List of heads of state of Afghanistan facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

This article talks about the leaders of Afghanistan since the country's first modern state, the Hotak Empire, began in 1709.

History of Afghanistan's Leaders
List of Afghanistan's Leaders
- Kings and Emirs
  - Local Rulers
- Other Leaders
Family Tree of Kings and Emirs
Timeline of Leaders Since 1880
Standards of Afghanistan's Leaders
See also

History of Afghanistan's Leaders

The Hotak Empire was formed in 1709. This happened after Mirwais Hotak and other Afghan tribal leaders successfully rose up against the rule of the Mughals and Safavid Persians in the Kandahar area.

After many wars, the Hotak Empire was replaced by the Durrani Afghan Empire in 1747. This new empire was founded by Ahmad Shah Durrani.

The Durrani Empire ended in 1823. Then, the Barakzai dynasty started the Emirate of Kabul, which later became known as the Emirate of Afghanistan. The Durrani family briefly took power again in 1839 during the First Anglo-Afghan War. This was when Shah Shujah Durrani became ruler with help from the British. But Shah Shujah was killed in 1842 after the British left Kabul.

After this, the Barakzai dynasty came back to power. They eventually changed the Emirate into the Kingdom of Afghanistan in 1926. They ruled the country, with a short break in 1929, until the last king, Mohammad Zahir Shah, was removed from power in 1973. His cousin, Mohammad Daoud Khan, led this change. Even though Daoud Khan was part of the Barakzai family, he decided not to be a king. Instead, he ended the monarchy and created the Republic of Afghanistan. He became its President. The Republic lasted until 1978 when the PDPA took over in an event called the Saur Revolution.

Since 1978, Afghanistan has faced many times of change and challenges within the country and with other nations.

Hamid Karzai became the first leader of Afghanistan chosen by a democratic vote on December 7, 2004. His successor, Ashraf Ghani, was in power from September 29, 2014, until August 15, 2021. He left the country when Kabul fell to the Taliban after their 2021 advance.

When the Taliban took over Kabul again, they brought back the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan. Their current supreme leader, Hibatullah Akhundzada, who is an Islamic scholar, took over as the country's leader after Ghani.

List of Afghanistan's Leaders

(Dates shown in italics mean the person continued to hold their position even if things changed around them.)

Kings and Emirs

Quick facts for kids Monarch of Afghanistan
د افغانستان پاچا (Pashto) پادشاه افغانستان (Dari)
Royal Standard (1931–1973)

Last to reign: Mohammad Zahir Shah 8 November 1933 – 17 July 1973

Details
Style	His Majesty
First monarch	Mirwais Hotak (Emir)
Last monarch	Mohammad Zahir Shah (King)
Formation	1709
Abolition	17 July 1973
Residence	Kabul: Bala Hissar (18th century – 1880) Arg-e-Shahi (19th century – 1973)
Appointer	Hereditary
Pretender(s)	Prince Muhammad Zahir Khan

Hotak Empire (1709–1738)

Name	Lifespan	Reign start	Reign end	Notes	Family
Mirwais Hotak Mirwais the Grandfather	1673–1715	1709	1715	Started the Hotak dynasty in Kandahar.	Hotak
Abdul Aziz Hotak	Died 1717	1715	1717	Brother of Mirwais Hotak	Hotak
Mahmud Hotak	1697 – 22 April 1725	1717	22 April 1725	Son of Mirwais Hotak	Hotak
Ashraf Hotak	Died 1730	22 April 1725	1730	Nephew of Mirwais Hotak	Hotak
Hussain Hotak	Died 1738	1730	24 March 1738 (deposed)	Son of Mirwais Hotak Removed from power by Nader Shah during the Siege of Kandahar.	Hotak

Durrani Empire (1747–1823)

Name	Lifespan	Reign start	Reign end	Notes	Family
Ahmad Shah Durrani the Father of the Nation	1720/1722 – 4 June 1772	June 1747	4 June 1772	Started the Durrani dynasty and the Durrani Empire; Seen as the founder of modern Afghanistan.	Sadozai (Durrani)
Timur Shah Durrani	December 1746 – 20 May 1793	November 1772	20 May 1793	Son of Ahmad Shah Durrani Kept the Durrani Empire strong after his father's death, dealing with civil war and many rebellions.	Durrani
Zaman Shah Durrani	1770–1844	20 May 1793	25 July 1801 (deposed)	Son of Timur Shah Durrani Fought in a civil war with his brothers after his father died, and was later removed from power.	Durrani
Mahmud Shah Durrani (1st reign) Shah Mahmud	1769 – 18 April 1829	25 July 1801	13 July 1803 (deposed)	Son of Timur Shah Durrani Fought in a civil war with his brothers after his father died, and was later removed from power.	Durrani
Shah Shujah Durrani (1st reign) Inayat-i-llahi, Shuja ul-Mulk, Muhammad Bahadur	4 November 1785 – 5 April 1842	13 July 1803	3 May 1809 (deposed)	Son of Timur Shah Durrani Fought in a civil war with his brothers after his father died, was later removed, and tried many times to get his throne back.	Durrani
Mahmud Shah Durrani (2nd reign) Shah Mahmud	1769 – 18 April 1829	3 May 1809	1818 (deposed)	Son of Timur Shah Durrani Sent away to Herat after being removed from power during his second time as ruler.	Durrani
Ali Shah Durrani	Died 1818/1819	1818	1819 (deposed)	Son of Timur Shah Durrani	Durrani
Ayub Shah Durrani	Died 1 October 1837	1819	1823 (deposed)	Son of Timur Shah Durrani	Durrani

Emirate of Kabul / Emirate of Afghanistan (1823–1926)

Name	Lifespan	Reign start	Reign end	Notes	Family
Sultan Mohammad Khan Mohammad Khan Telai	1792–1834	1823	1826 (deposed)	First ruler of the Barakzai dynasty; Son of Sardar Payendah Khan, brother of Dost Mohammad Khan.	Barakzai
Dost Mohammad Khan (1st reign) Amir al-Mu'minin, Amir-i Kabir	23 December 1792 – 9 June 1863	Summer 1826	6 August 1839 (deposed)	Son of Sardar Payendah Khan Tried to bring Afghanistan back together after civil wars. His rule was challenged from 1839–1842 by Shah Shujah Durrani during the First Anglo-Afghan War.	Barakzai
Shah Shujah Durrani (2nd reign) Inayat-i-llahi, Shuja ul-Mulk, Muhammad Bahadur	4 November 1785 – 5 April 1842	7 August 1839	5 April 1842	Son of Timur Shah Durrani Came back to the throne with help from the British in the First Anglo-Afghan War. He was killed after the British left Kabul in 1842.	Durrani
Akbar Khan Amīr Akbar Khān, Mohammad Akbar Khān	1816–1847	May 1842	1843	Son of Dost Mohammad Khan.	Barakzai
Dost Mohammad Khan (2nd reign) Amir al-Mu'minin, Amir-i Kabir	23 December 1792 – 9 June 1863	1843	9 June 1863	Son of Sardar Payendah Khan Returned to the throne after the British and Shah Shuja were defeated. He helped unite the country after a long civil war.	Barakzai
Sher Ali Khan (1st reign)	1825 – 21 February 1879	9 June 1863	May 1866 (deposed)	Son of Dost Mohammad Khan.	Barakzai
Mohammad Afzal Khan	1815 – 7 October 1867	May 1866	7 October 1867	Son of Dost Mohammad Khan.	Barakzai
Mohammad Azam Khan	1820–1870	7 October 1867	21 August 1868	Son of Dost Mohammad Khan.	Barakzai
Sher Ali Khan (2nd reign)	1825 – 21 February 1879	9 September 1868	21 February 1879	Son of Dost Mohammad Khan.	Barakzai
Mohammad Yaqub Khan	1849 – 15 November 1923	21 February 1879	12 October 1879 (deposed)	Son of Sher Ali Khan Removed from power during the Second Anglo-Afghan War.	Barakzai
Ayub Khan the Victor of Maiwand the Afghan Prince Charlie	1857 – 7 April 1914	12 October 1879	31 May 1880 (deposed)	Son of Sher Ali Khan Lost the Battle of Kandahar and was sent away at the end of the Second Anglo-Afghan War.	Barakzai
Abdur Rahman Khan the Iron Amir	1840/44 – 1 October 1901	31 May 1880	1 October 1901	Son of Mohammad Afzal Khan.	Barakzai
Habibullah Khan	3 June 1872 – 20 February 1919	1 October 1901	20 February 1919	Son of Abdur Rahman Khan.	Barakzai
Nasrullah Khan	1874–1920	20 February 1919	28 February 1919 (deposed)	Son of Abdur Rahman Khan.	Barakzai
Amanullah Khan	1 June 1892 – 25 April 1960	28 February 1919	9 June 1926	Son of Habibullah Khan.	Barakzai

Kingdom of Afghanistan (1926–1929)

Name	Lifespan	Reign start	Reign end	Notes	Family	Image
Amanullah Khan	1 June 1892 – 25 April 1960	9 June 1926	14 January 1929 (abdicated)	Son of Habibullah Khan.	Barakzai
Inayatullah Khan	20 October 1888 – 12 August 1946	14 January 1929	17 January 1929 (deposed)	Son of Habibullah Khan.	Barakzai

Saqqawist Emirate and the 1928–1929 civil war

Name	Lifespan	Reign start	Reign end	Notes	Family
Habibullāh Kalakāni Bacha-ye Saqao	19 January 1891 – 3 November 1929	17 January 1929	13 October 1929	Called himself king and emir; fought for the throne during the 1928–29 civil war; removed from power and executed.	Non-dynastic
Ali Ahmad Khan	1883 – 11 July 1929	17 January 1929	9 February 1929	Grandson of Dost Mohammad Khan (from his mother's side) Called himself King; opposed Kalakāni during the 1928–29 civil war; captured and executed.	Barakzai
Amanullah Khan	1 June 1892 – 25 April 1960	March 1929	23 May 1929	Son of Habibullah Khan Former King; returned to Afghanistan to fight for the throne during the 1928–29 civil war; later went back to British India.	Barakzai

Kingdom of Afghanistan (restored; 1929–1973)

Name	Lifespan	Reign start	Reign end	Notes	Family	Image
Mohammad Nadir Shah	9 April 1883 – 8 November 1933	15 October 1929	8 November 1933	Great-nephew of Dost Mohammed Khan Was killed by Abdul Khaliq Hazara.	Barakzai
Mohammad Zahir Shah the Father of the Nation (from 2004)	15 October 1914 – 23 July 2007	8 November 1933	17 July 1973 (deposed)	Son of Mohammad Nadir Shah Removed from power by his cousin Mohammad Daoud Khan in the 1973 coup d'état.	Barakzai

Local Rulers

Some rulers tried to take power during conflicts in Afghanistan. However, their rule was only in certain areas.

Name	Lifespan	Reign start	Reign end	Notes	Family
Jehandad Khan	Died 1914	May 1912	May 1912 (deposed)	Called himself Emir; ruled only in Khost during the 1912 rebellion.	Non-dynastic
Abd-al Karim	1897 – 18 February 1927	July 1924	30 January 1925 (deposed)	Son of Mohammad Yaqub Khan Called himself Emir; ruled only in the Southern Province during the 1924–1925 rebellion.	Barakzai
Salemai		c. 1944	c. 1946 (deposed)	Called himself King; ruled only in the Eastern Province during the 1944–47 tribal revolts.	Non-dynastic

Other Leaders

Name		Portrait	Lifespan	Time in Office			Political Group
Name		Portrait	Lifespan	Started	Ended	Length	Political Group
Republic of Afghanistan (1973–1978)
	Mohammad Daoud Khan		1909–1978	17 July 1973	28 April 1978	4 years, 285 days	Independent (until 1974)
				17 July 1973	28 April 1978	4 years, 285 days	National Revolutionary Party
				President; Member of the Barakzai family (cousin of Mohammed Zahir Shah); Died during the Saur Revolution.
Democratic Republic of Afghanistan (1978–1992)
	Colonel Abdul Qadir		1944–2014	28 April 1978	30 April 1978	2 days	People's Democratic Party (Khalq faction)
	Colonel Abdul Qadir		1944–2014	Head of the Military Revolutionary Council.
	Nur Muhammad Taraki		1917–1979	30 April 1978	14 September 1979	1 year, 137 days	People's Democratic Party (Khalq faction)
	Nur Muhammad Taraki		1917–1979	Head of the Revolutionary Council; Died by orders of Hafizullah Amin.
	Hafizullah Amin		1929–1979	14 September 1979	27 December 1979	104 days	People's Democratic Party (Khalq faction)
	Hafizullah Amin		1929–1979	Head of the Revolutionary Council; Died during a Soviet special forces operation.
	Babrak Karmal		1929–1996	27 December 1979	24 November 1986	6 years, 332 days	People's Democratic Party (Parcham faction)
	Babrak Karmal		1929–1996	Head of the Revolutionary Council; Removed from his position.
	Haji Mohammad Chamkani		1947–2012	24 November 1986	30 September 1987	310 days	Independent
	Haji Mohammad Chamkani		1947–2012	Head of the Revolutionary Council; Appointed as part of a peace effort.
	Mohammad Najibullah		1947–1996	30 September 1987	16 April 1992	4 years, 199 days	People's Democratic Party (Parcham faction) (until 1990)
				30 September 1987	16 April 1992	4 years, 199 days	Homeland Party
				President (Head of the Revolutionary Council until November 30, 1987); Resigned.
	Abdul Rahim Hatif		1926–2013	16 April 1992	28 April 1992	12 days	Homeland Party
	Abdul Rahim Hatif		1926–2013	Acting President; Removed from power.
Islamic State of Afghanistan (1992–2002)
	Sibghatullah Mojaddedi		1926–2019	28 April 1992	28 June 1992	61 days	National Liberation Front of Afghanistan
	Sibghatullah Mojaddedi		1926–2019	Acting President; Resigned.
	Burhanuddin Rabbani		1940–2011	28 June 1992	22 December 2001	9 years, 177 days	Jamiat-e Islami
	Burhanuddin Rabbani		1940–2011	President; Left Kabul when the Taliban took over in 1996; Continued to be president in areas controlled by the Northern Alliance during the 1996–2001 Civil War; Was fully back in power after Kabul was retaken in 2001.
	Hamid Karzai		born 1957	22 December 2001	13 July 2002	203 days	Independent
	Hamid Karzai		born 1957	Head of the Afghan Interim Administration; Chosen at the 2001 Bonn Conference.
Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (1996–2001)
	Mullah Mohammed Omar		between 1953 and 1966 – 2013	27 September 1996	13 November 2001	5 years, 47 days	Taliban
	Mullah Mohammed Omar		between 1953 and 1966 – 2013	Supreme Leader; Removed from power when Kabul fell, and went into hiding; Continued to claim the position during the Taliban insurgency until his death.
Transitional Islamic State of Afghanistan (2002–2004)
	Hamid Karzai		born 1957	13 July 2002	7 December 2004	2 years, 147 days	Independent
	Hamid Karzai		born 1957	Transitional President; Chosen by the 2002 loya jirga.
Islamic Republic of Afghanistan (2004–2021)
	Hamid Karzai		born 1957	7 December 2004	29 September 2014	9 years, 296 days	Independent
	Hamid Karzai		born 1957	President; First democratically elected head of state; Elected in 2004 and again in 2009.
	Ashraf Ghani		born 1949	29 September 2014	15 August 2021	6 years, 320 days	Independent
	Ashraf Ghani		born 1949	President; First peaceful transfer of power; Elected in 2014 and again in 2019; Removed from power during the fall of Kabul.
Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (2021–present)
	Mullah Mawlawi Hibatullah Akhundzada		Birth date not known	15 August 2021	Incumbent	3 years, 312 days	Taliban
	Mullah Mawlawi Hibatullah Akhundzada		Birth date not known	Supreme Leader; Claimed the position during the Taliban insurgency from 2016 until the recapture of Kabul.