Cabinet of Afghanistan


The Cabinet of Afghanistan is made of the heads of all the government ministries. The president selects the members of cabinet with the approval of the National Assembly. Candidates for a ministerial position must be an Afghan citizen, be at least 35 years of age and have higher education. Ministers, unlike the president and vice presidents, can have citizenship of another country, but the Wolesi Jirga has in the past rejected ministers for the reason of having dual citizenship.

Current Cabinet of Ministers

National Unity Government

PortfolioNameYearsStatus
PresidentAshraf Ghani2014–presentChosen by electorate
First Vice PresidentAbdul Rashid Dostum2014–presentChosen by electorate
Second Vice PresidentMohammad Sarwar Danish2014–presentChosen by electorate
Chief Executive OfficerAbdullah Abdullah2014–present
First Deputy Chief Executive OfficerMohammad Khan2014–present-
Second Deputy Chief Executive OfficerMohammad Mohaqiq2014–present
Foreign Affairs MinisterSalahuddin Rabbani2015–presentActing
National Defense MinisterTariq Shah Bahrami2017–presentApproved by the National Assembly
Interior Affairs MinisterWais Barmak2017–presentApproved by the National Assembly
Finance MinisterEklil Ahmad Hakimiab2015–presentApproved by the National Assembly
Economy MinisterMustafa Mastoor2017–presentApproved by the National Assembly
Agriculture MinisterNasir Ahmad Durrani2017–presentApproved by the National Assembly
Energy and Water MinisterAli Ahmad Osmani2015–presentApproved by the National Assembly
Minister of JusticeAbdul Basir Anwar2015–presentApproved by the National Assembly
Information and Culture MinisterAbdul Bari Jahani2015–presentApproved by the National Assembly
Minister of EducationAssadullah Hassan Balkhi2015–present
Higher Education MinisterNajibullah Khwaja Omari2017–PresentApproved by the National Assembly
Minister of Industry and CommerceHumayoon Rasaw2015–presentApproved by the National Assembly
Transportat MinisterMohammad Yamma Shams2020–presentApproved by the National Assembly
Women's Affairs MinisterDelbar Nazari2015–presentApproved by the National Assembly
Haj and Religious Affairs MinisterFaiz Mohammad Osmani2015–presentApproved by the National Assembly
Public Health MinisterFerozuddin Feroz2015–presentApproved by the National Assembly
Mines MinisterNargis Nehan2017–PresentActing
Ministry of Communications and Information TechnologyShahzad Gul Ayoubi2017–presentApproved by the National Assembly
Minister of Rural Rehabilitation and DevelopmentPohanmal Mojib ul-Rahman Karimi2017–present
Minister of Labor, Social Affairs, Martyrs and DisabledFaizullah Zaki2017–presentApproved by the National Assembly
Frontiers, Nations, and Tribal Affairs MinisterGulagha Sherzai2017–presentApproved by the National Assembly
Urban Development and Housing Minister2015–presentApproved by the National Assembly
Counter Narcotics MinisterSalamat Azimi2015–presentApproved by the National Assembly
Refugees and Repatriation MinisterSayed Hussain Alemi Balkhi2015–presentApproved by the National Assembly
Attorney GeneralFarid Hamidi2016–present-
Director of the National Directorate of SecurityMohammed Masoom Stanekzai2016–presentApproved by the National Assembly
National Security AdvisorMohammad Hanif Atmar2015–presentAppointed by Ashraf Ghani

Previous Administrations

Karzai administration 2009–2014

After winning a second term, President Hamid Karzai nominated 23 ministers in December 2009 to be part of his new administration but only 7 were approved by the National Assembly. All the other candidates that Karzai initially selected were rejected by members of the National Assembly. Karzai presented a second list of 18 candidates to the Wolesi Jirga on 9 January 2010. A week later, the Wolesi Jirga again approved only seven of the candidates. Since then, part of the ministries have been governed by acting ministers who do not held approval of the Afghan legislature.
In June 2010, after the resignation of Interior Minister Hanif Atmar, President Karzai submitted 7 names for a third round of confirmation in the National Assembly. Five of them were approved by the National Assembly, leaving only six of the 25 ministries left with an 'acting minister.' In the line chart below is the list of members of the current Afghan Cabinet.
PortfolioNameYearsStatus
PresidentHamid Karzai2009–2014Chosen by electorate
First Vice PresidentMohammed Fahim2009–2014Chosen by electorate, died March 2014
First Vice PresidentYunus Qanuni2014-2014Approved by the National Assembly
Second Vice PresidentKarim Khalili2009–2014Chosen by electorate
Foreign Affairs MinisterZalmai Rassoul2010–2013Resigned in 2013 to run for president
Foreign Affairs MinisterZarar Ahmad Moqbel2013–2014Approved by the National Assembly
Defense MinisterAbdul Rahim Wardak2010–2012Voted out of office by the National Assembly in 2012
Defense MinisterBismillah Khan Mohammadi2012–2014Approved by the National Assembly
Interior MinisterMohammad Hanif Atmar2010-2010Resigned June 2010
Interior MinisterBismillah Khan Mohammadi2010–2012Approved by the National Assembly, voted out of office by the National Assembly in 2012
Interior MinisterGhulam Mujtaba Patang2012–2013Was voted out of office by the National Assembly in 2013
Interior MinisterMohammad Omar Daudzai2013–2014Approved by the National Assembly
Finance MinisterOmar Zakhilwal2010–2014Approved by the National Assembly
Economic MinisterAbdul Hadi Arghandiwal2010–2014Approved by the National Assembly
Justice MinisterHabibullah Ghaleb2010–2014Approved by the National Assembly, died in March 2014
Information and Cultural Affairs MinisterSayed Makhdum Raheen2010–2014Approved by the National Assembly
Education MinisterGhulam Farooq Wardak2010–2014Approved by the National Assembly
Higher Education MinisterSarwar Danish2010–2012Rejected by the National Assembly, served as acting minister
Higher Education MinisterObaidaullah Obaid2012–2014Rejected by the National Assembly in 2010, but in 2012 nominated again and approved
Trade and Commerce MinisterGhulam Mohammad Eelaqi2010-2010Rejected by the National Assembly, served as acting minister
Trade and Commerce MinisterAnwar ul-Haq Ahady2010–2013Approved by the National Assembly, resigned in 2013 to run for president
Trade and Commerce MinisterMohammad Shakir Kargar2013–2014Approved by the National Assembly
Water and Energy MinisterIsmail Khan2010–2013Rejected by the National Assembly in 2010, served as acting minister, approved in 2012. Resigned in 2013 to become running mate of Abdurrab Rasul Sayaf.
Water and Energy MinisterMohammad Arif Noorzai2013–2014Approved by the National Assembly
Transportation and Aviation MinisterMohammadulla Batash2010-2010Rejected by the National Assembly, served half a year as acting minister
Transportation and Aviation MinisterDaoud Ali Najafi2010–2014Rejected in 2010, served as acting minister, approved by the National Assemblyin 2012
Public Works MinisterSohrab Ali Safari2010-2010Never proposed to the National Assembly, acting minister until 2010
Public Works MinisterAbdul Qadus Hamidi2010–2012Approved by the National Assembly in 2010
Public Works MinisterNajibullah Aoudjan2012–2014Approved by the National Assembly
Women's Affairs MinisterHusn Bano Ghazanfar2010–2014Rejected by the National Assembly in 2010, served as acting minister and approved in 2012
Haj and Islamic Affairs MinisterMohammad Yousef Niazi2010–2014Approved by the National Assembly
Public Health MinisterSuraya Dalil2010–2014Rejected by the National Assembly in 2010, served as Acting Minister, Approved in 2012
Agriculture MinisterMohammad Asif Rahimi2010–2014Approved by the National Assembly
Mines MinisterWaheedullah Sharani2010–2013Approved by the National Assembly, Resigned in 2013 to become running mate to Qayum Karzai.
Mines MinisterMohammad Akbar Barakzai2013–2014Approved by the National Assembly
Ministry of Communications and Information TechnologyAmirzai Sangin2010–2014Rejected by the National Assembly in 2010, served as Acting Minister, Approved in 2012
Rural Rehabilitation and Development MinisterJarullah Mansouri2010–2012Approved by the National Assembly
Rural Rehabilitation and Development MinisterWais Ahmad Barmak2012–2014Approved by the National Assembly
Work, Social Affairs, Martyred and Disabled MinisterAmina Afzali2010–2014Approved by the National Assembly
Border Affairs and Tribal Affairs MinisterArsala Jamal2010-2010Rejected by the National Assembly, served as acting minister
Border Affairs and Tribal Affairs MinisterAssadullah Khalid2010–2012Approved by the National Assembly
Border Affairs and Tribal Affairs MinisterAzizullah Din Mohammad2012–2013Rejected by the National Assembly, served as acting minister
Border Affairs and Tribal Affairs MinisterAkram Khpalwak2013–2014Approved by the National Assembly
Urban Development MinisterSultan Hussain2010–2012Rejected by the National Assembly, served as acting minister
Urban Development MinisterHasan Abdullahai2012–2014Approved by the National Assembly
Counter Narcotics MinisterZarar Ahmad Moqbel Osmani2010–2013Approved by the National Assembly, resigned in 2013 to become Foreign Affairs Minister
Counter Narcotics MinisterMobarez Rashidi2014-2014Approved by the National Assembly
Refugees and Repatriation MinisterAbdul Rahim2010-2010Rejected by the National Assembly, served as acting minister
Refugees and Repatriation MinisterJamahir Anwari2010–2014Approved by the National Assembly
Chief of the National Directorate of SecurityAmrullah Saleh
Ibrahim Spinzada
Asadullah Khalid
Rahmatullah Nabil		Resigned in 2010
Acting head since 2010
National Security AdvisorRangeen Dadfar Spanta

Karzai administration 2004–2009

In the line chart below is the list of members of the Afghan Cabinet from 2004 to 2009.
PortfolioMinisterYearsNotes
PresidentHamid Karzai2004–2009
First Vice PresidentAhmad Zia Massoud2004–2009
Second Vice PresidentKarim Khalili2004–2009
Senior MinisterHedayat Amin Arsala2006–2009Post did not exist prior to 2006
Foreign MinisterAbdullah Abdullah
Rangin Dadfar Spanta		2004–2006
2006–2009
Defense MinisterAbdul Rahim Wardak2004–2009
Interior MinisterAli Ahmad Jalali
Ahmad Moqbel Zarar
Mohamad Hanif Atmar		2004–2005
2005–2008
2008–2009
Finance MinisterAnwar ul-Haq Ahady
Omar Zakhilwal		2005–2009
2009-2009
Economic MinisterMohammad Amin Farhang
Mohammad Jalil Shams		2004–2006
2006–2009
Justice MinisterSarwar Danish2004–2009
Youth Minister
Information and Culture Minister
Culture and Youth Affairs Minister
.		Amina Afzali
Sayed Makhdum Rahin
Sayed Makhdum Rahin
Abdul Karim Khoram		2004–2006
2004–2006
2006-2006
2006–2009		Position merged with Minister of Culture in 2006
Position merged with Minister of Youth in 2006
Combination of the posts of minister of Youth Affairs and minister of Information and Culture
Education ministerNoor Mohammad Qarqeen
Mohamad Hanif Atmar
Ghulam Farooq Wardak		2004–2006
2006–2008
2008–2009
Higher Education MinisterAmeer Shah Hasanyaar
Mohammad Azam Dadfar		2004–2006
2006–2009
Commerce Minister
Commerce and Industries Minister
.
.		Hedayat Amin Arsala
Mohammad Amin Farhang
Mohammad Haidar Reza
Wahidullah Shahrani		2004–2006
2006–?
?-2008
2008–2009		Industries in 2006 transferred from portofolio of Mines to portofolio of Commerce
Water and Energy MinisterIsmail Khan2004–2009
Transportation and Aviation MinisterEnayatullah Qasemi
Nimatullah Ehsan Jawed
Hamidullah Qaderi
Omar Zakhilwal
Hamidullah Farooqi		2004–2006
2006–2008
2008?–2008
2008–2009
2009-2009
Women's Affairs MinisterMassouda Jalal
Husn Bano Ghazanfar		2004–2006
2006–2009
Haj and Islamic Affairs MinisterNematullah Shahrani2004–2009
Public Welfare MinisterSohrab Ali Saffari2004–2009
Public Health MinisterMohammad Amin Fatemi2004–2009
Agriculture MinisterObaidullah Ramin
Mohammad Asif Rahimi		2004–2008
2008–2009
Mines and Industries Minister
Mines Minister		Mir Mohammad Sediq
Ibrahim Adel
2004–2006
2006–2009
Communications MinisterAmirzai Sangin2004–2009
Rural Rehabilitation and Development MinisterMohamad Hanif Atmar
Ehsan Zia		2004–2006
2006–2009
Work and Social Affairs Minister
Martyrs and Disabled Minister
Work, Social Affairs, Martyred and Disabled Minister		Sayed Ikramuddin Masoomi
Sediqa Balkhi
Noor Mohammad Qarqeen		2004–2006
2004–2006
2006–2009		The Ministry of Disabled and Martyrs was merged with the Ministry of Social Affairs in 2006
Border Affairs and Tribal Affairs MinisterAzam Dadfar
Abdul Karim Brahui		2004–2008
2008–2009
Urban Development MinisterYousef Pashtun2004–2009
Counter Narcotics MinisterHabibullah Qaderi
General Khodaydad		2004–2008
2008–2009		-
Refugees and Repatriation MinisterAzam Dadfar
Sher Mohammad Etebari
Abdul Karim Barahawi
2004–?
?-2009
2009-2009		-
Attorney GeneralMohammad Ishaq Aloko
Afghan National Security AdviserZalmai Rassoul

Afghan Transitional Administration

The Bonn conference of December 2001 had installed an interim government, the 2002 Loya Jirga subsequently elected a transitional administration. From July 2002 until the presidential elections in October 2004, the Transitional Administration governed Afghanistan.
Transitional
Authority
Position		NameIncumbent/New
PresidentHamid KarzaiIncumbent
Vice-President and
Defense Minister		Mohammed FahimIncumbent
Vice-PresidentKarim KhaliliNew
Vice-PresidentHedayat Amin ArsalaNew
Vice-President and
Public Works Minister		Abdul Qadir
Abdul Ali		New
New
Foreign MinisterAbdullah AbdullahIncumbent
Finance MinisterMohammad Ashraf GhaniNew
Interior MinisterTaj Mohammed Wardak
Ali Ahmad Jalali		New
New
Planning MinisterMohammad MohaqiqIncumbent
Communications MinisterMohammad Masoom StanekzaiNew
Borders MinisterArif NurzaiNew
Refugees MinisterIntayatullah NazeriIncumbent
Mines MinisterJuma Muhammad MuhammadiNew
Light Industries MinisterMohammed Alim RazmIncumbent
Health MinisterSohaila SiddiqiIncumbent
Commerce MinisterSayed Mustafa KasemiIncumbent
Agriculture MinisterSayed Hussain AnwariIncumbent
Justice MinisterAbbas KarimiIncumbent
Information and Culture MinisterSaeed Makhdoom RahimIncumbent
Reconstruction MinisterMohammed Fahim FarhangIncumbent
Haj and Mosques MinisterMohammed Amin NaziryarNew
Urban Affairs MinisterYousef Pashtun
Gul Agha Sherzai		New
New
Water and Power MinisterMohammad Shakir KarkarIncumbent
Irrigation & Environment MinisterAhmed Yusuf NuristaniNew
Martyrs and Disabled MinisterAbdullah WardakIncumbent
Higher Education MinisterSharif FaezIncumbent
Civil Aviation & Tourism MinisterMirwais SadiqNew
Transportation MinisterSayed Mohammed Ali Jawad
Rural Development MinisterHanif AsmarNew
Labor and Social Affairs MinisterNoor Mohammad Qarqin
Woman's Affairs MinisterHabiba SorabiNew
Supreme Court Chief JusticeHadi Shinwari
Security AdvisorZalmai Rassoul
State or Advisor-Minister for Women's AffairsMahbooba Hoquqmal
Governor of the Afghan Central BankAnwar ul-Haq Ahadi

Afghan interim administration

Following the ouster of the Taliban regime approximately two dozen leading Afghans met in Germany at the Bonn Conference to choose a leadership and set in place a timeline for the adoption of a new constitution for a new Afghan government, and the timeline for choosing an executive and legislature by democratic election. In the chart below is the list of members of the Interim Afghan authority. The Afghan Interim Administration was the first administration of Afghanistan after the fall of the Taliban regime and was the highest authority of the country from 22 December 2001 until 13 July 2002.
Interim
Administration
Position		NameNotes
ChairmanHamid KarzaiIndependent Pashtun tribal leader in exile in Pakistan
Vice-Chair and
Defense Minister		Mohammed FahimDefense Minister of the United Islamic Front
Vice–Chair and
Women's Affairs		Sima SamarFounder of the Shuhada Organization and Shuhada Clinic in Quetta, Rome Group.
Vice-Chair and
Planning Minister		Mohammed MohaqqeqWarlord fighting against the Taliban for the People's Islamic Unity Party of Afghanistan in the United Islamic Front
Vice-Chair and
Water and Energy Minister		Ahmed Shakar KarkarUnited Islamic Front
Vice-Chair and
Finance Minister		Hedayat Amin ArsalaForeign Minister of the Islamic State of Afghanistan in the 90s. Rome group.
Foreign MinisterAbdullah AbdullahForeign Minister of the United Islamic Front
Interior MinisterYunus QanuniInterior Minister of the United Islamic Front
Communications MinisterAbdul RahimUnited Islamic Front
Borders MinisterAmanullah ZadranTaliban leader, who defected after the American invasion, Rome Group
Refugees MinisterIntayatullah NazeriUnited Islamic Front
Small Industries MinisterAref NoozariUnited Islamic Front
Mines and Industry MinisterMohammed Alim RazmUnited Islamic Front
Health MinisterSohaila SiddiqiHas been in the governments of king Mohammed Zahir Shah and the communist regime of the 1970s and 1980s. Independent
Commerce MinisterSayed Mustafa KasemiSpokesmen and leader of United National Front
Agriculture MinisterSayed Hussain AnwariChief military commander of the Harakat-e Islami in the United National Front
Justice MinisterAbbas KarimiUnited Islamic Front
Information and Culture MinisterSaeed Makhdoom RahimPoet and writer, Rome group
Reconstruction MinisterMohammed Fahim FarhangRome Group
Haj and Mosques MinisterMohammad Hanif BalkhiIndependent
Urban Affairs MinisterAbdul QadirLeader in the United National Front for the Hezb-e Islami Khalis faction
Public Works MinisterAbdul Khaliq FazalRome group
Irrigation MinisterMangal HusseinPreviously warlord for the Hezbi Islami Gulbuddin, Peshawar group
Martyrs and Disabled MinisterAbdullah WardakLeader in the United National Front for the Islamic Union for the Liberation of Afghanistan
Higher Education MinisterSharif FaezUnited Islamic Front
Civil Aviation & Tourism MinisterAbdul RahmanMember of United Islamic Front, but he threw his support to former king Zahir Shah and became a member of the Rome Group
Labor and Social AffairsMirwais SaddiqSon of Ismail Khan, United Islamic Front
Transportation MinisterSultan Hamid Sultan
Education MinisterAbdul Rassoul AminMember of the National Islamic Front and the Rome group.
Rural Development MinisterAbdul Malik AnwarUnited Islamic Front