Transitional Islamic State of Afghanistan facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Islamic State Of Afghanistan دولت اسلامی افغانستان (Dari) Dawlat-i Islāmī-yi Afğānistān
2002–2004
Flag Emblem
Motto: lā ʾilāha ʾillà l-Lāh, Muḥammadun rasūlu l-Lāh لا إله إلا الله محمد رسول الله "There is no god except Allah, Muhammad is the messenger of Allah"
Anthem: قلعه اسلام قلب اسیا (English: "Fortress of Islam, Heart of Asia")
Status	Transitional government
Capital	Kabul
Common languages	Pashto, Dari
Religion	Sunni Islam
Government	Transitional government Islamic republic
President
• 2002–2004	Hamid Karzai
Historical era	Global War on Terrorism
• 2002 Loya jirga	11 June 2002
• Islamic Republic established	7 December 2004
Currency	Afghan afghani (AFA)
Calling code	93
ISO 3166 code	AF
Preceded by Succeeded by Islamic State of Afghanistan Islamic Republic of Afghanistan
Today part of	Afghanistan

The Transitional Islamic State of Afghanistan (TISA) was a temporary government in Afghanistan. It was also known as the Afghan Transitional Authority. This government was set up by a special meeting called a Loya Jirga in June 2002. It took over from an earlier government and led Afghanistan until a new republic was formed in 2004.

Setting Up a New Government

After the 2001 war in Afghanistan, the United Nations helped Afghan leaders meet in Bonn, Germany. This meeting created a first temporary government, led by Hamid Karzai. This temporary government was meant to last only six months.

The Loya Jirga Meeting

To create a more lasting government, a traditional Afghan "grand assembly" was needed. This assembly is called a Loya Jirga. The Emergency Loya Jirga was held to choose a new leader. It also appointed a new temporary government. This government would then run the country for up to two years. The goal was to hold fair elections for a fully representative government.

Choosing a Leader

The most important job of the Loya Jirga was to pick a president. This president would lead the temporary government until official elections in 2004.

Candidates for President

At first, two main people wanted to be president. They were Burhanuddin Rabbani, a former president, and Hamid Karzai. Karzai was already leading the first temporary government and had support from important leaders.

A third possible candidate was Zahir Shah, who used to be the king of Afghanistan until 1973. He had returned to Afghanistan after the Taliban government fell. Some people wanted him to be the head of state, even if it was just an honorary role.

King Zahir Shah Steps Aside

Many delegates signed a paper asking Zahir Shah to become the head of state. However, leaders from the United States and United Nations asked the former King not to run. On June 10, Zahir Shah announced that he would not seek any position. He said he did not want to bring back the monarchy. Hamid Karzai, sitting next to him, called Zahir Shah the "father of the nation." The next day, former President Burhanuddin Rabbani also stepped down. He supported Hamid Karzai for the sake of national unity.

The Presidential Election

It seemed Karzai would be the only candidate. But two other people managed to get enough support to run. They were Masooda Jalal, a woman doctor, and Mahfoz Nadai, an army officer.

The election for president happened on June 13, 2002. It was a secret vote. Hamid Karzai won by a large amount, getting 83% of the votes. He continued to serve as president.

Forming the Government

On June 19, Karzai announced the names of 14 ministers for the new government. He also named three Vice-Presidents and a Chief Justice. Karzai asked the Loya Jirga if they accepted his choices. Most delegates raised their hands in support. Some people felt the cabinet was not chosen democratically. They thought it was the result of political talks behind the scenes.

Cabinet Changes

All three Vice-President positions went to commanders from the Northern Alliance. Karzai made sure they were from different ethnic groups. After the Loya Jirga, more names were added to the list. This was to make sure different groups in Afghanistan were happy. By June 22, the cabinet had 29 ministers. This new cabinet officially started on June 24, 2002.

Fair Representation

The previous temporary government had more Tajiks than Pashtuns. Many Pashtuns wanted more of their group in the new government. The new administration had 13 Pashtun ministers out of 30. The rest were Tajiks, Uzbeks, Hazaras, and other groups.

Powerful Leaders in Government

The Loya Jirga was supposed to give more power to civilian leaders. However, military groups and powerful local leaders, called warlords, gained more influence. The Northern Alliance still had a lot of control. The three Vice-Presidents Karzai chose were all Northern Alliance commanders. Important leaders like Fahim, Qanuni, and Abdullah kept their key roles.

Over time, President Karzai tried to reduce the power of these warlords. For example, he replaced the Interior Minister with someone who wanted more reforms.

Including Royal Supporters

Karzai gave former King Zahir Shah the title "Father of the Nation." But some of the King's supporters felt this was not enough. They wanted him to have an official role. To make them happy, Karzai added Zalmay Rassoul as a Security Adviser and Hedayat Amin Arsala as a fifth Vice-President.

Educated Afghans Join

Karzai also faced pressure to include highly educated Afghans. Many of these people had left Afghanistan during earlier conflicts. They had studied at Western universities. One notable person was Ashraf Ghani, who worked at the World Bank. He became the Finance Minister. Other experts also joined the government.

Challenges from Yunus Qanuni

Yunus Qanuni, a key Northern Alliance leader, was not happy with his new role as Education Minister. He had hoped for a more powerful position, like prime minister. He even thought about not joining the government. His supporters, who worked in the Interior Ministry, protested. They blocked roads and showed their weapons.

Karzai then made Qanuni a special adviser on security. This meant Qanuni still had unofficial control over intelligence. He decided to join the government. But he also formed a political party outside the government.

Women's Affairs Ministry

There was also discussion about the Minister for Women's Affairs. The previous minister, Sima Samar, had been very outspoken. She faced threats and complaints. At first, no minister was appointed for women's affairs. Later, Karzai appointed Mahbuba Huquqmal as a State Representative. Then, Habiba Sarabi became the official Minister of Women's Affairs.

The Death of Abdul Qadir

Haji Abdul Qadeer, a Pashtun Vice-President, was killed on July 6, 2002. He and his son-in-law were attacked by gunmen. The reason for the attack was not known. Later, one person was sentenced to death for the killing.

Members of the Transitional Government

Afghan Transitional Administration
Date formed	13 July 2002 (2002-07-13)
Date dissolved	7 December 2004 (2004-12-07)
People and organisations
Head of state	Hamid Karzai
Head of government	Hamid Karzai
No. of ministers	28
Total no. of members	28
History
Predecessor	Afghan Interim Administration
Successor	First Karzai cabinet