General Abundance: Examining Afghanistan's High-Ranking Military Leadership

The number of generals in Afghanistan has varied over time, with the country experiencing different forms of government and military leadership. During the communist regime in the late 1980s, for example, Afghanistan had generals like Nazar Mohammad and Shahnawaz Tanai serving as army chiefs of staff. After the fall of the Soviet-backed government, the country fragmented into regional militias under local warlords, blurring the lines between military and paramilitary groups.

More recently, under the Islamic Emirate Armed Forces, there have been several notable generals. Lieutenant General Bismillah Khan Mohammadi served as Chief of General Staff, the highest-ranking military officer in Afghanistan. Additionally, the Afghan National Army has had several generals, including Sher Mohammad Karimi, Qadam Shah Shahim, and others.

In terms of U.S. military presence, there have been several top U.S. commanders leading efforts in Afghanistan. General Austin Scott Miller was the U.S. top general in Afghanistan from 2018 until the U.S. withdrawal in 2021. Other U.S. generals who led forces in Afghanistan include David McKiernan, Stanley McChrystal, David Petraeus, and John Allen.

The Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces is the highest-ranking military officer in Afghanistan

The Chief of Staff is responsible for maintaining the operational command of the military. The position has been held by several notable figures in Afghanistan's history. Abdul Karim Mustaghni, for instance, served as army chief of staff until the 1973 overthrow of the monarchy. Under the rule of Hafizullah Amin, his brother-in-law, Mohammed Yaqub, served as Chief of the General Staff until being executed by Soviet-Parcham forces in December 1979.

During the communist regime in the late 1980s, Nazar Mohammad served as army chief of staff, followed by Shahnawaz Tanai, from the Khalq faction of the PDPA. After the 1990 coup attempt led by Tanai, Mohammed Asif Delawar became the Chief of Staff.

In more recent times, the position has been held by Lieutenant General Bismillah Khan Mohammadi, General Sher Mohammad Karimi, General Qadam Shah Shahim, Lieutenant General Mohammad Sharif Yaftali, Lieutenant General Wali Mohammad Ahmadzai, and Lieutenant General Hebatullah Alizai.

The Afghan Armed Forces, officially known as the Armed Forces of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, have undergone several iterations. The Taliban created the first iteration in 1997 after taking over Afghanistan following the end of the Afghan Civil War. This iteration was dissolved in 2001 after the downfall of the first Taliban government following the United States' invasion.

The Afghan Armed Forces were re-established on 8 November 2021, after the Taliban's victory in the War in Afghanistan and the collapse of the U.S.-backed Islamic Republic of Afghanistan and its Afghan National Army. The current strength of the Afghan Armed Forces is reported to be around 170,000 personnel.

The Afghan Armed Forces is the military of Afghanistan, with a manpower of 170,000

The Afghan Armed Forces, officially the Armed Forces of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, is the military of Afghanistan. The Armed Forces are commanded by the Taliban government and have a manpower of 170,000.

The Taliban first created the Emirate's armed forces in 1997 after taking over Afghanistan following the end of the Afghan Civil War, which lasted from 1992 to 1996. However, the armed forces were dissolved in 2001 after the downfall of the Taliban government following the United States' invasion of Afghanistan.

The Islamic Emirate Armed Forces were re-established on 8 November 2021 after the Taliban's victory in the War in Afghanistan on 15 August 2021, which resulted in the collapse of the U.S.-backed Islamic Republic of Afghanistan and its Afghan National Army.

The Taliban's army under the Islamic Movement was inaugurated on 8 November 2021 as the Army of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, also referred to as the Islamic Emirate Army and the Afghan Army. The army relies heavily on captured hardware from the defeated Afghan National Army.

The conventional land forces of the Islamic Emirate Army are currently subdivided into eight corps, mostly superseding the previous corps of the former Afghan National Army.

The Afghan Armed Forces have a long history dating back to the early 18th century when the Hotak dynasty was established in Kandahar, followed by Ahmad Shah Durrani's rise to power. The army was reorganized in 1880 during Emir Abdur Rahman Khan's reign.

Throughout its history, the Afghan Armed Forces have undergone various transformations, reflecting the changing political and military landscape in Afghanistan. With a current manpower of 170,000, the Armed Forces play a crucial role in maintaining the country's security and defending its territorial integrity.

The U.S. Army Gen. Scott Miller was the U.S.'s top general in Afghanistan from 2018 until July 2021

The U.S. Army Gen. Scott Miller was the top U.S. commander in Afghanistan from 2018 until July 2021. Miller, a veteran of some of the U.S. military's most secretive combat units, took over the role from Gen. John W. Nicholson Jr. and was himself succeeded by Marine Gen. Frank McKenzie.

Miller's appointment came at a time of intense skepticism about what could be accomplished in the 17-year-old war. His mission was as much diplomatic as military, as the Taliban's resilience fuelled a new drive to secure a peace deal. Miller had deep experience in Afghanistan, including a stint heading Special Operations forces there from 2013 to 2014. He had also been among the first U.S. troops to enter Afghanistan after the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

Miller was 57 years old when he took command in Afghanistan. He graduated from the United States Military Academy in 1983 and was commissioned as an infantry officer in the United States Army. He participated in numerous combat operations, including the Battle of Mogadishu in 1993, and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan since 2001.

Miller's tenure as commander in Afghanistan was marked by a recognition of the difficulties faced by U.S. and Afghan forces in the conflict. In June 2021, he gave an exclusive on-camera interview to ABC, with a helicopter flyover of the Bagram Air Base to emphasise its emptiness. Miller stated that a civil war was a possible outcome if the trajectory of the conflict remained unchanged.

Miller officially ended Operation Resolute Support on July 12, 2021, marking the symbolic end of the United States' longest war. He pledged that "the people of Afghanistan will be in my heart, and on my mind, for the rest of my life."

General Curtis Scaparrotti, General David McKiernan, General Stanley A. McChrystal, and General David Petraeus are some other U.S. generals who have served in Afghanistan

General Curtis Scaparrotti, General David McKiernan, General Stanley A. McChrystal, and General David Petraeus are some of the U.S. generals who have served in Afghanistan. Here is some more information about each of them:

General Curtis Scaparrotti

General Curtis Scaparrotti is a retired four-star general who served as the commander of United States European Command and concurrently served as NATO's Supreme Allied Commander Europe. He previously served as the director of the Joint Staff and as commander of the International Security Assistance Force Joint Command and deputy commander of U.S. Forces in Afghanistan. He has also held leadership positions at the tactical, operational, and strategic levels of the United States military.

General David McKiernan

General David McKiernan is a retired four-star general who served as Commander of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) and Commander of U.S. Forces in Afghanistan (USFOR-A) from October 2008 to June 2009. He was replaced by General Stanley A. McChrystal and Lieutenant General David M. Rodriguez. Prior to his role in Afghanistan, McKiernan served as Commanding General of the United States Army in Europe and Seventh United States Army.

General Stanley A. McChrystal

General Stanley A. McChrystal is a retired four-star general who served as Commander of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) and Commander of U.S. Forces in Afghanistan (USFOR-A). He previously served as Director of the Joint Staff and as Commander of Joint Special Operations Command. He was relieved of his command in Afghanistan following a Rolling Stone article in which he and his staff were quoted making disparaging remarks about senior administration officials.

General David Petraeus

General David Petraeus is a retired four-star general who served as Commander of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) and Commander of U.S. Forces in Afghanistan (USFOR-A). He previously served as Commander of U.S. Central Command and Commanding General of Multi-National Force – Iraq. He resigned from his position as Director of the Central Intelligence Agency after it was revealed that he had an extramarital affair with his biographer.

The U.S. military has been involved in Afghanistan for 20 years, from 2001 to 2021

The U.S. military involvement in Afghanistan spanned two decades, from 2001 to 2021. It began with the U.S.-led invasion of Afghanistan in response to the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the United States. The invasion aimed to topple the Taliban regime, which had provided sanctuary to al-Qaeda, the perpetrators of the attacks.

The initial phase of the war was swift, with the Taliban regime collapsing within two months. However, the focus soon shifted to counterinsurgency and nation-building efforts. The U.S. and its allies worked to rebuild core institutions of the Afghan state and establish a democratic government.

The war in Afghanistan proved to be challenging and protracted, with the Taliban regrouping and launching a resilient insurgency. The U.S. and NATO forces faced a difficult task in trying to stabilize the country and combat the Taliban. The conflict resulted in significant casualties and strained the resources of the U.S. military.

Over time, the U.S. strategy evolved, with President Barack Obama announcing a surge of 30,000 troops in 2009 to intensify counterinsurgency efforts. However, the Taliban remained resilient, and the U.S. eventually shifted its focus to training and supporting Afghan security forces.

The war took a heavy toll, with thousands of U.S. service members killed or wounded, and many more Afghans losing their lives. The financial cost was also immense, with the U.S. spending trillions of dollars on the war effort.

In 2021, President Joe Biden announced the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan, bringing an end to America's longest war. The Taliban swiftly recaptured much of the country, leading to a chaotic evacuation of U.S. personnel and Afghan allies.

The U.S. military involvement in Afghanistan was a complex and contentious chapter in American history, sparking debates about the rationale for the war, the conduct of military operations, and the impact on the region.

Frequently asked questions