Mohammad Aslam Watanjar

Colonel general Aslam Watanjar
Minister of Defence
In office 6 March 1990 – April 1992
Preceded by	Shahnawaz Tanai
Succeeded by	Ahmad Shah Massoud
In office April – 28 July 1979
Preceded by	Abdul Qadir
Succeeded by	Hafizullah Amin
Minister of Internal Affairs
In office 15 November 1988[1] – 6 March 1990
Preceded by	Sayed Mohammad Gulabzoy
Succeeded by	Raz Muhammad Paktin
In office 28 July 1979[2] – 19 September 1979
Preceded by	Sherjan Mazdoryar
Succeeded by	Vacant
In office 11 July 1978[3] – 1 April 1979
Preceded by	Nur Ahmad Nur
Succeeded by	Sherjan Mazoryar
Minister of Communications
In office 10 January 1980 – 1988
Preceded by	Mohammad Zarif
Succeeded by	Unknown
In office 30 April 1978 – July 1978
Preceded by	Abdul Karim Attayee
Succeeded by	Sayed Mohammad Gulabzoy
Personal details
Born	1946 Paktia Province, Kingdom of Afghanistan
Died	24 November 2000(2000-11-24) (aged 53–54) Odesa, Ukraine
Political party	People's Democratic Party of Afghanistan
Profession	Military officer Politician
Military service
Allegiance	Kingdom of Afghanistan (1967–1973) Republic of Afghanistan (1973–1978) Democratic Republic of Afghanistan (1978–1992)
Branch/service	Afghan Army
Years of service	1967–1992
Rank	Colonel General
Commands	4th Tank Brigade
Battles/wars	1973 Afghan coup d'état 1975 Panjshir Valley uprising Saur Revolution Soviet-Afghan War Afghan Civil War (1989-1992)

Mohammad Aslam Watanjar (Pashto: محمداسلم وطنجار,‎ 1946 – November 2000) was an Afghan military officer and politician. He played a significant role in the coup in 1978 that killed the Afghan President Mohammad Daoud Khan, starting the Saur Revolution. Watanjar later became a member of the politburo in the Soviet-backed Democratic Republic of Afghanistan.