Haji Mohammad Chamkani

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Haji Mohammad Chamkani
In office November 24, 1986 – September 30, 1987
Preceded by	Babrak Karmal
Succeeded by	Mohammad Najibullah

Born	1947
Political party	None

Haji Mohammad Chamkani is an Afghan politician who held the interim President of Afghanistan of the Soviet-backed Democratic Republic of Afghanistan. Previously, he served as Vice-President under Babrak Karmal's Government.

He reached the position after the resignation of Babrak Karmal. A non-party member, a tribal leader with power and connections in key areas of provinces bordering Pakistan, his influence extended inside Pakistan as well.

However, Mohammed Najibullah was in charge of the country, due to his powerful positions of Director of the KHAD and General Secretary of the People's Democratic Party of Afghanistan.

It was also during his term in office that the USSR indicated willingness to negotiate and remove some troops out of Afghanistan. His term was also marked by the creation of a new Constitution.

The war continued, with no agreement on a timetable for withdrawal of the estimated 115,000 Soviet troops. There were conflicting reports on the military successes of both the resistance movements and the Soviet-backed Afghan forces. Western diplomats reported fighting in all the major provinces, with heavy casualties on both sides.

Widespread violations of human rights continued and attracted the notice of the UN Commission on Human Rights. At year's end some of the fiercest fighting of the war was reported from the garrison town of Khost, eastern Afghanistan, where Soviet-backed government forces were attempting to end a guerrilla siege of the town.

Morale in the Afghan military was low. The Afghan military dropped from its 1978 strength of 105,000 to about 20,000-30,000 by 1987.

The Soviets attempted new tactics, but the resistance devised countertactics. For example, the use of the Spetsnaz (special forces) was met by counter-ambushes. The only weapons systems that solidly continued to bedevil the resistance were combat helicopter gunships and jet bombers.

Under his leadership, an extraordinary plenum of the PDPA Central Committee approved a policy of national reconciliation, involving negotiations with opposition groups, and the proposed formation of a coalition government of national unity.

Kabul also published the law governing independent political parties. No party could exist without permission from the Revolutionary Council; to apply for permission (which may not be granted), any would be party would have to submit the names of all members (minimum: 500) and identify all sources of financing.

Two rounds of UN-sponsored talks were held in Geneva, with a UN mediator acting as liaison between the foreign ministers of Pakistan and Afghanistan.

Pakistan continued to refuse to have direct negotiations with Afghanistan since it did not recognize the Soviet-backed Afghan government. It also rejected the Soviet-Afghan offer of a 16-month timetable for withdrawal of the Soviet troops, maintaining that it should be reduced to 8 months.

In December 1986, a cabinet reshuffle saw the elevation of Mohammad Najibullah's supporters Abdul Wakil and Mohammad Rafi to the posts of foreign minister and defense minister, respectively. Because of this, the Presidency of the Revolutionary Council was nothing more than a ceremonial position.

Also, at the same time, Najibullah launched a campaign for National Reconciliation, announcing a unilateral six month cease-fire to begin January 15, 1987 and offers to admit non-Communists regime if they would accept the irreversible nature of the Revolutionary process.

However, three weeks after the cease fire, a massive Soviet attack was launched in Paktia Province.

A Loya Jirga was summoned during the last months of his presidency, which appointed Mohammad Najibullah as President of the Revolutionary Council and another Constitution was promulgated. Chamkani then resumed his former post as first vice-president.

Modern Leaders of Afghanistan

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