The politics of Afghanistan are complex and confusing. Almost two years after the former Taliban regime was overthrown in a U.S.-led invasion, Afghanistan remains in many ways a coherent state in name only.

President Hamid Karzai is said to govern the capital and not much else in Afghanistan. The country remains very unstable, with Taliban forces on the resurgence and various warlords looking to maintain or increase their regional and ethnic power bases.

There is no new constitution, with the Afghan Constitutional Commission failing to meet its September 1, 2003, deadline for releasing a draft, and many critics wondering how a consultation process that took place before a draft was released could even be called a consultation.

The United Nations and other organizations play a vital role in attempting to rebuild the country, but it remains to be seen what structures will be put in place and how successful they will be in the long term.

Table of contents
1 Historical background
2 Miscellaneous
3 Holidays
4 External Links

Historical background

The Former Taliban Regime

On September 27, 1996, the ruling members of the Afghan Government were displaced by members of the Islamic Taliban movement. The Taliban declared themselves the legitimate government of Afghanistan; however, the UN continued to recognize the government of
Burhanuddin Rabbani.

The Organization of the Islamic Conference left the Afghan seat vacant until the question of legitimacy could be resolved through negotiations among the warring factions.

By the time of the U.S.-led invasion of Afghanistan after the September 11 terrorist attacks only Pakistan recognized the Taliban government, though Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates had in the past.

The Taliban occupied 95% of the territory, called the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan. The remaining 5% belonged to the rebel forces constituting the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, which the United Nations had recognized as the official government in exile.

U.S.-led Invasion

After the Taliban's refusal to hand over Osama bin Laden to the US for his suspected involvement in the 11 September 2001 terrorist attacks in the US, a US-led international coalition was formed; after several weeks of aerial bombardment by coalition forces and military action on the ground, including Afghan opposition forces, the Taliban was ousted from power on 17 November 2001.

Bonn Agreement

In December 2001, a number of prominent Afghans met under UN auspices in Bonn, Germany, to decide on a plan for governing the country; as a result, the Afghan Interim Authority (AIA) - made up of 30 members, headed by a chairman - was inaugurated on 22 December 2001 with a six-month mandate to be followed by a two-year Transitional Authority (TA), after which elections are to be held.

Approval by the Loya Jirga

The structure of the Transitional Authority was announced on 10 June 2002, when the Loya Jirga (Grand Assembly) convened establishing the Transitional Islamic State of Afghanistan (TISA), which has 18 months to hold a constitutional Loya Jirga to adopt a constitution and 24 months to hold nationwide elections

Miscellaneous

Country names:

Former names: ISO 3166-1 country code: AF

Government type: transitional

Capital: Kabul

Administrative divisions

32 provinces (velayat, singular - velayat); Badakhshan, Badghis, Baghlan, Balkh, Bamian, Farah, Faryab, Ghazni, Ghowr, Helmand, Herat, Jowzjan, Kabol, Kandahar, Kapisa, Khowst, Konar, Kondoz, Laghman, Lowgar, Nangarhar, Nimruz, Nurestan, Oruzgan, Paktia, Paktika, Parvan, Samangan, Sar-e Pol, Takhar, Vardak, Zabol.

Chief officials

According to a list provided by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' website:

  • President H.E. Hamid Karzai
  • Vice Presidents Mareshal Mohammad Fahim, Karim Khalili, Nematollah Shahrani, Hedayat A. Arsala
  • Defense Minister Mareshal Mohammad Fahim
  • Foreign Minister Dr. Abdullah
  • Interior Minister Ali Ahmad Jalali
  • Planning Minister Haji Mohammad Mohaqiq
  • Finance Minister Dr. Ashraf Ghani
  • Education Minister Yonus Qanooni
  • Borders & Tribal Affairs Minister Arif Noorzai
  • Reconstruction Minister Dr. M. Amin Farhang
  • Mines and Industries Minister TBA
  • Light Industries Minister Mohammad Alem Razm
  • Women's Affairs Minister Ms. Habiba Sorabi
  • Public Health Minister Dr. Sohaila Siddiqi
  • Commerce Minister Sayed Mustafa Kazemi
  • Agriculture Minister Sayed Hussain Anwari
  • Justice Minister A. Rahim Karimi
  • Communications Minister Masoom Stanakzai
  • Refugees Affairs Minister Enayatullah Nazari
  • Haj and Religious Affairs Minister M. Amin Naziryar
  • Urban Affairs Minister Eng. Yusuf Pashtun
  • Social Affairs Minister Noor Mohammad Karkin
  • Water and Power Minister A. Shaker Kargar
  • Irrigation and Environment Minister Dr. A. Yusuf Nuristani
  • Martyrs and Disabled Minister Abdullah Wardak
  • Higher Education Minister Dr. Sharif Fayez
  • Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Mirwais Saddiq
  • Transportation Minister S. Mohammad Ali Javed
  • Rural Development Minister Hanif Atmar
  • National Security Advisor Dr. Zalmai Rassoul
  • Supreme Court Chief Justice Sheikh Hadi Shinwari
  • Special Advisor on Security Yonus Qanooni
  • Advisor on women's Affairs Mahbouba Hoqooqmal

  • National Defense Commission Marshall M.Q. Fahim, Gen. Abdul wali, Mohammed karim khalili, Gen. Ismail Khan, Gen. Abdul Rashid Dostum, Gen. Sayed Hosain Anwari, Gen. Asef Delawar, Gen. Abdurrahim Wardak, Gov.Gulagha Sherzai, Gen. Bismella khan, Gen. Atiqulla Baryalai, Gen. Golzarak Zadran, Gov. Haji Din Mohammed, Gen. Atta Mohammed

  • Constitution Review committee Prof. Nematollah Shahrani (Chairman), Prof. Abdussalam Azimi (Deputy Chairman), Prof. Mohammed Musa Marufi, Mohammed Musa Ashari, Dr. Mohammed Rahim Sherzoi, Mohammed Sarwar Danesh, Dr. Abdulhai Elahi, Mohammed Ashraf Rasuli, Abdulhagh Wala, Prof. Abdulaziz, Dr. Mohammed Tahir Burgi, Dr. Mohammed Yaqub Wahedi, Wakil Shamsoddin, Dr. Mohammed Alam Eshaqzai, Ghazi Mohammed Amin Weqad, Eng. Mohammed Ekram, Nadershah Nikyar, Likraj, Mrs. Parwin Mohmand, Mohammed Amin Ahmadi, Mir Mohammed Afzal Mirgazargah Sharif, Mrs. Fatima Gilani, Sulaiman Baloch, Mrs. Shokria Barekzai, Mrs. Sedigha Balkhi, Prof. Mohammed Hashem Kamali, Parwin ali Majruh, Eng. Merajuddin Hakema Mashal, Eng. Dawood Moosa, Naderali Mahdawi, Prof. Mohammed Tahir Hashimi, Mrs. Amena Afzali, Mohammed Siddigh Patman, Abdulhai khorasani, Dr. Mohammed Faruq (Secretary)

  • Afghan Assistance Coordination Authority Commission Hamid Karzai, President, Hedayat Amin Arsala, Vice President, Dr. Abdullah Abdullah, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai, Minister of Finance, Haji Mohammed Mohaqeq, Minister of Planning, Mir Mohammed Amin Farhang, Minister of Reconstruction, Hanif Atmar, Minister of Rural Dev., Yusof Nooristani, Minister of Water Sources Environment, Abdullah Ali, Minister of Public Works, Mohammed Yusoof Pashtoon, Minister of Urban Dev., Massum Stanakzai, Minister of Telecommunication, Minister of Mines & Industry, TBA, Zalmai Rassoul, NSC Advisor, Anwarulhaq Ahadi, President Central Bank, Mohammed Yusof Etebar, Dir. State Admin. Affairs, Said Tayeb Jawad, Chief - of - Staff

Elections

Nationwide elections are to be held by June 2004, according to the Bonn Agreement.

Legislative Branch

Non-functioning as of June 1993.

Constitution

Under the Bonn Agreement the Afghan Constitution Commission was established to draft a new constitution in consultation with the public. As of September 2003 these consultations are continuing, with a constitutional loya jirga (grand council) likely to be convened in December, later than the scheduled October date. The Bonn Agreement called for a loya jirga to be convened within 18 months of the establishment of the Transitional Authority and for the use of the 1964 constitution as the basis for a new constitution.

Legal system

The Bonn Agreement calls for a judicial commission to rebuild the justice system in accordance with Islamic principles, international standards, the rule of law, and Afghan legal traditions.

Judicial branch

The Bonn Agreement called for the establishment of a Supreme Court.

Political Parties and Leaders

NA; note - political parties in Afghanistan are in flux and many prominent players have plans to create new parties; the Transitional Islamic State of Afghanistan (TISA) is headed by President Hamid KARZAI; the TISA is a coalition government formed of leaders from across the Afghan political spectrum; there are also several political factions not holding positions in the Transitional government that are forming new groups and parties in the hopes of participating in 2004 elections

Political pressure groups and leaders

NA; note - ministries formed under the Transitional Islamic State of Afghanistan (TISA) include former influential Afghans, diaspora members, and former political leaders

Afghan refugees in Pakistan, Australia, the United States, and elsewhere have organized politically; Afghan Mellat Party(Afghan Social Democratic Party) [leader Shams Ul Huda Shams) presently based in Peshawar, Pakistan; Peshawar, Pakistan-based groups such as the Coordination Council for National Unity and Understanding in Afghanistan or CUNUA [Ishaq GAILANI]; tribal elders represent traditional Pashtun leadership; Writers Union of Free Afghanistan or WUFA [A. Rasul AMIN]

International organization participation

AsDB, CP, ECO, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, GUUAM, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol,IOM (observer), ITU, NAM, OIC, OPCW(signatory), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WMO, WToO

Holidays

Flag description

three equal horizontal bands of green (top), white, and black with a gold emblem centered on the three bands; the emblem features a temple-like structure with Islamic inscriptions above and below, encircled by a wreath on the left and right and by a bolder Islamic inscription above, all of which are encircled by two crossed scimitars.

External Links

  • Afghan Voice.com claims to be "an independent and neutral entity that represents the voice of all Afghans and is not associated with any particular group or political party." It seems to emphasize chat rooms and message boards, with links to headlines and Internet radio reports.
  • Afghanistan News.net has good links to headlines and news sources, although it's not clear who's running the site, or why: "Afghanistan News.net does not operate in Afghanistan nor does it have any ties there. It is part of a Worldwide network of News.net online news services established to provide visitors with updating news and information about every country and key city throughout Asia," the site says. Domain name registered to Independent Press, Inc., of Roy, Utah, and admin/technical contact works for "Vanilla Limited" of the United Arab Emirates.
  • Afghanistan Online says it is "a privately owned, independent web site that provides updated news and information on Afghanistan," with a mailing address in Pleasanton, CA. Its Afghan Online Press compiles news articles from other sources.
  • Afghanistan Reconstruction, featuring documents on development and technology, is part of the Development Gateway website. The DG Foundation, which runs the site, "is a not-for-profit organization currently based in Washington DC. Its mission is to reduce poverty and support sustainable development through the use of information and communication technologies (ICT)."
  • The CIA's World Factbook entry on Afghanistan was the basis for most of earlier versions of this article.
  • Islamic Transitional State of Afghanistan website appears to be run by the United Nations Development Programme (its "About Us" link doesn't work but a UNDP email address is mentioned). It includes budget documents and links to website sections for various Afghan government and UN agencies.
  • Library of Congress Selected Internet Resources on Afghanistan provides links to various sites and documents, including a country study of Afghanistan, which covers events up to 1995.
  • ReliefWeb's Afghanistan section includes news and NGO reports on the Afghan situation. "ReliefWeb is a project of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)," according to the site's homepage.
  • United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan was established in March 2003 "in an effort to integrate all UN activities in Afghanistan. There are some 16 UN agencies in the country working together with their Afghan government counterparts and with national and international NGO partners," the site indicates. The links page is extensive, mainly listing sites of other UN agencies.
  • U.S. State Department's Background Note on Afghanistan, besides the requisite statistics, includes detailed summaries of country's history, economics, government and foreign relations.