Shahnawaz Tanai

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Shahnawaz Tanai
Shahnawaz Tanai alongside paratroopers of the 444th Commando Battalion, 1973
Minister of Defence
In office May 1988 – March 1990
President	Mohammad Najibullah
Preceded by	Gen. Mohammed Rafie, ANA
Succeeded by	Gen. Aslam Watanjar
Head of Military Intelligence (KhAD-e-Nezami)
In office May 1978-?
President	Nur Muhammad Taraki
Chief of General Staff of the Afghan National Army
In office August 1988 – March 1990
Preceded by	Gen. Nazar Mohammed
Succeeded by	Gen. Asif Delawar
Personal details
Born	1950 Dargai, Khost, Kingdom of Afghanistan
Died	7 March 2022 (aged 72) Islamabad, Pakistan
Political party	People's Democratic Party of Afghanistan - Khalq[1]
Other political affiliations	Afghanistan Peace Movement
Children	1
Education	Harbi Military University Ryazan Guards Higher Airborne Command School
Military service
Allegiance	Afghanistan
Branch/service	Afghan Army
Years of service	1968–1990
Rank	Lieutenant General
Unit	444th Commando Battalion 37th Commando Battalion
Commands	Chief of General Staff Afghan National Army Director Military Intelligence 1st Central Army Corps Commander Artillery Corps
Battles/wars	Saur Revolution Soviet-Afghan War Battles of Zhawar Afghan Civil War (1989-1992) 1990 Afghan coup d'état attempt
Awards	Order of the Saur Revolution

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Lieutenant General Shahnawaz Tanai (Russian: Шахнаваз Танай, 1950 – 7 March 2022^[2]) was an Afghan politician and general officer who served as the Chief of General Staff of the Afghan National Army until his defection to neighbouring Pakistan following a failed coup d'état in 1990.

Besides commanding the Afghan National Army during the Soviet-Afghan War, his command assignments included the command of the artillery and as director of military intelligence as well as serving as minister of defense under President Mohammad Najibullah.^[1] He was a hardline member of the Khalq faction of the People's Democratic Party of Afghanistan, and leader of at least the majority of the Khalqist faction since its former leader Sayed Mohammad Gulabzoy was exiled as Ambassador to the Soviet Union as part of the political preparation of the Soviet pullout from Afghanistan in September 1988. A pillar of the communist regime, Tanai later attempted a coup against his former friend and President Najibullah, before seeking refuge in a hostile Pakistan and working with fundamentalists such as Gulbuddin Hekmatyar.^{[citation needed]} He returned in 2005 and created a political party.^[3]

He has been described as a "nationalist radical" who, despite being fiercely pro-Soviet, still maintained secret contacts with certain mujahideen members.^[4]