POLITICAL PARTIES

Major Parties

3. Youth Solidarity Party of Afghanistan (Hizb-e Hambastagi-ye Melli-ye Jawanan-e Afghanistan)

Party Leader: Mohammad Jamil Karzai
Description: Established in the late 1990s in Pakistan, the Youth Solidarity Party backed Hamid Karzai in the presidential election and is widely expected to support President Karzai's government in the legislature.


8. National Islamic Front of Afghanistan (Mahaz-e Melli-ye Islami-ye Afghanistan)

Party Leader: Sayyed Ahmad Gailani
Description: Among the original "jihadi" parties that formed seven Pakistan-based groups that fiercely resisted Soviet occupation. Party leader Gailani is the hereditary leader of the Qaderiyyah mystical (sufi) order in Afghanistan and could wield considerable influence -- particularly among Pashtuns. Also, Gailani's daughter heads the Afghan Red Crescent Society; also, his son-in-law, Anwar al-Haq Ahadi, is finance minister in Karzai's cabinet and chairman of the Afghan Nation party.


10. Afghan Nation [aka Afghan Social Democratic Party] (Afghan Mellat)

Party Leader: Anwar al-Haq Ahadi
Description: Officially formed in the mid-1960s under the name Afghan Social Democratic Party, this political formation has undergone major changes that include factional splits. The party was originally steeped in Pashtun nationalism and favored the formation of a "Greater Afghanistan" that would include Pakistan's North-West Frontier Province. Ahadi was chosen to lead Afghan Nation in 1995, and the party has since distanced itself from its early doctrine but still favors increased rights for Pashtuns -- especially promoting the Pashto language. Afghan Nation backed Hamid Karzai's presidential bid. Party leader Ahadi now serves as Karzai's finance minister; his father-in-law, Sayyed Ahmad Gailani, heads the National Islamic Front of Afghanistan.


16. National Congress Party of Afghanistan (Hizb-e Kongra-ye Melli-ye Afghanistan)

Party Leader: Abdul Latif Pedram
Description: This liberal, secular party was formed in 2004. Led by a controversial figure and strident critic of Hamid Karzai's government, the National Congress Party could serve as a vocal opposition within the National Assembly. The party is headed by former presidential candidate Pedram, who garnered 1.4 percent of the vote in 2004. The National Congress Party's power base lies primarily among non-Pashtun, leftist intellectuals. Its strength has been limited to the northeast of the country, however. Pedram has been a vocal proponent of federalism and has at times allied himself unofficially with Abdul Rashid Dostum's National Islamic Movement (known as "Junbish," see No. 54). Just one month ahead of the October 2004 presidential vote, the head of the Afghan Supreme Court accused Pedram of making "anti-Islamic" statements regarding women and unsuccessfully requested his removal from the ballot.


18. Islamic People's Movement of Afghanistan (Harakat-e Islami-ye Mardum-e Afghanistan)

Party Leader: Sayyed Hosayn Anwari
Description: This party is an offshoot of the "jihadi" parties of the 1980s and 1990s, with strong ties to the Shi'ite community of Kabul and surrounding provinces. As with so many Afghan political parties in the current environment, the real importance of the Islamic People's Movement stems from its leader. Anwari served as agriculture minister in the country's post-Bonn Transitional Administration and was appointed governor of Kabul Province following Hamid Karzai's presidential victory. In June, Anwari became governor of the western Herat Province. Although small, Anwari's party could provide a voice to a pivotal minority on Afghanistan's political map.


26. Islamic Unity Party of Afghanistan (Hizb-e Wahdat-e Islami-ye Afghanistan)

Party Leader: Mohammad Karim Khalili
Description: An offshoot and successor to a party of the same name that was established in 1990 when several Iran-based, Shi'a jihadi parties merged. Khalili was chosen to lead the party after the Taliban killed Abdul Ali Mazari, the head of original Wahdat party, in 1995. Khalili's drift toward an alliance with the Taliban is generally blamed for his party's factional disintegration. Khalili currently serves as second vice president in President Karzai's government and wields particular influence among Hazaras in central Afghanistan. His party's success or failure in the September elections might be viewed as an indicator of the degree to which Hazaras believe the current government reflects their aspirations. In the presidential election of 2004, with Khalili on Karzai's ticket, Mohammad Mohaqaq (see also No. 27) received the most votes in provinces where Khalili shares influence. Mohaqeq served as Khalili's deputy before the breakup of the original Wahdat party.


27. Islamic Unity Party of the People of Afghanistan (Hizb-e Wahdat-e Islami-ye Mardum-e Afghanistan)

Party Leader: Mohammad Mohaqeq
Description: Mohaqeq's Islamic Unity Party of the People of Afghanistan, like Khalili's party, is an offshoot of the original Wahdat entity formed with the merger of Iran-based, Shi'a jihadi groups. Mohaqeq was Wahdat's main representative in northern Afghanistan once the Taliban gained control of Kabul in 1996, becoming an ally of the United Front for the Salvation of Afghanistan (aka the Northern Alliance). In the post-Bonn Interim Administration, Mohaqeq served as a Karzai deputy and minister of planning. In the subsequent Transitional Administration, he managed only to retain the Planning Ministry portfolio; due to disagreements that remain unclear, he was either dismissed or resigned in March 2004. Mohaqeq placed third in the presidential ballot with 11.7 percent of the vote. Mohaqeq's party is a member of the coalition headed by Mohammad Yunos Qanuni (also see No. 66) and as such is expected to participate in a powerful opposition bloc in the National Assembly.


49. National Movement of Afghanistan (Hizb-e Nahzat-e Melli-ye Afghanistan)

Party Leader: Ahmad Wali Mas'ud
Description: This party came into existence gradually based on the ideas of the Shura-ye Nezar, an informal group of followers of slain mujahedin commander and iconic figure Ahmad Shah Mas'ud. The late commander's youngest brother, Wali Mas'ud, sought in 2002-04 to make his new grouping a platform for ethnic Tajiks and an alternative to Hamid Karzai. The party lost much of its raison d'etre when Karzai chose Zia Mas'ud, Wali Mas'ud's brother, to be his first vice presidential running mate. The party's success in September and subsequent actions in the National Assembly could prove important in bringing Tajiks -- many of whom felt the brunt of fighting during resistance to the Soviet invasion -- into the government fold. If successful, the National Movement could initially pursue a strategy of acting as a counterweight to Qanuni's coalition.


54. National Islamic Movement of Afghanistan (Hizb-e Junbish-e-Melli-ye Islami-ye Afghanistan)

Party Leader: Sayyed Nurullah
Description: Nurullah was chosen to lead the National Islamic Movement (aka "Junbish") in order to allow Abdul Rashid Dostum to take up a largely ceremonial post within the government. The party effectively remains Dostum's, however, and thus reflects the latter's desire for control over several northern provinces -- through either federalism or control of the levers of power. Dostum and his party effectively controlled a number of northern provinces before the Taliban came to power -- including the Balkh, Faryab, Jowzjan, and Samangan provinces. While Junbish has lost some of its military hardware, it remains a power to be reckoned with; its alliance with Hamid Karzai's government is tenuous at best. Junbish is the main party representing the specific interests of Afghanistan's Uzbek minority; Dostum's strong performance in the presidential election -- he received 10 percent of the vote -- closely corresponded to the number of his kinsmen in the country. The role of Junbish in the National Assembly could prove crucial in influencing whether ethnic Uzbeks will embrace or chafe at central authority.


56. Party of the Islamic Society of Afghanistan (Hizb-e Jami'at-e Islami-ye Afghanistan)

Party Leader: Ustad Rabbani
Description: Led by Rabbani since 1971, the Islamic Society (aka "Jami'at") was one of the seven Peshawar-based "jihadi" parties and during much of the 1980s and 1990s was considered the most influential party among ethnic Tajiks. The party has lost much of its power base since the Taliban ousted Rabbani's regime from Kabul in 1996 and some of the party's most celebrated commanders -- including the late Ahmad Shah Mas'ud -- parted ways with Rabbani. Rabbani is now regarded as being in the Islamist vanguard and has become more powerful since his son-in-law, Ahmad Zia Mas'ud, was selected by Hamid Karzai as his first vice president.


57. Afghanistan's Islamic Mission Organization (Tanzim-e Dawat-e Islami-ye Afghanistan)

Party Leader: Abdul Rabb al-Rasul Sayyaf
Description: A renamed manifestation of Sayyaf's jihadi Ittihad-e Islami-ye Afghanistan, which was active in the 1980s and 1990s. The party has a small but important following among Afghanistan's most conservative Islamists. While not as powerful as during the days of Ittihad, Sayyaf still has substantial financial resources and links to Islamists outside Afghanistan, particularly in the Arab Gulf states. In the National Assembly Members of Sayyaf's party in the National Assembly might be expected generally to support Hamid Karzai's government but also to favor pushing the country toward greater conservativism on religious issues.


66. New Afghanistan Party (Hizb-e Afghanistan-e Nawin)

Party Leader: Mohammad Yunos Qanuni
Description: This party arose as a result of disagreements among former allies of slain mujahedin commander Ahmad Shah Mas'ud after his brothers Ahmad Zia Mas'ud and Ahmad Wali allied themselves with Hamid Karzai. Party leader Qanuni, who placed second in the 2004 presidential ballot and has suggested he was robbed of certain victory, is widely regarded as the most serious counterweight to Karzai and a powerful potential opposition leader. Qanuni's strength lies not so much in his new party but rather in his own political persona and his leading role in the 12-party National Reconciliation Front (Jabha-ye Tafahom-e Melli). Qanuni has accused Karzai of having failed since his presidential inauguration in December and suggested that Afghanistan is heading toward crisis. Qanuni is virtually assured of a seat in the National Assembly, but his ultimate fate might lie with the success enjoyed by allies within the National Reconciliation Front.


Other Parties

1. Republican Party (Hizb-e Jamhuri Khwahan)

Party Leader: Sebghatullah Sanjar
Description: NA


2. Afghanistan Independence Party (Hizb-e Istiqlal-e Afghanistan)

Party Leader: Faruq Nejrabi
Description: Party leader Nejrabi ran in 2004 as his party's official candidate for the presidency.


4. National Unity Party of Afghanistan (Hizb-e Wahdat-e Melli-ye Afghanistan)
Party Leader: Abdul Rashid Jalili
Description: NA


5. National Tribal Unity Islamic Party of Afghanistan (Hizb-e Melli-ye Wahdat-e Aqwam-e Islami-ye Afghanistan)

Party Leader: Mohammad Shah Khogyani
Description: NA


6. Labor and Progress of Afghanistan Party (Hizb-e Kar wa Tawse'a-e Afghanistan)

Party Leader: Zulfiqar Omid
Description: NA


7. National Solidarity Movement of Afghanistan (Nahzat-e Hambastagi-ye Melli-ye Afghanistan)

Party Leader: Sayyed Ishaq Gailani
Description: Party leader Gailani was his party's official candidate for president until withdrawing from the race on 6 October. Gailani announced that his withdrawal was the result of "an agreement with Hamid Karzai...about our joint cooperation in serving" the country. Gailani urged National Solidarity Movement supporters to back Karzai in the presidential vote.


9. Freedom and Democracy Movement of Afghanistan (Nahzat-e Azadi wa Demokrasi-ye Afghanistan)

Party Leader: Abdul Raqib Jawed Kuhestani
Description: NA


11. Islamic Movement of Afghanistan (Harakat-e Islami-ye Afghanistan)

Party Leader: Ayatollah Mohammad Asef Mohseni
Description: The only Afghan Shi'a party with a predominantly Pashtun membership.


12. People's Welfare Party of Afghanistan (Hizb-e Sahadat-e Mardum-e Afghanistan)

Party Leader: Mohammad Zubair Payroz
Description: NA


13. National Unity Movement of Afghanistan (Hizb-e Harakat-e Melli-ye Wahdat-e Afghanistan)

Party Leader: Mohammad Nader Atash
Description: NA


14. Human Rights Protection and Development Party of Afghanistan (Hizb-e Ifazat az Hoquq-e Bashar wa Inkeshaf-e Afghanistan)

Party Leader: Baryalai Nasrati
Description: NA


15. National Party of Afghanistan (Hizb-e Melli-ye Afghanistan)

Party Leader: Abdul Rashid Aryan
Description: NA


17. Peace Movement (Da Afghanistan Da Solay Ghorzang Gond)

Party Leader: Shahnawaz Tanai
Description: The party's name is in Pashto. The party chairman, Tanai, is a former minister of defense under the Soviet-backed communist regime of Najibullah.


19. Islamic Justice Party of Afghanistan (Hizb-e Adalat-e Islami-ye Afghanistan)

Party Leader: Mohammad Kabir Marzban
Description: NA


20. People's Message Party of Afghanistan (Hizb-e Risalat-e Mardum-e Afghanistan)

Party Leader: Nur Aqa Roini
Description: NA


21. People's Welfare Party of Afghanistan (Hizb-e Refah-e Mardum-e Afghanistan)

Party Leader: Miagul Waseq
Description: NA


22. National Peace and Unity Party of Afghanistan (Hizb-e Sulh wa Wahdat-e Melli-ye Afghanistan)

Party Leader: Abdul Qader Imami
Description: NA


23. Reconciliation and Democracy Party of Afghanistan (Hizb-e Tafahum-e wa Demokrasi-ye Afghanistan)

Party Leader: Ahmad Shahin
Description: NA


24. Islamic Party of Young Afghanistan (Hizb-e Islami-ye Afghanistan Jawan)

Party Leader: Sayyed Jawad Hussayni
Description: NA


25. National Peace and Islamic Party of the Tribes of Afghanistan (Hizb-e Sulh-e Melli-ye Islami-ye Aqwam-e Afghanistan)

Party Leader: Abdul Qaher Shari'ati
Description: NA


28. People's Liberal Freedom Seeker Party of Afghanistan (Hizb-e Libral-e Azadi-ye Khwa-e Afghanistan)

Party Leader: Ajmal Sohail
Description: NA


29. People's Prosperity Party of Afganistan (Hizb-e Falah-e Mardum-e Afghanistan)

Party Leader: Ustad Mohammad Zarif
Description: NA


30. Solidarity Party of Afghanistan (Hizb-e Hambastagi Afghanistan)

Party Leader: Abdul Khaleq Ne'mat
Description: NA


31. Afghan Society for the Call to the Koran and Sunna (Jama'at al-Da'wat il'l Qur'an wa Sunnat al-Afghanistan)

Party Leader: Mawlawi Sami'ullah Najibi
Description: The party's name is in Arabic. "Sunna" is a reference to the deeds of the Prophet Muhammad.


32. National Peace Islamic Party of Afghanistan (Da Afghanistan Da Solay Melli Islami Gond)

Party Leader: Shah Mahmud Popalzai
Description: The party's name is in Pashto.


33. People's Aspirations Party of Afghanistan (Hizb-e Arman-e Mardum-e Afghanistan)

Party Leader: Sarajuddin
Description: NA


34. National Solidarity Party of Afghanistan (Hizb-e Paiwand-e Melli-ye Afghanistan)

Party Leader: Sayyed Mansur Nadiri
Description: NA


35. National Prosperity and Islamic Party of Afghanistan (Hizb-e Sahadat-e Melli wa Islami-ye Afghanistan)

Party Leader: Mohammad Osman Saligzada
Description: NA


36. Freedom Party of Afghanistan (Hizb-e Azadi-ye Afghanistan)

Party Leader: Abdul Malik
Description: The party leader, Abdul Malik, was a confidant and senior foreign adviser to Abdul Rashid Dostum before turning against Dostum and inviting the Taliban into northern Afghanistan. (Malik later fiercely opposed the Taliban.)


37. People's Uprising Party of Afghanistan (Hizb-e Rastakhaiz-e Mardum-e Afghanistan)

Party Leader: Sayyed Zaher
Description: NA


38. Peace and National Welfare Activists Society (Majmah-e Melli-ye Fahalin-e Sulh-e Afghanistan)

Party Leader: Shams al-Haq Nur Shams
Description: NA


39. Afghan Nation Islamic Party (Da Afghan Watan Islami Gond)

Party Leader: Mohammad Hassan Firuzkhayl
Description: The party's name is in Pashto.


40. Afghanistan's People's Freedom Seeker Party (Hizb-e Azadi Khwahan-e Mardom-e Afghanistan)

Party Leader: Feda Mohammad Ehsas
Description: NA


41. National Unity Party of Afghanistan's Tribes (Hizb-e Hambastagi Melli-ye Aqwam-e Afghanistan)

Party Leader: Mohammad Zaref Naseri
Description: NA


42. Moderate Islamic Party of Afghanistan (Hizb-e E'tidal-e Islami-ye Afghanistan)

Party Leader: Qara Beg Ayzedyar
Description: NA


43. National Progress Party of Afghanistan (Hizb-e Taraqi Melli-ye Afghanistan)

Party Leader: Asef Baktash
Description: NA


44. National Independence Party of Afghanistan (Hizb-e Istiqlal-e Melli-ye Afghanistan)

Party Leader: Taj Mohammad Wardak
Description: NA


45. National Liberation Front of Afghanistan (Tanzim Jabha-e Melli-ye Nijat-e Afghanistan)

Party Leader: Sebghatullah Mujadeddi
Description: NA


46. National Islamic Unity Party of Afghanistan (Hizb-e Wahdat-e Melli-ye Islami-ye Afghanistan)

Party Leader: Mohammad Akbari
Description: Party leader Akbari is a Shi'a and former mujahedin member of the Party of Unity (Hizb-e Wahdat).


47. United Afghanistan Party (Hizb-e Afghanistan-e Wahid)

Party Leader: Mohammad Wasel Rahimi
Description: NA


48. National Unity Movement (Tahrik-e Wahdat-e Melli)

Party Leader: Sultan Mahmud Ghazi
Description: NA


50. Muslim Unity Movement of Afghanistan (Tahrik-e Wahdat al-Muslemin-e Afghanistan)

Party Leader: Wazir Mohammad Wahdat
Description: NA


51. People's Sovereignty Movement of Afghanistan (Nahzat-e Hakimyat-e Mardum-e Afghanistan)

Party Leader: Hayatullah Subhani
Description: NA


52. National Freedom Seekers Party (Hizb-e Azadi Khwahan-e Maihan)

Party Leader: Abdul Hadi Dabir
Description: NA
53. (Hizb-e Nakhbagan-e Mardom-e Afghanistan)

Party Leader: Abdul Hamid Jawad
Description: NA


55. National Union Party of Afghanistan (Hizb-e Paiwande Maihani-ye Afghanistan)

Party Leader: Sayyed Kamal Sadat
Description: NA


58. National Unity Party (Hizb-e Mutahid-e Melli)

Party Leader: Nur al-Haq 'Ulumi
Description: NA


59. People's Party of Afghanistan (Hizb-e Mardum-e Afghanistan)

Party Leader: Ahmad Shah Asar
Description: NA


60. National Islamic Stability Party (Hizb-e Subat-e Melli-ye Islami-ye Afghanistan)

Party Leader: Mohammad Samay Kharuti
Description: NA


61. National Motherland Party [aka National Party of the Nation] (Hizb-e Melli-ye Hewad)

Party Leader: Ghulam Mohammad
Description: NA


62. Islamic Unity Party of the Afghan Nation (Hizb-e Wahdat-e Islami-ye Mellat-e Afghanistan)

Party Leader: Qurban Ali Orfani
Description: NA


63. Democrat Party of Afghanistan (Hizb-e Domkrat-e Afghanistan)

Party Leader: Abdul Kabir Ranjbar
Description: NA


64. National Islamic Fighters Party of Afghanistan (Da Afghanistan Da Melli Mubarizinu Islami Gond)

Party Leader: Amanat Ningarhari
Description: The party's name is in Pashto.


65. Popular National Unity Movement of Afghanistan (Da Afghanistan Da Melli Wahdat Wolesi Tahrik)

Party Leader: Abdul Hakim Nurzai
Description: The party's name is in Pashto.


67. National Authority Party (Hizb-e Iqtadar-e Melli)

Party Leader: Sayyed Mustafa Kazemi
Description: NA


68. (Melli-ye Dreez Gong)

Party Leader: Habibullah Janbdad
Description: NA


69. National Prosperity Party (Hizb-e Refah-e Melli-ye Afghanistan)

Party Leader: Mohammad Hasan Jahfari
Description: NA


70. Afghanistan's Welfare Party (Hizb-e Refah-e Afghanistan)

Party Leader: Mir Mohammad Asef Za'ifi
Description: NA
71. Islamic Community Party of Afghanistan (Hizb-e Umat-e Islami-ye Afghanistan)

Party Leader: Nur Aqa Ahmadzai
Description: NA
72. National Islamic Party of Afghanistan (Hizb-e Melli Islami-ye Afghanistan)

Party Leader: Rohullah Ludin
Description: NA


73. People's Democratic Movement of Afghanistan (Junbish Demokrasi-ye Mardom-e Afghanistan)

Party Leader: Sharif Nazari
Description: NA


74. Democratic Progress Party of Afghanistan (Hizb-e Taraqi-ye Demokrat-e Afghanistan)

Party Leader: Wali Arya
Description: NA


75. Democratic Party of Afghanistan (Hizb-e Demokrasi-ye Afghanistan)

Party Leader: Tawus Arab
Description: NA


76. Afghanistan's Muslim People's Party (Hizb-e Mardom-e Moslaman-e Afghanistan)

Party Leader: Besmellah Joyan
Description: NA


Notes: Numbers correspond to Joint Electoral Management Body (JEMB) registration list as published on the JEMB website. Updated 20 August 2005

[Sources: JEMB; Radio Free Afghanistan; RFE/RL]