12.2007 - Source: UN High Commissioner for Refugees

Duties and responsibilities of the President who is the Head of State, the Chair of Cabinet and the Commander-in-Chief of Afghanistan’s Armed Forces and elected by direct, secret ballot for a five-year period (maximum of 2 terms); short description of the first Afghan Cabinet (nominated by President Karzai in March 2006) ("UNHCR's Eligibility Guidelines for Assessing the International Protection Needs of Afghan Asylum-Seekers") [ID 22112]

"The executive branch of Afghanistan’s central Government is comprised of the Office of the President, two Vice-Presidents, the Attorney General, 25 ministers, and several independent bodies such as the National Security Department, the Central Statistics Office and other central Government agencies. In early 2006, the functions of several ministries were merged, creating a more streamlined Cabinet.

The President is elected by direct, secret ballot for a five-year period and can serve a maximum of two terms. Candidates for the presidency designate their two vice-presidential candidates at the time of nomination. The President is elected by absolute majority of votes in direct Presidential elections. If no candidate receives over 50 percent of the votes, a run-off election is held between the top two candidates. The President is the Head of State, the Chair of the Cabinet and the Commander-in-Chief of Afghanistan’s Armed Forces. He appoints the Ministers, the Attorney General, the General Director of the Afghan Central Bank, the members of the Supreme Court and various other officials. Appointments to these positions require approval of the Wolesi Jirga (Lower House of the National Assembly).

The first Afghan Cabinet following parliamentary and Provincial Councils elections was nominated by President Karzai in March 2006. The Cabinet, technocrats representing ethnic and political factions from all over the country, consists of 25 ministers and one senior minister. The ministers were sworn in by President Karzai on 2 May 2006."

Document(s): Open document

10.2005 - Source: UK Home Office

Country report of October 2005 ("Country Report - October 2005") [#39232],  [ID 301]

"List of Cabinet Ministers

President: H.E. Hamid Karzai
Vice Presidents: Ahmad Zia Massoud (First), Karim Khalili (Second)

Commerce Minister and Senior Advisor to the President: Hedayat Amin Arsala
Foreign Minister: Dr. A. Abdullah
Defence Minister: General Abdurrahim Wardak
Interior Minister: Ali Ahmad Jalali
Finance Minister: Anwar-ul Haq Ahadi
Education Minister: Noor Mohmamad Qarqin
Borders & Tribal Affairs Minister: Abdul Karim Brahui
Economics Minister: Dr. M. Amin Farhang
Mines and Industries Minister: Engineer Mir Mohmmad Sediq
Women’s Affairs Minister: Dr. Masouda Jalal
Public Health Minister: Dr. Sayed Mohammad Amin Fatemi
Agriculture Minister: Obaidullah Ramin
Justice Minister: Sarwar Danish
Communications Minister: Engineer Amirzai Sangeen
Information & Culture Minister: Dr. Said Makhdoom Rahin
Refugees Affairs Minister: Dr. Azam Dadfar
Haj and Religious Affairs Minister: Professor Nematullah Shahrani
Urban Affairs Minister: Eng. Yusuf Pashtun
Public Work Minister: Dr. Suhrab Ali Safari
Labour and Social Affairs Minister: Sayed Ekramuddin Masoomi
Energy Minister: General Mohammad Ismael [Khan]
Martyrs and Disabled Minister: Sediqa Balkhi
Higher Education Minister: Sayed Amir Shah Hassanyar
Transportation Minister: Dr. Enayatullah Qasemi
Rural Development and Rehabilitation Minister: Hanif Atmar
Counter-Narcotics Minister: Habibullah Qadery

National Security Advisor: Dr. Zalmai Rassoul

Supreme Court Chief Justice: Sheikh Hadi Shinwari"

Document(s): Open document

18.03.2005 - Source: UN Security Council

President Hamid Karzai announces newly formed cabinet on 23 Dec 2004 ("Report of the Secretary-General on the situation in Afghanistan and its implications for international peace and security; Emergency international assistance for peace, normalcy and reconstruction of war-stricken Afghanistan [S/2005/183]") [#30563],  [ID 302]

"2. On 7 December 2004, President Hamid Karzai was inaugurated, together with his two Vice-Presidents, Ahmad Zia Massoud and Abdul Karim Khalili. The formation of the new 27-member Cabinet, which took almost two months, was announced on 23 December. The Cabinet was selected in conformity with the Constitution’s requirement that all ministers possess a higher education degree and are Afghan citizens. The President also sought to ensure an ethnic balance; as a result, the Cabinet includes 10 Pashtuns, 8 Tajiks, 5 Hazaras, 2 Uzbeks, 1 Turkmen and 1 Baloch. Three ministers are women."

Document(s): Open document

27.08.2004 - Source: Institute for War and Peace Reporting

A veteran of Afghan wars and politics, Qanuni, is closely identified with the Panjshiri political grouping ("Profile: Younis Qanuni - Panjshiri Roots, Presidential Ambitions") [#25278],  [ID 305]

Document(s): Open document

10.2003 - Source: UK Home Office

Cabinet as of September/October 2003 ("Country Report - October 2003") [#17253],  [ID 304]

"ANNEX D : The Cabinet Members and Vice Presidents and Advisors of Transitional Government of Afghanistan

President H.E. Hamid Karzai
Vice Presidents: Mareshal Mohammad Fahim
Karim Khalili
Nematollah Shahrani
Hedayat A. Arsala
Defence Minister Mareshal Mohammad Fahim
Foreign Minister Dr. A. 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 Vacant. Acting Minister - Mahfooz Nedayee
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"

Document(s): Open document