Mohammad Hasan Sharq
Encyclopedia
Mohammad Hasan Sharq born in 1925 was an Afghan politician
during the communist regime of Afghanistan
. Sharq became Prime Minister
of the Soviet
-backed government, the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan
.
He was selected as a compromise candidate after the Loya Jirga
ratified a new constitution in 1987. However, the power of his office was relatively small compared with the ones of the Presidency.
. When Daoud took over the Cabinet Posts of Prime Minister, Defense Minister and Foreign Minister, He appointed Sharq as his Deputy Prime Minister.
In March 1986, Afghan foreign minister Abdul Wakil invited mujahideen
leaders, former King Zahir Shah and ex-ministers from previous governments to join a government of national unity to rebuild the war-torn country.
The new parliament that convened on May 30, 1989, 2 weeks after the Geneva Accords became effective and the beginning of the Soviet troop withdrawal in 1989
, consisted of 184 lower house deputies and 115 senators; 62 house and 82 senate seats were left vacant for the resistance "opposition." As a compromise candidate, Sharq was selected by President Mohammad Najibullah
to be the new prime minister, replacing Sultan Ali Keshtmand
.
The appointment was intended dramatically to reinforce the point that the People's Democratic Party of Afghanistan (PDPA)
was going to take a back seat. However, the new constitution vested key powers in the Presidency, and President Najibullah did not give up that central role.
Sharq had served as the regime's Deputy Prime Minister since June 1987 and before that as its Ambassador to India
.
In any event, Sharq's association with the Parcham
faction, dating back to the Daoud government, made the "non-PDPA" appellation meaningless. Likewise, on June 7, when Sharq announced his cabinet, consisting of 11 new members and 10 former ones, the non-party credentials of the "new" ministers were undermined by the fact that most had served the regime government previously in other capacities. Furthermore, the powerful ministries of interior, state security, and foreign affairs remained in PDPA hands.
The major exception was the effort to enlist a resistance commander or a respected retired general from an earlier era to become minister of defense
. This post remained open for some time, but in August it was finally given to Army Chief of Staff General Shahnawaz Tanai
of the Khalq
faction.
Thus, almost 2 years after he announced the national reconciliation policy in January 1987, President Najibullah was unable to attract a single major figure of the resistance or prominent Afghan refugee to join the government. During 1988, two new provinces were created -Sar-e-pol in the north and Nuristan in the northeast- by carving out territory from adjoining provinces. In each case, the purpose appears to have been to create a new entity where an ethnic minority-the Hazaras and Nuristanis respectivelywould dominate.
This readjustment would guarantee representation in the new parliament for these ethnic groups. At the same time, the Sharq government has abolished the special ministry for nationalities that carries connotations of a Soviet-style system. On Febreary 1989, Sharq resigned from the government of President Najibullah, a move underscoring the failure thus far by Afghans to establish a government of national reconciliation.
A resident of the Anar Dara district in the western Farah province, Dr Hasan Sharq had been prime minister in the Dr Najeebullah government from 1986 to 1990. He also served as spokesman for then prime minister Daud Khan and his Milli Ghurzang Party.
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
during the communist regime of Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
. Sharq became Prime Minister
Prime Minister of Afghanistan
The Prime Minister of Afghanistan is a currently defunct post in the Afghan Government.The position was created in 1927, and was appointed by the king, mostly as an advisor, until the end of the monarchy in 1973...
of the Soviet
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
-backed government, the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan
Democratic Republic of Afghanistan
The Democratic Republic of Afghanistan was a government of Afghanistan between 1978 and 1992. It was both ideologically close to and economically dependent on the Soviet Union, and was a major belligerent of the Afghan Civil War.- Saur Revolution :...
.
He was selected as a compromise candidate after the Loya Jirga
Loya jirga
A loya jirga is a type of jirga regarded as "grand assembly," a phrase in the Pashto language meaning "grand council." A loya jirga is a mass meeting usually prepared for major events such as choosing a new king, adopting a constitution, or discussing important national political or emergency...
ratified a new constitution in 1987. However, the power of his office was relatively small compared with the ones of the Presidency.
Career
Sharq served as spokesman for earlier Prime Minister Mohammad Daoud Khan during the Kingdom of AfghanistanKingdom of Afghanistan
The Kingdom of Afghanistan was an Islamic monarchy in south Central Asia established in 1926 as a successor state to the Emirate of Afghanistan, following the ascension to the throne by Amanullah Khan and his proclaming Afghanistan a kingdom in 1926, after 7 years on the throne...
. When Daoud took over the Cabinet Posts of Prime Minister, Defense Minister and Foreign Minister, He appointed Sharq as his Deputy Prime Minister.
In March 1986, Afghan foreign minister Abdul Wakil invited mujahideen
Mujahideen
Mujahideen are Muslims who struggle in the path of God. The word is from the same Arabic triliteral as jihad .Mujahideen is also transliterated from Arabic as mujahedin, mujahedeen, mudžahedin, mudžahidin, mujahidīn, mujaheddīn and more.-Origin of the concept:The beginnings of Jihad are traced...
leaders, former King Zahir Shah and ex-ministers from previous governments to join a government of national unity to rebuild the war-torn country.
The new parliament that convened on May 30, 1989, 2 weeks after the Geneva Accords became effective and the beginning of the Soviet troop withdrawal in 1989
Soviet troop withdrawal from Afghanistan
The Withdrawal of Soviet combatant forces from the Afghanistan began on May 15, 1988 and successfully executed on February 15, 1989 under the leadership of Colonel-General Boris Gromov who also was the last Soviet general officer to walk from the Asfghanistan back into Soviet territory through the...
, consisted of 184 lower house deputies and 115 senators; 62 house and 82 senate seats were left vacant for the resistance "opposition." As a compromise candidate, Sharq was selected by President Mohammad Najibullah
Mohammad Najibullah
Mohammad Najibullah Ahmadzai , originally merely Najibullah, was the fourth and last President of the Soviet-backed Democratic Republic of Afghanistan. He is also considered the second President of the Republic of Afghanistan.-Early years:Najibullah was born in August 1947 to the Ahmadzai...
to be the new prime minister, replacing Sultan Ali Keshtmand
Sultan Ali Keshtmand
Sultan Ali Keshtmand, sometimes transliterated Kishtmand, born May 22, 1935 in Kabul, was an Afghan politician. He served twice as Prime Minister during the 1980s, from 1981 to 1988 and from 1989 to 1990 in the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan....
.
The appointment was intended dramatically to reinforce the point that the People's Democratic Party of Afghanistan (PDPA)
People's Democratic Party of Afghanistan
The People's Democratic Party of Afghanistan was a communist party established on the 1 January 1965. While a minority, the party helped former president of Afghanistan, Mohammed Daoud Khan, to overthrow his cousin, Mohammed Zahir Shah, and established Daoud's Republic of Afghanistan...
was going to take a back seat. However, the new constitution vested key powers in the Presidency, and President Najibullah did not give up that central role.
Sharq had served as the regime's Deputy Prime Minister since June 1987 and before that as its Ambassador to India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
.
In any event, Sharq's association with the Parcham
Parcham
Parcham was the name of one of the factions of the People's Democratic Party of Afghanistan. The Parcham faction seized power in the country after toppling Hafizullah Amin....
faction, dating back to the Daoud government, made the "non-PDPA" appellation meaningless. Likewise, on June 7, when Sharq announced his cabinet, consisting of 11 new members and 10 former ones, the non-party credentials of the "new" ministers were undermined by the fact that most had served the regime government previously in other capacities. Furthermore, the powerful ministries of interior, state security, and foreign affairs remained in PDPA hands.
The major exception was the effort to enlist a resistance commander or a respected retired general from an earlier era to become minister of defense
Afghan Defense Ministry
The Afghan Ministry of Defense is an organ of the Central Government of Afghanistan, overseeing the entire military of Afghanistan. , it is headed by Abdul Rahim Wardak, a former mujahid who also received some military training in the United States...
. This post remained open for some time, but in August it was finally given to Army Chief of Staff General Shahnawaz Tanai
Shahnawaz Tanai
Lieutenant General Shahnawaz Tanai is a former communist general. He was chief of Afghanistan's army under the russians-backed Republic of Afghanistan...
of the Khalq
Khalq
Khalq was a faction of the People's Democratic Party of Afghanistan. Its historical leaders were Presidents Nur Muhammad Taraki and Hafizullah Amin. It was also the name of the leftist newspaper produced by the same movement. It was supported by the USSR and was formed in 1965 when the PDPA was born...
faction.
Thus, almost 2 years after he announced the national reconciliation policy in January 1987, President Najibullah was unable to attract a single major figure of the resistance or prominent Afghan refugee to join the government. During 1988, two new provinces were created -Sar-e-pol in the north and Nuristan in the northeast- by carving out territory from adjoining provinces. In each case, the purpose appears to have been to create a new entity where an ethnic minority-the Hazaras and Nuristanis respectivelywould dominate.
This readjustment would guarantee representation in the new parliament for these ethnic groups. At the same time, the Sharq government has abolished the special ministry for nationalities that carries connotations of a Soviet-style system. On Febreary 1989, Sharq resigned from the government of President Najibullah, a move underscoring the failure thus far by Afghans to establish a government of national reconciliation.
A resident of the Anar Dara district in the western Farah province, Dr Hasan Sharq had been prime minister in the Dr Najeebullah government from 1986 to 1990. He also served as spokesman for then prime minister Daud Khan and his Milli Ghurzang Party.