List of the Heads of State of Afghanistan

Ashvagan

• Possibly 1220 to mid-13th century ruled by Mongol Emperors
• Mid-13th century to 1404 divided between local Mongol leaders
• 1404 to 1507 within Timurid Empire
• 1507 to 1709 Iranian rule

The Afghan State in Qandahar

• Mir Wais Khan Hotak (1709-1715)
• Mahmud Khan Hotak (1715-1725)
• Ashraf Khan (1725-October 1729)

Iranian Rule

• 1729-1747

The Emirate of Afghanistan

Durrani Dynasty

• Emir Ahmad Shah Durrani ('Baba') (October 1747-October 16 (23?) 1772) (died)
• Emir Timur Shah Abdali (October 1772-1793)
• Emir Zaman Mirza Shah Abdali (1793-1801) (deposed)
• Emir Mahmud Shah (1801-1803) (deposed)
• Emir Shoja Shah (1803-1809) (deposed)
• Emir Mahmud Shah (1809-1818) (deposed & exiled)
• Emir Sultan Ali Shah (1818-1819)
• Emir Sultan Ayub Shah (1819-1823) (deposed)

Barakzai Dynasty

• Emir Dost Mohammad Khan (1818-August 1839) (fled)

Durrani Dynasty (restored)

• Emir Shoja Shah (1839-early 1843) (assassinated)

Barakzai Dynasty (restored)

• Akbar Khan (led resistance 1839-1842)
• Emir Dost Mohammad Khan (1843-June 9 1863)
• Emir Shir Ali Khan (June 1863-February 21 1879)
• Mohammad Uzful Khan (in revolt 1866)
• Mohammad Azim Khan (controlled much of the country 1866-1869)
• Emir Ya'qub Khan (February 1879-October 1879) (forced to abdicate)
• Emir Abdul Rahman Khan (October 1879/July 22, 1880-October 3 1901)

Last Emirs

• Nasrullah Khan (February 21, 1919 - February 28, 1919)
• Amanullah Khan (February 28, 1919 - June 9, 1926)

The Kingdom of Afghanistan

Barakzai Dynasty

• King Habibullah Khan (October 3, 1901 - February 20, 1919) (assassinated)
• King Amanullah Shah (February 28 1919/June 9, 1926 - January 14, 1929) (abdicated in coup d'état)
• King Inayatullah Shah (January 14, 1929 - January 17, 1929)

Usurping King

• King Habibullah Ghazi (Bachech Saqow) (January 17, 1929 - October 13, 1929)

Barakzai Dynasty (restored)

• King Mohammad Nadir Shah (October 17, 1929 - November 8, 1933) (assassinated)
• King Mohammed Zahir Shah (November 8, 1933 - July 17, 1973) (deposed in bloodless coup d'état)

The 1st Republic of Afghanistan

• Sardar Mohammad Daud Khan (July 17, 1973 - April 27, 1978) (killed in coup d'état) - president

Dictatorship

• General Abdul Qadir (April 27, 1978 - April 30, 1978) - Chairman of The Military Council

The Communist State (Democratic Republic of Afghanistan)

Communist Presidents of The Revolutionary Council

• Nur Mohammad Taraki (April 30, 1978 - September 16, 1979)
• Hafizullah Amin (September 16, 1979 - December 27, 1979)
• Babrak Karmal (December 27, 1979 - November 24, 1986) (also Party General Secretary December 27, 1979 - May 4, 1986)
• Haji Mohammad Chamkani (November 24, 1986 - September 30, 1987)
• Mohammad Najibullah (September 30, 1987 - November 30, 1987) (also Party General Secretary May 4, 1986 - June, 1990)

The 2nd Republic of Afghanistan

Presidents

• Mohammad Najibullah (November 30, 1987 - April 16, 1992)
• Abdul Rahim Hatif (April 16, 1992 - April 28, 1992)
• Sibghatullah Mojadedi (April 28, 1992 - June 28, 1992)
• Burhanuddin Rabbani (June 28, 1992 - September 27, 1996), continues to claim presidency in exile with international recognition, until 2001.

The Taliban State (Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan)

Head of State

• Mullah Mohammad Omar (September 27, 1996 - November 13, 2001), Spirtual leader of ruling Taliban

Heads of the Taliban Supreme Council

• Mullah Mohammad Rabbani (September 27, 1996 - April 16, 2001)
• Mawlawi Abdul Kabir (April 16, 2001 - November 13, 2001)

The 2nd Republic of Afghanistan (Restored)

• President Burhanuddin Rabbani (November 13, 2001 to December 22, 2001), restored

Transitional State of Afghanistan

• Hamid Karzai (December 22, 2001 to December 7, 2004) interim leader and chairman of the Afghan Transitional Authority

Islamic Republic of Afghanistan

President

• Hamid Karzai (December 7, 2004-) the duly-elected president

Prime Ministers of Afghanistan

(Dates in italics indicate de facto continuation of office)

See also: List of Afghan Transitional Administration personnel, History of Afghanistan