The Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces (; ) is the highest-ranking military officer in the military of Afghanistan (currently the Islamic Emirate Armed Forces), who is responsible for maintaining the operational command of the military.
List of chiefs Abdul Karim Mustaghni was army chief of staff until the 1973 overthrow of the monarchy. Under the rule of Hafizullah Amin, his brother in law Mohammed Yaqub served as Chief of the General Staff until being executed by Soviet-Parcham forces in December of 1979. In the late 1980s, during the communist regime, Nazar Mohammad served as army chief of staff, followed by Shahnawaz Tanai, Both from the Khalq faction of the PDPABarnett R. Rubin, Afghanistan: "Back to Feudalism", Current History, Vol. 88, No. 542, South Asia (DECEMBER, 1989), p. 444 (December 1984 – March 1990), who was succeeded by Mohammed Asif Delawar following the 1990 coup attempt, which was led by Tanai.
Kingdom of Afghanistan (1926–1973) Portrait Name Term of office Defence branch Took office Left office Time in office Major generalAbdul Karim Mustaghni ? 1973 ? Army
Republic of Afghanistan (1973–1978) Portrait Name Term of office Defence branch Took office Left office Time in office Major generalGhulam Haidar Rasuli 1975 April 1978 ? Army
Democratic Republic of Afghanistan (1978–1992) Portrait Name Term of office Defence branch Took office Left office Time in office Colonel generalMohammad Aslam Watanjar 1978 1 April 1979 ? Army Lieutenant generalMohammed Yakub 1 April 1979 27 December 1979 ? Army Major generalGul Aqa ? ? ? Army Lieutenant generalBaba Jan Zahid ? January 1984 ? Army Colonel generalNazar Mohammad January 1984 December 4 1984 ? Air Force Lieutenant generalShahnawaz Tanai December 1984 March 1990 ? Army GeneralMohammed Asif Delawar March 1990 1992 ? Army
Afghan Armed Forces (Islamic Republic era)
Islamic Emirate Armed Forces
* Incumbent's time in office last updated: .
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