabilitation and Development Minister | Jarullah Mansouri | 2010–2012 | Approved by the National Assembly |
Wais Ahmad Barmak | 2012–2014 | Approved by the National Assembly[7] | |
Work, Social Affairs, Martyred and Disabled Minister | Amina Afzali | 2010–2014 | Approved by the National Assembly |
Border Affairs and Tribal Affairs Minister | Arsala Jamal | 2010-2010 | Rejected by the National Assembly, served as acting minister |
Assadullah Khalid | 2010–2012 | Approved by the National Assembly | |
Azizullah Din Mohammad | 2012–2013 | Rejected by the National Assembly, served as acting minister | |
Akram Khpalwak | 2013–2014 | Approved by the National Assembly | |
Urban Development Minister | Sultan Hussain | 2010–2012 | Rejected by the National Assembly, served as acting minister |
Hasan Abdullahai | 2012–2014 | Approved by the National Assembly[7] | |
Counter Narcotics Minister | Zarar Ahmad Moqbel Osmani | 2010–2013 | Approved by the National Assembly, resigned in 2013 to become Foreign Affairs Minister |
Mobarez Rashidi | 2014-2014 | Approved by the National Assembly | |
Refugees and Repatriation Minister | Abdul Rahim | 2010-2010 | Rejected by the National Assembly, served as acting minister |
Jamahir Anwari | 2010–2014 | Approved by the National Assembly | |
Chief of the National Directorate of Security | Amrullah Saleh Ibrahim Spinzada Asadullah Khalid Rahmatullah Nabil |
Resigned in 2010 Acting head since 2010 | |
National Security Advisor | Rangeen Dadfar Spanta |
Karzai administration 2004–2009
In the line chart below is the list of members of the Afghan Cabinet from 2004 to 2009.[8][9]
Portfolio | Minister | Years | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
President | Hamid Karzai | 2004–2009 | |
First Vice President | Ahmad Zia Massoud | 2004–2009 | |
Second Vice President | Karim Khalili | 2004–2009 | |
Senior Minister | Hedayat Amin Arsala | 2006–2009 | Post did not exist prior to 2006 |
Foreign Minister | Abdullah Abdullah Rangin Dadfar Spanta |
2004–2006 2006–2009[10] |
|
Defense Minister | Abdul Rahim Wardak | 2004–2009 | |
Interior Minister | Ali Ahmad Jalali Ahmad Moqbel Zarar Mohamad Hanif Atmar |
2004–2005[11] 2005–2008 2008–2009 |
|
Finance Minister | Anwar ul-Haq Ahady Omar Zakhilwal |
2005–2009[12] 2009-2009 |
|
Economic Minister | Mohammad Amin Farhang Mohammad Jalil Shams |
2004–2006 2006–2009 |
[10][13] |
Justice Minister | Sarwar Danish | 2004–2009 | |
Youth Minister Information and Culture Minister Culture and Youth Affairs Minister . |
Amina Afzali Sayed Makhdum Rahin Sayed Makhdum Rahin Abdul Karim Khoram |
2004–2006 2004–2006 2006-2006 2006–2009 |
Position merged with Minister of Culture in 2006 Position merged with Minister of Youth in 2006 Combination of the posts of minister of Youth Affairs and minister of Information and Culture |
Education minister | Noor Mohammad Qarqeen Mohamad Hanif Atmar Ghulam Farooq Wardak |
2004–2006 2006–2008 2008–2009[10] |
|
Higher Education Minister | Ameer Shah Hasanyaar Mohammad Azam Dadfar |
[11][13] 2004–2006 2006–2009 |
|
Commerce Minister Commerce and Industries Minister . . |
Hedayat Amin Arsala Mohammad Amin Farhang Mohammad Haidar Reza Wahidullah Shahrani |
2004–2006[10] 2006–? ?-2008 2008–2009 |
Industries in 2006 transferred from portofolio of Mines to portofolio of Commerce |
Water and Energy Minister | Ismail Khan | 2004–2009 | |
Transportation and Aviation Minister | Enayatullah Qasemi Nimatullah Ehsan Jawed Hamidullah Qaderi Omar Zakhilwal Hamidullah Farooqi |
2004–2006 2006–2008 2008?–2008 2008–2009 2009-2009 |
[10][13] |
Women's Affairs Minister | Massouda Jalal Husn Bano Ghazanfar |
2004–2006 2006–2009 |
|
Haj and Islamic Affairs Minister | Nematullah Shahrani | 2004–2009 | |
Public Welfare Minister | Sohrab Ali Saffari | 2004–2009 | |
Public Health Minister | Mohammad Amin Fatemi | 2004–2009 | |
Agriculture Minister | Obaidullah Ramin Mohammad Asif Rahimi |
2004–2008 2008–2009 |
[10][13] |
Mines and Industries Minister Mines Minister |
Mir Mohammad Sediq Ibrahim Adel |
2004–2006 2006–2009 |
|
Communications Minister | Amirzai Sangin | 2004–2009 | |
Rural Rehabilitation and Development Minister | Mohamad Hanif Atmar Ehsan Zia |
2004–2006 2006–2009 |
[10] |
Work and Social Affairs Minister Martyrs and Disabled Minister Work, Social Affairs, Martyred and Disabled Minister |
Sayed Ikramuddin Masoomi Sediqa Balkhi Noor Mohammad Qarqeen |
2004–2006 2004–2006 2006–2009 |
The Ministry of Disabled and Martyrs was merged with the Ministry of Social Affairs in 2006 |
Border Affairs and Tribal Affairs Minister | Azam Dadfar Abdul Karim Brahui |
2004–2008 2008–2009 |
|
Urban Development Minister | Yousef Pashtun | 2004–2009 | |
Counter Narcotics Minister | Habibullah Qaderi General Khodaydad |
2004–2008 2008–2009 | |
Refugees and Repatriation Minister | Azam Dadfar Sher Mohammad Etebari Abdul Karim Barahawi |
2004–? ?-2009 2009-2009 | |
Attorney General | Mohammad Ishaq Aloko | ||
Afghan National Security Adviser | Zalmai Rassoul |
Afghan Transitional Administration
The Bonn conference of December 2001 had installed an interim government, the 2002 Loya Jirga subsequently elected a transitional administration. From July 2002 until the presidential elections in October 2004, the Transitional Administration governed Afghanistan.
Transitional Authority Position | Name | Incumbent/New |
---|---|---|
President | Hamid Karzai | Incumbent (before chairman) |
Vice-President and Defense Minister | Mohammed Fahim | Incumbent |
Vice-President | Karim Khalili | New |
Vice-President | Hedayat Amin Arsala | New (was Finance Minister) |
Vice-President and Public Works Minister | Abdul Qadir Abdul Ali | New (was Urban Affairs Minister) (killed on 6 July 2002) New (Ali only took over the Public Works portfolio after 6 July 2002 |
Vice-President and head of the Afghan Constitution Commission | Nematullah Shahrani | New |
Special Advisor on Security and Education Minister | Yunus Qanuni | Incumbent (Special Advisor on Security is new post) |
Foreign Minister | Abdullah Abdullah | Incumbent |
Finance Minister | Mohammad Ashraf Ghani | New |
Interior Minister | Taj Mohammed Wardak Ali Ahmad Jalali | New New (Jalali replaced Wardak in January 2003) |
Planning Minister | Mohammad Mohaqiq | Incumbent (but lost role as vice-chair) |
Communications Minister | Mohammad Masoom Stanekzai | New |
Borders Minister | Arif Nurzai | New (was Small Industries Minister) |
Refugees Minister | Intayatullah Nazeri | Incumbent |
Mines Minister | Juma Muhammad Muhammadi | New |
Light Industries Minister | Mohammed Alim Razm | Incumbent |
Health Minister | Sohaila Siddiqi | Incumbent |
Commerce Minister | Sayed Mustafa Kasemi | Incumbent |
Agriculture Minister | Sayed Hussain Anwari | Incumbent |
Justice Minister | Abbas Karimi | Incumbent |
Information and Culture Minister | Saeed Makhdoom Rahim | Incumbent |
Reconstruction Minister | Mohammed Fahim Farhang | Incumbent |
Haj and Mosques Minister | Mohammed Amin Naziryar | New |
Urban Affairs Minister | Yousef Pashtun Gul Agha Sherzai | New New (Sherzai took over on 16 August 2003) |
Water and Power Minister | Mohammad Shakir Karkar | Incumbent (but los role as Vice-chair) |
Irrigation & Environment Minister | Ahmed Yusuf Nuristani | New |
Martyrs and Disabled Minister | Abdullah Wardak | Incumbent |
Higher Education Minister | Sharif Faez | Incumbent |
Civil Aviation & Tourism Minister | Mirwais Sadiq | New (was Labor and Social Affairs Minister) |
Transportation Minister | Sayed Mohammed Ali Jawad | |
Rural Development Minister | Hanif Asmar | New |
Labor and Social Affairs Minister | Noor Mohammad Qarqin | |
Woman's Affairs Minister | Habiba Sorabi | New |
Supreme Court Chief Justice | Hadi Shinwari | |
Security Advisor | Zalmai Rassoul | |
State or Advisor-Minister for Women's Affairs | Mahbooba Hoquqmal | |
Governor of the Afghan Central Bank | Anwar ul-Haq Ahadi |
Afghan interim administration
Following the ouster of the Taliban regime approximately two dozen leading Afghans met in Germany at the Bonn Conference to choose a leadership and set in place a timeline for the adoption of a new constitution for a new Afghan government, and the timeline for choosing an executive and legislature by democratic election.[14] In the chart below is the list of members of the Interim Afghan authority. The Afghan Interim Administration (AIA) was the first administration of Afghanistan after the fall of the Taliban regime and was the highest authority of the country from 22 December 2001 until 13 July 2002.
Interim Administration Position | Name | Notes |
---|---|---|
Chairman | Hamid Karzai | Independent Pashtun tribal leader in exile in Pakistan |
Vice-Chair and Defense Minister | Mohammed Fahim | Defense Minister of the United Islamic Front |
Vice–Chair and Women's Affairs | Sima Samar | Founder of the Shuhada Organization and Shuhada Clinic in Quetta, Rome Group. |
Vice-Chair and Planning Minister | Mohammed Mohaqqeq | Warlord fighting against the Taliban for the People's Islamic Unity Party of Afghanistan in the United Islamic Front |
Vice-Chair and Water and Energy Minister | Ahmed Shakar Karkar | United Islamic Front |
Vice-Chair and Finance Minister | Hedayat Amin Arsala | Foreign Minister of the Islamic State of Afghanistan in the 90s. Rome group. |
Foreign Minister | Abdullah Abdullah | Foreign Minister of the United Islamic Front |
Interior Minister | Yunus Qanuni | Interior Minister of the United Islamic Front |
Communications Minister | Abdul Rahim | United Islamic Front |
Borders Minister | Amanullah Zadran | Taliban leader, who defected after the American invasion, Rome Group |
Refugees Minister | Intayatullah Nazeri | United Islamic Front |
Small Industries Minister | Aref Noozari | United Islamic Front |
Mines and Industry Minister | Mohammed Alim Razm | United Islamic Front |
Health Minister | Sohaila Siddiqi | Has been in the governments of king Mohammed Zahir Shah and the communist regime of the 1970s and 1980s. Independent |
Commerce Minister | Sayed Mustafa Kasemi | Spokesmen and leader of United National Front |
Agriculture Minister | Sayed Hussain Anwari | Chief military commander of the Harakat-e Islami in the United National Front |
Justice Minister | Abbas Karimi | United Islamic Front |
Information and Culture Minister | Saeed Makhdoom Rahim | Poet and writer, Rome group |
Reconstruction Minister | Mohammed Fahim Farhang | Rome Group |
Haj and Mosques Minister | Mohammad Hanif Balkhi | Independent |
Urban Affairs Minister | Abdul Qadir | Leader in the United National Front for the Hezb-e Islami Khalis faction |
Public Works Minister | Abdul Khaliq Fazal | Rome group |
Irrigation Minister | Mangal Hussein | Previously warlord for the Hezbi Islami Gulbuddin, Peshawar group |
Martyrs and Disabled Minister | Abdullah Wardak | Leader in the United National Front for the Islamic Union for the Liberation of Afghanistan |
Higher Education Minister | Sharif Faez | United Islamic Front |
Civil Aviation & Tourism Minister | Abdul Rahman | Member of United Islamic Front, but he threw his support to former king Zahir Shah and became a member of the Rome Group |
Labor and Social Affairs | Mirwais Saddiq | Son of Ismail Khan, United Islamic Front |
Transportation Minister | Sultan Hamid Sultan | |
Education Minister | Abdul Rassoul Amin | Member of the National Islamic Front and the Rome group. |
Rural Development Minister | Abdul Malik Anwar | United Islamic Front |
References
- "Executive Power and Ministries – Afghanistan Language and Culture Program". larc.sdsu.edu. Retrieved 21 May 2017.
- "Wolesi Jirga unanimously rejected ministers with dual citizenship". Ariana News. Retrieved 21 May 2017.
- Rubin, Alissa J. (4 January 2010). "Standoff Builds Over Afghan Cabinet". The New York Times. Afghanistan. Retrieved 23 November 2011.
- "Afghan parliament approves 7 new ministers". News.xinhuanet.com. 16 January 2010. Retrieved 23 November 2011.
- "Afghanistan Online: Cabinet of ministers". Afghan-web.com. Archived from the original on 30 March 2010. Retrieved 23 November 2011.
- "Members of President Hamid Karzai's Cabinet". Afghan-web.com. Archived from the original on 30 March 2010. Retrieved 23 November 2011.
- Press release by the Government Media & Information Center of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, 6 March 2012, 11:10 h
- "Afghanistan Online: Members of President Hamid Karzai's Cabinet". Afghan-web.com. Archived from the original on 30 March 2010. Retrieved 23 November 2011.
- Chiefs of State and Cabinet Members of Foreign Governments Archived 26 October 2009 at the Wayback Machine CIA World Leaders, 30 March 2009
- "Cabinet Biographies". Afghanembassyjp.com. Retrieved 23 November 2011.
- "Short Biographies of Afghanistan new Cabinet members". Mashreqi.net. Archived from the original on 8 March 2012. Retrieved 23 November 2011.
- Short biography of the Minister Professor Anwar-ul-Haq Ahadi Archived 3 November 2010 at the Wayback Machine
- "President Hamid Karzai's new cabinet". Institute-for-afghan-studies.org. Archived from the original on 27 September 2011. Retrieved 23 November 2011.
- Thomas H. Johnson (February 2006). "The Prospects for Post-Conflict Afghanistan: A Call of the Sirens to the Country's Troubled Past". V (2). Strategic Insights. Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 April 2012. Retrieved 29 June 2009.