Political parties/groups
and leaders in Afghanistan

Afghan Nation [also known as the Afghan Social Democratic Party] (Afghan Mellat - Shams faction)
Leader: Ajmal Shams
Note: This party was formerly led by Shams ul Huda Shams, who passed away in October 2005. Since then it is led by Ajmal Shams. Unlike Ahadi's faction which supported Hamid Karzai in the October 2004 elections, Sham's faction supported Humayoon Shah Asefi. Asefi, a well known royalist, is a cousin of former king Mohammad Zaher's late wife, Homaira. However, in the 2009 presidential elections, the party delegation led by Ajmal Shams met with President Karzai and supported him. The party was registered by the Ministry of Justice in 2007 and publishes a quarterly publication called “Afghan Millat”. Website: http://www.afghanmillat.org/

Afghan Society for the Call to the Koran and Sunna (Jama'at al-Da'wat il'l Qur'an wa Sunnat al-Afghanistan)
Leader: Mawlawi Sami'ullah Najibi

Afghanistan Independence Party (Hizb-e Istiqlal-e Afghanistan)
Leader: Dr. Faruq Nejrabi

Afghanistan's Islamic Mission Organization (Tanzim-e Dahwat-e Islami-ye Afghanistan)
Leader: Abdul Rabb al-Rasul Sayyaf
Note: Sayyaf's party used be known as Ittihad-i-Islami Barai Azadi Afghanistan (Islamic Union for the Liberation of Afghanistan). The party registered the new name with the Ministry of Justice on April 25, 2005.

Afghanistan's Welfare Party (Hizb-e Refah-e Afghanistan)
Leader: Mir Mohammad Asef Za'ifi

Freedom and Democracy Movement of Afghanistan (Nahzat-e Azadi wa Demokrasi-ye Afghanistan)
Leader: Abdul Raqib Jawed Kuhestani

Freedom Party of Afghanistan (Hizb-e Azadi-ye Afghanistan)
Leader: Abdul Malik
Note: In the mid 1990s, Abdul Malik, was a confidant and senior foreign adviser to Abdul Rashid Dostum. However, he made a secret deal with the Taliban, turned against Dostum and invited the Taliban into northern Afghanistan. The deal did not last long and a major battle occurred between Malik's forces and the Taliban; thousands of Taliban soldiers were killed.

Freedom Party National Faction (Hizb-e Azadi-ye Bakhsh-e Melli-ye Afghanistan)
Leader: Shams al-Haq Naibkhail

Homeland Party (Hizb-e Maihan)
Leader: Mohammad Rahim

Human Rights Protection and Development Party of Afghanistan (Hizb-e Ifazat az Hoquq-e Bashar wa Inkeshaf-e Afghanistan)
Leader: Baryalai Nasrati

Islamic & National Revolutionary Movement of Afghanistan (Hizb-e Harkat-e Inqilabi-ye Islami wa Melli-ye Afghanistan)
Leader: Ahmad Nabi

Islamic Civilization Party of Afghanistan (Hizb-e Islami-ye Tamadun-e Afghanistan)
Leader: Mohammad Nabi Nafeh

Islamic Justice Party of Afghanistan (Hizb-e Adalat-e Islami-ye Afghanistan)
Leader: Mohammad Kabir Marzban

Islamic Movement of Afghanistan (Harakat-e Islami-ye Afghanistan)
Leader: Sayyed Mohammad Ali Jawed
Note: For a long time, the party was led by Ayatollah Mohammad Asef Mohseni until he announced that he would step down in early February 2005.  The Islamic Movement of Afghanistan was one of the resistance groups opposing the Soviets and their client regimes in Afghanistan from 1978 to 1992.

Islamic People's Movement of Afghanistan (Hizb-e Harak-e Islami-ye Mardum-e Afghanistan)
Leader: Sayyed Hosayn Anwari

Islamic Rights Advocates Party of Afghanistan (Hizb-e Itifaq-e Hoquq Khwahan-e Islami-ye Afghanistan)
Leader: Sayyed Abdul Qahar

Islamic Society of Afghanistan (Jami'at-e Islami-ye Afghanistan)
Leader: Burhanuddin Rabbani
Note: Other prominent members- Mohammad Ismael Khan, and Atta Mohammad (Governor of Balkh Province).

Islamic Unity Party of Afghanistan (Hizb-e Wahdat-e Islami-ye Afghanistan)
Leader: Mohammad Karim Khalili

Islamic Unity Party of the People of Afghanistan (Hizb-e Wahdat-e Islami-ye Mardum-e Afghanistan)
Leader: Haji Mohammad Mohaqiq
Note: Mohaqiq is very popular among the Hazaras; he ran as an independent candidate for the presidency in October 2004, and received the vast majority of the Hazara votes. He served as Planning Minister in the transitional government until he was allegedly fired in March 2004. Mohaqiq claims he was fired after announcing that he would be running in the 2004 presidential elections against Hamid Karzai, however, Karzai's spokesman denied he was fired and claimed Mohaqiq quit after a dispute with then Finance Minister Ashraf Ghani. Mohaqiq stated that Karzai's administration was ethnically biased, and that there are attempts to sideline former Mujahideen members from the government.

Justice Party of Afghanistan (Hizb-e Adalat-e Afghanistan)
Leader: Mohammad Hasan Fayrozkhail

Labor and Progress of Afghanistan Party (Hizb-e Kar wa Tawse'a-e Afghanistan)
Leader: Zulfiqar Omid

Moderate Party of Afghanistan (Hizb-e E'tidal-e Afghanistan)
Leader: Unknown

National Congress Party of Afghanistan (Hizb-e Kongra-ye Melli-ye Afghanistan)
Leader: Abdul Latif Pedram
Note: Party leader Pedram ran as the party's official candidate for the presidency against Hamid Karzai in October 2004.

National Islamic Fighters Party of Afghanistan (Da Afghanistan Da Melli Mubarizinu Islami Gond)
Leader: Amanat Ningarhari

National Islamic Front of Afghanistan (Mahaz-e Melli-ye Islami-ye Afghanistan)
Leader: Sayyed Ahmad Gailani

National Islamic Movement of Afghanistan (Hizb-e Junbish-e-Melli-ye Afghanistan)
Leader: Sayed Noorullah
Note: This party was formerly led by Abdul Rashid Dostum. Dostum officially stepped down on April 18, 2005 to take up a post (Chief of Staff to the Commander of the Armed Forces) in President Hamid Karzai's government. Dostum was appointed by Karzai on March 1, 2005. The party was officially registered with the Ministry of Justice on April 18, 2005. Abdul Rashid Dostum ran as an independent candidate for the presidency in October 2004, and received the vast majority of the Uzbek votes. Dostum was a former Communist General who switched sides to help the Mujahideen bring down Dr. Najibullah's Russian supported government.

National Islamic Unity Party of Afghanistan (Hizb-e Wahdat-e Melli-ye Islami-ye Afghanistan)
Leader: Mohammad Akbari

National Liberation Front of Afghanistan (Jabha-e Melli-ye Nijat-e Afghanistan)
Leader: Sebghatullah Mojadeddi

National Movement of Afghanistan (Hizb-e Nahzat-e Melli-ye Afghanistan)
Leader: Ahmad Wali Masood (brother of slain Mujahideen commander, Ahmad Shah Masood).
Note: Zia Masood, another brother of Ahmad Shah Masood, and party member is currently serving as Afghanistan's first Vice President. Mohammd Yunis Qanuni was also a member of this party, until Zia Masood agreed to sign on as Hamid Karzai's Vice President in the October 2004 presidential elections. Qanuni ran against Karzai.

National Party of Afghanistan (Hizb-e Melli-ye Afghanistan)
Leader: Abdul Rashid Aryan

National Peace & Islamic Party of the Tribes of Afghanistan (Hizb-e Sulh-e Melli-ye Islami-ye Aqwam-e Afghanistan)
Leader: Abdul Qaher Shari'ati

National Peace & Unity Party of Afghanistan (Hizb-e Sulh wa Wahdat-e Melli-ye Afghanistan)
Leader: Abdul Qader Imami

National Peace Islamic Party of Afghanistan (Da Afghanistan Da Solay Melli Islami Gond)
Leader: Shah Mahmud Popalzai

National Peace Movement of Afghanistan (Nahzat-e Melli Sulh-e Afghanistan)
Leader: Sayyed Sami'ullah Sadat

National Prosperity and Islamic Party of Afghanistan (Hizb-e Sahadat-e Melli wa Islami-ye Afghanistan)
Leader: Mohammad Osman Saligzada

National Prosperity Party (Hizb-e Refah-e Melli)
Leader: Mohammad Hasan Jahfari

National Solidarity Movement of Afghanistan (Nahzat-e Hambastagi-ye Melli-ye Afghanistan)
Leader: Sayyed Ishaq Gailani
Note: Gailani was his party's official candidate for president until withdrawing from the race on 6 October. Gailani urged National Solidarity Movement supporters to back Karzai in the presidential vote.

National Solidarity Party of Afghanistan (Hizb-e Paiwand-e Melli-ye Afghanistan)
Leader: Sayyed Mansur Nadiri

National Stability Party (Hizb-e Subat-e Melli)
Leader: Abdul Ra'uf

National Tribal Unity Islamic Party of Afghanistan (Hizb-e Melli-ye Wahdat-e Aqwam-e Islami-ye Afghanistan)
Leader: Mohammad Shah Khogyani

National Unity Movement (Tahrik-e Wahdat-e Melli)
Leader: Sultan Mahmud Ghazi

National Unity Movement of Afghanistan (Hizb-e Harakat-e Melli-ye Wahdat-e Afghanistan)
Leader: Mohammad Nader Atash

National Unity Party (Hizb-e Mutahid-e Melli)
Leader: Nur al-Haq 'Ulumi

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

New Afghanistan Party (Hezb-e-Afghanistan Naween)
Leader: Mohammad Yunis Qanuni
Note: This party is part of a political alliance called Jabahai Tafahim Millie or National Understanding Front. It also includes Wahdat-e-Mardum Afghanistan led by Haji Mohammad Mohaqiq, Hezb-e-Iqtedar Islam led by Ahmad Shah Ahmadzai, Hezb-e-Harakat Islami led by Sayed Mohammad Lia Jawed, Wahdat Milli led by Mohammad Akbari, Hezb-e-Isteqlal Milli Afghanistan led by Taj Mohammad Wardak, Hezb-e-Harakat Enqelab Islami led by Ahmad Nabi Ahmad, Hezb-e-Wahdat Aqwami Milli Afghanistan led by Nasrullah Barakzai, Hezb-e-Eqtedar Islami Afghanistan led by Qara Beig Ezedyar, Hezb-e-Islami Jawan Afghanistan led by Sayed Jawad Husseini, and Hezb-e-Sulh wa Wahdat-e-Milli Afghanistan led by Emami Ghori. The alliance was publicly announced on March 31, 2005.

Party of Islam (Hizb-e Islami)
Leader: Arghandiwal
Note: The party was founded in the 1970s and for many years led by former Prime Minister Gulbuddin Hekmatyar. Hekmatyar is currently believed to be in alliance with the Taliban and waging a guerilla war against US forces in Afghanistan.

Party of Islam (Hizb-e Islami - Khalis faction)
Leader: Mohammad Yunos Khalis
Note: Khalis is believed to be in hiding and involved in fighting against the US troops present in Afghanistan. His base of support is in the eastern Nangarhar Province.

Peace and National Welfare Activists Society (Majmah-e Melli-ye Fahalin-e Sulh-e Afghanistan)
Leader: Shams al-Haq Nur Shams

Peace Movement (Da Afghanistan Da Solay Ghorzang Gond)
Leader: Shahnawaz Tanai
Note: Tanai, served as former minister of defense under the Soviet-backed communist regime of Dr. Najibullah.

People's Aspirations Party of Afghanistan (Hizb-e Arman-e Mardum-e Afghanistan)
Leader: Sarajuddin

People's Liberal Freedom Seekers Party of Afghanistan (Hizb-e Libral-e Azadi-ye Khwa-e Mardum-e Afghanistan)
Leader: Ajmal Sohail

People's Message Party of Afghanistan (Hizb-e Risalat-e Mardum-e Afghanistan)
Leader: Nur Aqa

People's Party of Afghanistan (Hizb-e Mardum-e Afghanistan)
Leader: Ahmad Shah Asar

People's Prosperity Party of Afganistan (Hizb-e Falah-e Mardum-e Afghanistan)
Leader: Mohammad Zarif

People's Sovereignty Movement of Afghanistan (Nahzat-e Hakimyat-e Mardum-e Afghanistan)
Leader: Hayatullah Subhani

People's Uprising Party of Afghanistan (Hizb-e Rastakhaiz-e Mardum-e Afghanistan)
Leader: Sayyed Zaher

People's Welfare Party of Afghanistan (Hizb-e Sahadat-e Mardum-e Afghanistan)
Leader: Mohammad Zubair Payroz

People's Welfare Party of Afghanistan (Hizb-e Refah-e Mardum-e Afghanistan)
Leader: Miagul Waseq

Public Opinion Party of Afghanistan (Hizb-e Afkar-e Ama-ye Afghanistan)
Leader: Unknown

Republican Party (Hizb-e Jamhuri Khwahan)
Leader: Sebghatullah Sanjar

Solidarity Party of Afghanistan (Hizb-e Hambastagi Afghanistan)
Leader: Abdul Khaleq Ne'mat

Taliban
Leader: Mullah Mohammad Omar (Other prominent members: Jalaluddin Haqqani, Saifullah Mansoor)
Note: The Taliban are waging a war against the US backed Afghan government headed by Hamid Karzai.

United Afghanistan Party (Hizb-e Afghanistan-e Wahid)
Leader: Mohammad Wasel Rahimi

Understanding and Democracy Party of Afghanistan (Hizb-e Tafahum-e wa Demokrasi-ye Afghanistan)
Leader: Ahmad Shahin

Young Afghanistan's Islamic Organization (Sazman-e Islami-ye Afghanistan-e Jawan)
Leader: Sayyed Jawad Hosayni

Youth Solidarity Party of Afghanistan (Hizb-e Hambastagi-ye Melli-ye Jawanan-e Afghanistan)
Leader: Mohammad Jamil Karzai