Atiqullah Baryalai

Lieutenant General
Atiqullah Baryalai
Deputy Defense Minister
In office
2002–2003
Personal details
Born1965 (age 58–59)
Military service
AllegianceAfghanistan Northern Alliance


 Islamic Republic of Afghanistan
Branch/serviceAfghan National Army seal Afghan National Army
Rank Lieutenant General (Dagar Jenral)

General Atiqullah Baryalai (Persian: عتیق‌الله بریالی; born 1965) is a key military figure as Lieutenant General. He was a senior commander of the North-Eastern Front; playing a critical role in the fight against the USSR Invasion of Afghanistan, Taliban and Al-Qaeda. He served as the deputy Defense Minister of Afghanistan from 2002 to 2003.[1][2] General Baryalai also headed the successful Disarmament Demobilization and Re-integration Commission (DDR), the Revival and Rebuilding of National Army Commission and the Reform Committee of the Ministry of Defense[3] until 2003.

General Atiqullah Baryalai was one of the key commanders Northern Alliance;[4] he worked closely and extensively with its leader, Ahmad Shah Massoud, in the resistance against the 1980s Soviet invasion of Afghanistan and the continuous fight against the Taliban, Al-Qaeda and War on Terrorism. In 2001 General Baryalai recaptured numerous, vital territories against the Taliban such as in Mazar-e-Sharif,[5] Kunduz[6][7] and Kabul.

He is a Tajik from Panjshir Province.[1] General Baryalai studied at prestigious Royal College of Defence Studies in London. He was educated at Naderia High School, the National Military Academy of Afghanistan (BA, 1994) and University of East Anglia (MA International Relations and Development Studies, 2012).

  1. ^ a b "Rivals row over top Afghan defence posts as Taliban goes on attack". Reuters. Archived from the original on January 23, 2016. Retrieved 31 July 2015.
  2. ^ "Atmar Resigned Over Differences With Ghani: Ex-Govt Officials". TOLOnews. Retrieved 12 August 2021.
  3. ^ "Barialay, Atiqullah Gen". Afghan Biographies. Retrieved 20 March 2018.
  4. ^ Filkins, Dexter (2001-10-16). "A NATION CHALLENGED: THE COMBAT; A Leader of Afghan Rebels Says They Are Near a Crucial Taliban City". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2024-06-14.
  5. ^ "CNN.com - Northern Alliance claims victory near Mazar-e Sharif - November 3, 2001". edition.cnn.com. Retrieved 2024-06-14.
  6. ^ News, A. B. C. "Hundreds of Taliban Surrender at Kunduz". ABC News. Retrieved 2024-06-14. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  7. ^ "Hundreds of Taliban Troops Give Up". Washington Post. 2024-01-18. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2024-06-14.