Shahnawaz Tanai

Shahnawaz Tanai
Shahnawaz Tanai alongside paratroopers of the 444th Commando Battalion, 1973
Minister of Defence
In office
May 1988 – March 1990
PresidentMohammad Najibullah
Preceded byGen. Mohammed Rafie, ANA
Succeeded byGen. Aslam Watanjar
Head of Military Intelligence (KhAD-e-Nezami)
In office
May 1978-?
PresidentNur Muhammad Taraki
Chief of General Staff of the Afghan National Army
In office
August 1988 – March 1990
Preceded byGen. Nazar Mohammed
Succeeded byGen. Asif Delawar
Personal details
Born1950
Dargai, Khost, Kingdom of Afghanistan
Died7 March 2022 (aged 72)
Islamabad, Pakistan
Political partyPeople's Democratic Party of Afghanistan - Khalq[1]
Other political
affiliations
Afghanistan Peace Movement
Children1
EducationHarbi Military University
Ryazan Guards Higher Airborne Command School
Military service
Allegiance Afghanistan
Branch/service Afghan Army
Years of service1968–1990
Rank Lieutenant General
Unit444th Commando Battalion
37th Commando Battalion
CommandsChief of General Staff
Afghan National Army
Director Military Intelligence
1st Central Army Corps
Commander Artillery Corps
Battles/warsSaur Revolution
Soviet-Afghan War
Battles of Zhawar
Afghan Civil War (1989-1992)
1990 Afghan coup d'état attempt
Awards Order of the Saur Revolution

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]

  1. ^ a b Willem Vogelsang (28 November 2001). The Afghans. ISBN 9780631198413. Retrieved 22 March 2009.
  2. ^ "Ex-Defense Minister Shahnavaz Tani Dies in Islamabad".
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference sep05 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ "Archives". Los Angeles Times.