Government of Afghanistan
The government of Afghanistan, officially called the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, is the central government of Afghanistan, a unitary state. Under the leadership of the Taliban, the government is a theocracy and an emirate with political power concentrated in the hands of a supreme leader and his clerical advisors, collectively referred to as the Leadership. The Leadership makes all major policy decisions behind closed doors, which are then implemented by the country's civil service and judiciary. As Afghanistan is an Islamic state, governance is based on Sharia law, which the Taliban enforces through extensive social and cultural policies.
The government primarily consists of four different councils, namely the Leadership Council, Ulema Council of Kandahar, National Ulema Council, and the Central Dar-il-Ifta.
Over its history, Afghanistan has variously been governed as a monarchy, a republic, and a theocracy. The current theocratic government came to power in 2021 with the United States-led coalition's withdrawal after a twenty-year insurgency against the Western-backed Islamic Republic, after having itself been ousted in 2001.
The current government is internationally unrecognized and lacks a clear constitutional basis, though the Taliban announced plans in January 2022 to form a constitutional commission. The government currently applies Sharia law. There is no separation of powers, with total authority vested in the Leadership. The government is criticized by international observers for totalitarianism, systemic human rights violations, as well as for being unaccountable, opaque, and exclusive of women, religious and ethnic minorities, and those with dissenting views. Since coming to power, it has grappled with terrorist attacks and natural disasters.
Leadership of the Islamic Emirate
Supreme Leader
The Supreme Leader of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan is the head-of-state, commander-in-chief, and religious leader of Afghanistan. These responsibilities include appointing and dismissing the cabinet, judiciary, armed forces general staff, and provincial and municipal governments, issuing decrees, special instructions, and orders regulating the operations of those mentioned above. The supreme leader also approves or vetos laws drafted by cabinet ministries, after they are vetted by the Ministry of Justice and a review committee for compliance with Islamic law. Supreme leaders have all served life terms, with their deputies appointed by the Leadership Council to succeed them.The supreme leader is advised by an advisory council of four to six individuals on appointments, national security, and domestic and religious policy, which form an advisory committee. These individuals have the final say on all policy decisions.
Deputy Leader(s)
The deputy leader of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan is the deputy head-of-state and is appointed by the supreme leader for an indefinite term. The deputy leader serves as acting top leader when the former is incapacitated or otherwise unavailable to execute their duties. However, there can be more than two deputy leaders, as was the case with Akhtar Mansoor promoting Haibatullah Akhundzada and Sirajuddin Haqqani to the positions. By norm, the first deputy leader succeeds the supreme leader upon death.Leadership Council
The Leadership Council of Afghanistan is an advisory council to the Supreme Leader. The council is the supreme governing body of the Taliban and the Government of the Islamic Emirate. It functions under a consensus decision-making model, and is chaired by the supreme leader. The Leadership Council appoints the supreme leader in the event of a vacancy. The supreme leader convenes and chairs the council at his sole discretion. He has ultimate authority and may override or circumvent it at any time. The leadership council consists of thirty members.Ulema Council of Kandahar
The Ulema Council of Kandahar, or Kandahar Provincial Council, is the de facto ruling and executive oversight body of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan. Despite being officially responsible for advising and overseeing the Kandahar provincial government, it also approves and disapproves all decisions made by the Kabul-based Council of Ministers.All its members are ulema native to or residents of Kandahar province. The supreme leader appoints all 24 members, while the council itself is presided over by a chairman and deputy chairman and being assisted by a financial and administrative director.
Council of Ulema (national)
The Council of Ulema or Ulema Shura is the highest religious authority in Afghanistan. It is responsible for ensuring all policies by the executive conform to Sharia and can overrule decisions made by the Council of Ministers. Other responsibilities include the appointment, removal or replacement, and giving of allegiance, to the Supreme Leader.Central Dar ul-Ifta
The General Directorate of the Central Dar ul-Ifta is responsible for issuing fatwas on various issues. It functions as a religious judicial body, allowed to make quasi-binding decisions on multiple topics its scholars deem to be in line with Islamic Law. Its director is appointed and dismissed by the supreme leader.Executive
Prime minister
The prime minister of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan is the appointed head of government. The prime minister is responsible for overseeing the civil service operations and presiding over the Council of Ministers. The prime minister's office is one of six institutions within the cabinet that are directly under the purview of the supreme leader.The prime minister, along with the cabinet, is appointed and dismissed by the supreme leader for an undefined term.
Deputy Prime Ministers
The deputy prime ministers of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan are the appointed deputy heads of government, responsible for presiding overseeing the work of designated ministries and agencies who’ve been subordinated to the former and presiding over the Council of Ministers in the prime minister's absence or incapacity. Deputy prime ministers are also assigned specialized portfolios since 2021, overseeing technical commissions addressing critical issues.Like the prime minister and cabinet, the deputy prime ministers are appointed and dismissed by the supreme leader for an undefined term.
Council of Ministers
The council of ministers of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan is the cabinet. It comprises 26 ministries whose agency executives administer the civil service and are overseen by the Prime Minister. The ministries are also responsible for preparing legislation in their respective areas of policy for vetting by the Ministry of Justice and approval or veto by the supreme leader. Despite being led by the prime minister, it is effectively answerable and subordinate to the Supreme Leader.| Portfolio | Name |
| Prime Minister | Hasan Akhund |
| Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs | Abdul Ghani Baradar |
| Deputy Prime Minister for Administrative Affairs | Abdul Salam Hanafi |
| Deputy Prime Minister for Political Affairs | Abdul Kabir |
| Minister of Defence | Mohammad Yaqoob |
| State Minister of Disaster Management | Mohammad Abbas Akhund |
| Minister of Interior Affairs | Sirajuddin Haqqani |
| Minister of Foreign Affairs | Amir Khan Muttaqi |
| Minister of Finance | Gul Agha Ishakzai |
| Minister of Education | Habibullah Agha |
| Minister of Information and Culture | Khairullah Khairkhwa |
| Minister of Economy | Din Mohammad Hanif |
| Minister of Hajj and Religious Affairs | Noor Mohammad Saqib |
| Minister of Borders and Tribal Affairs | Noorullah Noori |
| Minister of Rural Rehabilitation and Development | Mohammad Younus Akhundzada |
| Minister of Preaching and Guidance, Propagation of Virtue and Prevention of Evil | Mohammad Khalid |
| Minister of Public Health | Maulawi Noor Jalal |
| Minister of Commerce and Industry | Nooruddin Azizi |
| Minister of Public Works | Abdul Manan Omari |
| Minister of Mines and Petroleum | Shahabuddin Delawar |
| Minister of Energy and Water | Abdul Latif Mansoor |
| Minister of Transport | Hamidullah Akhundzada |
| Minister of Higher Education | Neda Mohammad |
| Minister of Communications and Information Technology | Najibullah Haqqani |
| Minister of Refugees and Repatriation | Khalil Haqqani |
| Minister of Agriculture, Irrigation, and Livestock | Abdul Rahman Rashid |
| Minister of Martyrs and Disabled Affairs | Abdul Majeed Akhund |
| Minister of Labour and Social Affairs | Abdul Wali |
| Minister of Urban Development and Housing | Hamdullah Nomani |
Commissions
Several commissions have been formed to handle issues and subjects seen as critical by the Islamic Emirate. Several cabinet ministers or ministry directors are appointed to chair these commissions. There are currently several commissions that have been formed since August 15, 2021.- Economic Commission
- Administrative Commission
- Repatriation and Contact of Afghan Personalities Commission
- Security and Settlement Affairs Commission
- Declaration and Liquidation Commission
- Media Violations Commission
- Aid Submission Commission
- Political Commission
- National Procurement Commission
- High Commission for the Prevention and Restitution of State Land Grabbing
- High Commission for the Facilitation of Returning Refugees