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Munir Mohamad Mangal
Defense.gov News Photo 100707-F-7552L-006 - Commander of the International Security Assistance Force Gen. David H. Petraeus 3rd from left U.S. Army speaks with Afghan Minister of Security.jpg
General Munir Mangal (left) in July 2010
Deputy Minister of Interior Affairs for Security
Commander of the Afghan National Police
Personal details
Born 1950 (1950)
Samkanay District, Paktia Province, Afghanistan
Died 2 May 2020(2020-05-02) (aged 69–70)
Military service
Allegiance  Islamic Republic of Afghanistan
Branch/service  Afghan National Army
Rank General

Munir Mohamad Mangal (born 1950 – died May 2, 2020) was an important Afghan general. He served his country for over 40 years in the military. General Mangal held many high-level jobs, including leading the Afghan National Police before he retired in 2016.

General Munir Mangal's Life Story

Early Life and Education

Munir Mangal was born in 1950 in a place called Samkanay District, in Paktia Province, Afghanistan. When he was young, he moved to Kabul. There, he went to primary school and then to a special military school. After that, he traveled to the Soviet Union. He studied military affairs there and earned a master's degree.

A Long Military Career

In 1972, Mangal started his career as a lieutenant. He worked in an artillery division in Kabul. An artillery division uses large guns to fire shells. Over 40 years, he served in many military roles. He worked under different Afghan governments. He was especially active during the 2000s, when the United States supported the Afghan government.

After the United States invasion of Afghanistan in 2001, the Taliban government was removed. General Mangal helped to create the new Afghan National Army. He became a Corps Commander, which is a very senior military leader. He also served as the Deputy Minister of Interior for security. This meant he helped manage the country's internal safety.

Leading the Police

Later, General Mangal became the Commander of the Afghan National Police. He was known for planning carefully. His goal was to keep the number of injuries and deaths among police officers as low as possible.

There is a famous story about General Mangal. One time, he was flying in a helicopter with another general, Ghulam Mujtaba Patang. They were going from Kandahar to Kabul. Part of their flight path went over an area controlled by the Taliban. The helicopter started having problems and losing height. The pilot asked if they should land in the Taliban area. But General Mangal refused. He told the pilot to keep flying to Kabul, even if it was risky. He said, "It's better to die in a crash than be taken hostage by the Taliban." This showed his bravery and dedication. General Mangal retired from the National Police in 2016.

His Final Years

General Munir Mangal passed away on May 2, 2020. He was 70 years old. He died from COVID-19 at his home in Kabul. He was one of the most well-known people in Afghanistan to die from the virus during the COVID-19 pandemic in Afghanistan. General Mangal was survived by his wife, two daughters, four sons, and thirteen grandchildren.

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