Afghan politician and military officer (1950–2022)
This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. Find sources: "Shahnawaz Tanai" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR(February 2022) (Learn how and when to remove this message)
Shahnawaz Tanai
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
Citizenship
Afghanistan
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
Part of a series on the
History of Afghanistan
Timeline
Ancient
Indus Valley Civilisation
2200–1800 BC
Oxus Civilization
2100–1800 BC
Gandhara Kingdom
1500–535 BC
Median Empire
728–550 BC
Achaemenid Empire
550–330 BC
Macedonian Empire
330–312 BC
Seleucid Empire
312–150 BC
Maurya Empire
305–180 BC
Greco-Bactrian Kingdom
256–125 BC
Parthian Empire
247 BC–224 AD
Indo-Greek Kingdom
180–130 BC
Indo-Scythian Kingdom
155–80? BC
Kushan Empire
135 BC – 248 AD
Indo-Parthian Kingdom
20 BC – 50? AD
Sasanian Empire
230–651
Kidarite Kingdom
320–465
Rob
Alchon Huns
380–560
Hephthalite Empire
410–557
Nezak Huns
484–711
Medieval
Kabul Shahi
565–879
Principality of Chaghaniyan
7th–8th centuries
Rashidun Caliphate
652–661
Tang China
660–669
Tibetan Empire
660–842
Umayyads
661–750
Zunbils
680–870
Lawik
750-977
Abbasids
750–821
Tahirids
821–873
Saffarids
863–900
Samanids
875–999
Ghaznavids
963–1187
Ghurids
before 879–1215
Seljuks
1037–1194
Khwarezmids
1215–1231
Mongol Invasion
1219–1226
Chagatai Khanate
1226–1245
Qarlughids
1224–1266
Ilkhanate
1256–1335
Kartids
1245–1381
Timurids
1370–1507
Arghuns
1520–1591
Modern
Mughals
1501–1738
Safavids
1510–1709
Hotak dynasty
1709–1738
Sadozai Sultanate
1716–1732
Afsharid Iran
1738–1747
Durrani Empire
1747–1823
Principality of Qandahar
1818–1855
Emirate
1823–1926
Saqqawist Emirate
1929
Kingdom
1926–1973
Daoud coup
1973
Republic
1973–1978
Saur Revolution
1978
Democratic Republic
1978–1992
Tanai coup attempt
1990
Islamic State
1992–1996
Islamic Emirate
1996–2001
US invasion
2001
Islamic State (reinstated)
2001
Interim/Transitional Administration
2001–2004
Islamic Republic (politics)
2004–2021
Islamic Emirate (reinstated)
since 2021
Related historical regions
Arachosia
Aria
Ariana
Bactria
Gandhara
Iran
Kabulistan
Kafiristan
Khorasan
Kushanshahr
Paropamisadae
Sistan
Zabulistan
Related topics
Political history
Culture
Economic history
Name
Afghan (ethnonym)
List of years
List of heads of state
Wars
List of wars
Hinduism history
Hindu and Buddhist heritage
Jewish history
Muslim conquests
Category
Afghanistan portal
v
t
e
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 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 Mohammad 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]
^ abWillem Vogelsang (28 November 2001). The Afghans. ISBN 9780631198413. Retrieved 22 March 2009.
^"Ex-Defense Minister Shahnavaz Tani Dies in Islamabad".
^Cite error: The named reference sep05 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
Lieutenant General ShahnawazTanai (Russian: Шахнаваз Танай, 1950 – 7 March 2022) was an Afghan politician and general officer who served as the Chief...
Pakistani diplomat and writer Shahnawaz Bhutto (1958–1985), the son of Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto and Begum Nusrat Bhutto ShahnawazTanai (1950–2022), former Afghan...
Afghan coup d'etat attempt occurred on March 6, 1990, when General ShahnawazTanai, a hardline communist and Khalqist who served as Minister of Defence...
March 6, 1990, General Watanjar intercepted a tank battalion of ShahnawazTanai during Tanai's coup attempt, which eventually failed. Watanjar was awarded...
herding practices. The four sub-tribes of the Tanai are Darnoohee Sitkai Aryozee Khaabkhil Lt. Gen. ShahnawazTanai, Afghan Army General of the Soviet-Afghan...
15th Tank Brigade. The DRA forces were commanded by Major-General ShahnawazTanai. The ground offensive began after weeks of failed negotiations with...
In March 1990, following an unsuccessful coup attempt by General ShahnawazTanai, Gulabzoi was expelled from the party, along with other Khalqis. From...
Mohammad Najibullah (1986–1992) Minister of Defense Abdul Qadir (1978) ShahnawazTanai Nazar Mohammad (1984–1986) Mohammed Rafie (1979–1984, 1986–1988) Mohammad...
Hafizullah Amin, Nur Muhammad Taraki, General Mohammad Aslam Vatanjar, ShahnawazTanai, Mohammad Gulabzoy and many more. In 1979, the Soviet Union intervened...
a coup attempt, this time led by the Khalqist Defense minister ShahnawazTanai. Tanai was apparently also supported by those important Khalqist who remained...
Bhutto for the defeat. Bhutto eventually sacked Gul. Hardline Khalqist ShahnawazTanai attempted to overthrow Najibullah in a failed coup attempt in March...
a very different way: a coalition with Khalq communists of General ShahnawazTanai, which caused many resignations in his party in protest. Together,...
but in August it was finally given to Army Chief of Staff General ShahnawazTanai of the Khalq communist faction. Thus, almost two years after he announced...
fought in the Battle of Jalalabad. In March 1990, Lieutenant-General ShahnawazTanai attempted a coup, which was suppressed by the WAD-led National Guard...
Ahmadzai (a former President of Afghanistan), Mohammad Aslam Watanjar, ShahnawazTanai, and Sayed Muhammad Gulabzoi. Between 7 and 8 January 1988, in Paktia...
1990 Afghan coup d'état attempt led by hardcore communist General ShahnawazTanai. He also lobbied the Parliament of Pakistan to carry out an unsuccessful...
Lt.Gen ShahnawazTanai, would also take part in the coup, being photographed standing outside the gates of the Arg Presidential Palace. Tanai took command...
Pakistan Air Force Commanders and leaders Mohammed Rafie Abdul Qadir ShahnawazTanai Mohammad Aslam Watanjar Abdul Rashid Dostum Nazar Mohammed Mohammed...
set on fire. Much of the building was damaged by tank fire during ShahnawazTanai's failed coup attempt on 6 March 1990. It was once again severely damaged...
Global Information
Afghanistan
Afghan Army
Lieutenant General
Order of the Saur Revolution
