Afghan Interior Minister Ali Ahmad Jalali. AFP
Afghan Interior Minister Ali Ahmad Jalali. AFP
Afghan Interior Minister Ali Ahmad Jalali. AFP
Afghan Interior Minister Ali Ahmad Jalali. AFP

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Who is Ali Ahmad Jalali, Afghanistan's possible interim leader?

The academic, retired army colonel and former interior minister has been critical of Afghanistan's recent leaders

Nada AlTaher
Nada AlTaher

August 16, 2021

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More than 15 years after his last stint in Afghanistan's government, former interior minister Ali Ahmad Jalali is reportedly being proposed as the country's interim leader after the Taliban's capture of the capital triggered President Ashraf Ghani's departure.

Mr Jalali's name was reportedly put forward in secret meetings at the presidential palace as the insurgents surrounded Kabul on Sunday after a sweeping 10-day offensive that gave them control over most of the country.

Two days earlier, Mr Jalali, an academic and retired army colonel based in the US, criticised Afghanistan's leadership and the state of its army.

“Poor leadership, lack of logistical sustainability, and absence of operational and tactical co-ordination has taken a heavy toll on the lives and reputation of the dedicated Afghan soldiers,” he wrote.

During a 2011 lecture at the UAE's Centre for Strategic Studies and Research, Mr Jalali made a similar argument when Hamid Karzai, Afghanistan's president at the time, set up a High Peace Council to negotiate a political settlement with the Taliban.

“No amount of military power – foreign or domestic – in Afghanistan will produce adequate gains unless the Afghan government improves its capacity to control its territory, win the trust of the people, and prevent infiltration and subversion from abroad,” Mr Jalali said.

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US-trained and educated, Mr Jalali was appointed interior minister in 2003 and served in Mr Karzai's transitional government for two years before resigning for what he said were personal reasons.

During his tenure, Mr Jalali was actively involved in reaching a political settlement with the Taliban. Efforts to strike a deal fell through when, Mr Jalali said, Mr Karzai failed to respond to an offer being made by the insurgents.

After his brief political career, Mr Jalali left Afghanistan to become a professor at the Near East South Asia Centre for Strategic Studies at the National Defence University in Washington.

Afghan women, holding placards, gather to demand the protection of women's rights in front of the Presidential Palace in Kabul, Afghanistan.
Afghan women, holding placards, gather to demand the protection of women's rights in front of the Presidential Palace in Kabul, Afghanistan.
A person holds the flag of Afghanistan during a protest against support for the Taliban, in Berlin, Germany.
A person holds the flag of Afghanistan during a protest against support for the Taliban, in Berlin, Germany.
Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid speaks at his first news conference in Kabul.
Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid speaks at his first news conference in Kabul.
Taliban fighters stand guard outside the Green Zone where most of the embassies are situated.
Taliban fighters stand guard outside the Green Zone where most of the embassies are situated.
Afghan security forces patrol on humvee vehicle along a road in Bazarak town of Panjshir province.
Afghan security forces patrol on humvee vehicle along a road in Bazarak town of Panjshir province.
Schoolgirls sit in a schoolyard in Herat.
Schoolgirls sit in a schoolyard in Herat.
Afghans wait outside the Hamid Karzai International Airport to flee the country.
Afghans wait outside the Hamid Karzai International Airport to flee the country.
A Taliban fighter raises their flag on a vehicle as they patrol in Kandahar.
A Taliban fighter raises their flag on a vehicle as they patrol in Kandahar.
French citizens and their Afghan colleagues wait to board a French military transport plane at the airport in Kabul after the Taliban's stunning military takeover of the Afghanistan.
French citizens and their Afghan colleagues wait to board a French military transport plane at the airport in Kabul after the Taliban's stunning military takeover of the Afghanistan.
French soldiers at the airport in Kabul as they arrive to help French citizens and their Afghan colleagues to flee after the Taliban takeover.
French soldiers at the airport in Kabul as they arrive to help French citizens and their Afghan colleagues to flee after the Taliban takeover.
A US Air Force C-17 Globemaster III transport aircraft filled with about 640 Afghans fleeing to Qatar from Kabul, Afghanistan.
A US Air Force C-17 Globemaster III transport aircraft filled with about 640 Afghans fleeing to Qatar from Kabul, Afghanistan.
Crowds on the tarmac of Kabul International Airport, Afghanistan. Several people were reportedly killed at the airport on August 16 as Afghans tried to hang on to a moving US military plane leaving the airport.
Crowds on the tarmac of Kabul International Airport, Afghanistan. Several people were reportedly killed at the airport on August 16 as Afghans tried to hang on to a moving US military plane leaving the airport.
A satellite photo shows swarms of people on the tarmac at Kabul International Airport, also known as Hamid Karzai International Airport. Afghans rushed on to the tarmac of the capital's airport on Monday as thousands tried to flee the country after the Taliban seized power with stunning speed.
A satellite photo shows swarms of people on the tarmac at Kabul International Airport, also known as Hamid Karzai International Airport. Afghans rushed on to the tarmac of the capital's airport on Monday as thousands tried to flee the country after the Taliban seized power with stunning speed.
A traffic jam outside Kabul International Airport, Afghanistan after Taliban co-founder Abdul Ghani Baradar declared victory and an end to the decades-long war in the country. President Ashraf Ghani fled and conceded that the insurgents had won the 20-year war.
A traffic jam outside Kabul International Airport, Afghanistan after Taliban co-founder Abdul Ghani Baradar declared victory and an end to the decades-long war in the country. President Ashraf Ghani fled and conceded that the insurgents had won the 20-year war.
Qari Muhammad Hanif, centre, director of the Taliban's cultural and Information department, talks to journalists in Jalalabad, Afghanistan.
Qari Muhammad Hanif, centre, director of the Taliban's cultural and Information department, talks to journalists in Jalalabad, Afghanistan.
Humvee vehicles from the Afghan Security Forces in Panjshir province, Afghanistan.
Humvee vehicles from the Afghan Security Forces in Panjshir province, Afghanistan.
Thousands of Afghans rushed to Hamid Karzai International Airport in an attempt to flee the Afghan capital, Kabul.
Thousands of Afghans rushed to Hamid Karzai International Airport in an attempt to flee the Afghan capital, Kabul.
Afghans on the tarmac at Kabul airport in Kabul after a swift end to the 20-year war in the country. Thousands of people mobbed the city's airport trying to flee the group's rule.
Afghans on the tarmac at Kabul airport in Kabul after a swift end to the 20-year war in the country. Thousands of people mobbed the city's airport trying to flee the group's rule.
A US soldier keeps close watch on Afghan passengers at Hamid Karzai International Airport, Kabul. Thousands of people packed the airport trying to flee Taliban rule.
A US soldier keeps close watch on Afghan passengers at Hamid Karzai International Airport, Kabul. Thousands of people packed the airport trying to flee Taliban rule.
Passengers sit inside a plane as they wait to leave the runway of Kabul after the stunningly swift end of Afghanistan’s 20-year war.
Passengers sit inside a plane as they wait to leave the runway of Kabul after the stunningly swift end of Afghanistan’s 20-year war.
People climb on top of a plane in Kabul.
People climb on top of a plane in Kabul.
People try to enter Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul, Afghanistan.
People try to enter Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul, Afghanistan.
People cross the boundary wall of Hamid Karzai International Airport to flee the country after rumours that foreign countries were removing people even without visas.
People cross the boundary wall of Hamid Karzai International Airport to flee the country after rumours that foreign countries were removing people even without visas.
Taliban fighters stand guard along a roadside near Zanbaq Square in Kabul.
Taliban fighters stand guard along a roadside near Zanbaq Square in Kabul.
A Taliban fighter sits on his motorcycle by a road in Shahr-e Naw, Kabul.
A Taliban fighter sits on his motorcycle by a road in Shahr-e Naw, Kabul.
Talibs patrol the streets of Kabul as the militants take control of Afghanistan. after President Ashraf Ghani fled the country.
Talibs patrol the streets of Kabul as the militants take control of Afghanistan. after President Ashraf Ghani fled the country.
Afghans gather on the asphalt at Hamid Karzai International Airport, Kabul.
Afghans gather on the asphalt at Hamid Karzai International Airport, Kabul.
Afghans gather by the runway in Kabul as US soldiers stand guard.
Afghans gather by the runway in Kabul as US soldiers stand guard.
Taliban fighters on a police vehicle outside Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul, Afghanistan.
Taliban fighters on a police vehicle outside Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul, Afghanistan.
Baradar Akhund, a senior official of the Taliban, with a group of men, makes a video statement.
Baradar Akhund, a senior official of the Taliban, with a group of men, makes a video statement.
Taliban fighters take control of the presidential palace in Kabul, after Afghanistan's President Ashraf Ghani fled the country.
Taliban fighters take control of the presidential palace in Kabul, after Afghanistan's President Ashraf Ghani fled the country.
Passengers from Kabul arrive at Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi, India.
Passengers from Kabul arrive at Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi, India.
Families on a motorway trying to flee Kabul.
Families on a motorway trying to flee Kabul.
Afghan security forces on patrol in Kabul.
Afghan security forces on patrol in Kabul.
People line up outside Azizi Bank to withdraw cash during a run on deposits.
People line up outside Azizi Bank to withdraw cash during a run on deposits.
Taliban fighters use a captured Afghan security forces vehicle at a checkpoint in Herat.
Taliban fighters use a captured Afghan security forces vehicle at a checkpoint in Herat.
Ahmadullah Muttaqi, centre left, the Taliban's director for information and culture, addresses journalists.
Ahmadullah Muttaqi, centre left, the Taliban's director for information and culture, addresses journalists.
Police officers conduct their duties after the Taliban took control of Kandahar.
Police officers conduct their duties after the Taliban took control of Kandahar.
People prepare to cross into Afghanistan, at Pakistan's Chaman border. Pakistani authorities reopened the border with Afghanistan on August 13 after it had been closed for several days.
People prepare to cross into Afghanistan, at Pakistan's Chaman border. Pakistani authorities reopened the border with Afghanistan on August 13 after it had been closed for several days.
Afghans wait in long lines for hours to get visas at the Iranian embassy, in Kabul.
Afghans wait in long lines for hours to get visas at the Iranian embassy, in Kabul.
Taliban fighters patrol after taking control of Jalalabad.
Taliban fighters patrol after taking control of Jalalabad.
Smoke rises near the US embassy in Kabul. Taliban fighters reached the outskirts of the Afghan capital on Sunday.
Smoke rises near the US embassy in Kabul. Taliban fighters reached the outskirts of the Afghan capital on Sunday.
Anti-missile decoy flares are used by US Black Hawk military helicopters, while a surveillance blimp flies over Kabul.
Anti-missile decoy flares are used by US Black Hawk military helicopters, while a surveillance blimp flies over Kabul.
An Afghan soldier keeps watch on a street in Kabul.
An Afghan soldier keeps watch on a street in Kabul.
Taliban fighters and local people gather in Jalalabad province, east of Kabul.
Taliban fighters and local people gather in Jalalabad province, east of Kabul.
Taliban fighters sit on an Afghan Army Humvee in Jalalabad province.
Taliban fighters sit on an Afghan Army Humvee in Jalalabad province.
Taliban fighters travel along a street in Jalalabad province.
Taliban fighters travel along a street in Jalalabad province.
A US Chinook military helicopter flies over the US embassy in Kabul.
A US Chinook military helicopter flies over the US embassy in Kabul.
Heavily armed Taliban fighters gather in eastern Laghman province.
Heavily armed Taliban fighters gather in eastern Laghman province.
Militants wave a Taliban flag from the back of a pickup truck in Jalalabad.
Militants wave a Taliban flag from the back of a pickup truck in Jalalabad.
Taliban fighters drive through the streets of Laghman province.
Taliban fighters drive through the streets of Laghman province.
People head to the departures area of Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul as the Taliban approach the city.
People head to the departures area of Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul as the Taliban approach the city.
A man sells Taliban flags in western province Herat.
A man sells Taliban flags in western province Herat.
Taliban fighters travel in an Afghan Army vehicle in Herat.
Taliban fighters travel in an Afghan Army vehicle in Herat.
Taliban forces patrol a street in Herat.
Taliban forces patrol a street in Herat.
Taliban militants raise their flag as they gather a day after taking control of key southern city Kandahar.
Taliban militants raise their flag as they gather a day after taking control of key southern city Kandahar.
Members of the Afghan security forces stand guard along the roadside in Panjshir province.
Members of the Afghan security forces stand guard along the roadside in Panjshir province.
Afghanistan's President Ashraf Ghani and acting defence minister Bismillah Khan Mohammadi visit a military site in Kabul.
Afghanistan's President Ashraf Ghani and acting defence minister Bismillah Khan Mohammadi visit a military site in Kabul.
Internally displaced families from northern provinces take shelter in a public park in Kabul.
Internally displaced families from northern provinces take shelter in a public park in Kabul.
Families that fled their homes because of fighting between the Taliban and Afghan security forces take shelter in a public park in Kabul.
Families that fled their homes because of fighting between the Taliban and Afghan security forces take shelter in a public park in Kabul.
Many of those seeking safety in Kabul have been sleeping on the streets.
Many of those seeking safety in Kabul have been sleeping on the streets.
Thousands of those internally displaced have been arriving in Kabul.
Thousands of those internally displaced have been arriving in Kabul.
Afghans have been waiting for hours in long queues outside the passport office in Kabul, with many people desperate to leave the country.
Afghans have been waiting for hours in long queues outside the passport office in Kabul, with many people desperate to leave the country.

Although supportive of a political solution to the conflict in Afghanistan, Mr Jalali has repeatedly pushed back against the Taliban's insurgency.

In a November tweet, he also claimed the US troop withdrawal announced by Donald Trump would send a "strategic message" to the Taliban, which would "complicate" the talks taking place between the government and the rebels at the time.


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