Afghanistan

This article is part of the series: Politics and government of Afghanistan

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The Prime Minister of Afghanistan is a currently defunct post in the Afghan Government.

The position was created in 1927, and was appointed by the king, mostly as an advisor, until the end of the monarchy in 1973. During the Communist Era, the position was the head of government.

Constitutions of 1923 and 1963

The Chairman of the Council of Ministers was not headed by the Prime Minister, but the King. Only during his absence was the Premier the acting Chairman of the Council.

Until 1963, the King always appointed one of his relatives as Prime Ministers. The King also had the power to dismiss or transfer the Prime Minister.

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 Constitution of 1963 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.

Saur Revolution (1978-1992)

In April 1978, Mohammed Daoud Khan was killed during a communist coup that started the Saur Revolution. The Communist government revived the office of Prime Minister that year, and it remained throughout the reign of the Communist and post-Communist governments.

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 Constitution of 1987, 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 of Afghanistan era were also appointed 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.

The Islamic Republic (1992-present)

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

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

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.

The title was abolished when the Taliban captured Kabul in 1996 and proclaimed the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan. The Deputy Leader of the Taliban was often known as the Prime Minister throughout its rule. With the death of Rabbani in 2001, the Taliban decided not to revive the office.

Until August 1997, the government which the Taliban had ousted, which remained in rebellion until the end of the Taliban in 2001, had a Prime Minister in the government, but the position was abolished.

The current president of Afghanistan, Hamid Karzai was sometimes called the prime minister by the international media during the first years of his presidency.

List of Heads of Government of Afghanistan

(Dates in italics indicate de facto continuation of office)

Kingdom of Afghanistan (1919–1973)

Republic of Afghanistan (1973–1978)

Military Dictatorship (1978)

Democratic Republic of Afghanistan (1978–1987)

Republic of Afghanistan (1987–1992)

Islamic State of Afghanistan (1992–1996)

Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (1996–2001)

Northern Alliance of Afghanistan (1996–2001)

Islamic Transitional State of Afghanistan (2001–2004)

Islamic Republic of Afghanistan (2004–Present)

Notes

1. Abdullah Yaqta was prime minister in an acting capacity.
2. Arsala Rahmani was prime minister in an acting capacity.
3. Ahmad Shah Ahmadzai was prime minister in an acting capacity.
4. Abdul Kabir was prime minister in an acting capacity.

External links

• Internet Page that has copies of several Afghan Constitutions