Mohammad Aslam Watanjar

Mohammad Aslam Watanjar
Minister of Defence
In office 6 March 1990 – April 1992
Preceded by	Shahnawaz Tanai
Succeeded by	Ahmad Shah Massoud
In office April – 28 July 1979
Preceded by	Abdul Qadir
Succeeded by	Hafizullah Amin
Minister of Internal Affairs
In office 15 November 1988 – 6 March 1990
Preceded by	Sayed Mohammad Gulabzoy
Succeeded by	Raz Muhammad Paktin
In office 28 July – 14 September 1979
Preceded by	Sherjan Mazdoryar
Succeeded by	Faqir Mohammad Faqir
In office 8 July 1978 – 1979
Preceded by	Nur Ahmad Nur
Succeeded by	Sherjan Mazoryar
Minister of Communications
In office 10 January 1980 – 1988
Preceded by	Mohammad Zarif
Succeeded by	Unknown
In office 30 April 1978 – July 1978
Preceded by	Abdul Karim Attayee
Succeeded by	Sayed Mohammad Gulabzoy
Personal details
Born	1951 Khost Province, Afghanistan
Died	24 November 2000 Odessa, Ukraine
Political party	People's Democratic Party of Afghanistan
Profession	Military officer

Mohammad Aslam Watanjar (1946 – 24 November 2000) was an Afghan general and politician. He played a significant role in the coup in 1978 that killed the Afghan president Mohammad Daud Khan and started the "Saur Revolution". Watanjar later became a member of the politburo in the Soviet-backed Democratic Republic of Afghanistan, playing prominent roles in the communist coup as well as the coup that overthrew the constitutional monarchy.

An Andar Ghilzai Pashtun from Zurmula in Paktia, Watanjar trained as a tank officer in the Soviet Union following his graduation from the Military Academy in Kabul.

Watanjar's role in the communist coup of 1978 was important. Instructed by Hafizullah Amin, he initiated the march of tank forces from the motorized forces of numbers 4 and 15 near Pul-e-Charkhi against the government.

Colonel Aslam Watanjar was the Army commander on the ground during the Coup, and his troops gained control of Kabul. Colonel Abdul Qadir, the leader of the Air Force squadrons, also launched a major attack on the Royal Palace, in the course of which Mohammed Daoud Khan was killed.

Colonel Watanjar was also in charge of the announcement over Radio Kabul, in the Pashtu language, that a Revolutionary Council of the Armed Forces had been established, with Colonel Abdul Qadir at its head. The council's initial statement of principles, issued late in the evening of April 27, was a noncommittal affirmation of Islamic, democratic, and non-aligned ideals.

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