Brigadier General Zafar Khan

Brigadier General Zafar Khan (برید جنرال محمد ظفر خان) (born: in 1953(۱۳۳۲), Paktika, Afghanistan) is the Brigadier General of Uruzgan, Afghanistan. He was appointed for the post of Brigadier General of 4th Brigade, 205th Corps (Afghanistan) on 11 September 2010. He is currently holding the same post and is fond of 4th Brigade Soldiers and Sergeants co-operation.

Early life and Career
Zafar Khan son of Lt. Haji Shah Alam, an ethnic Pashtun was born in 1953(1332-Islamic Calendar) in Yahya Khel District of Paktika, Afghanistan. His father who loved him a lot, moved him to Kabul and admitted him to Harbi Shownzai(حربی ښوونځی) to train him for the post of an Army Officer. He passed out from Harbi Shownzai and headed for Harbi Puhantun(حربی پوهنتون). Besides his hardwork, the question of struggle for the achievement of scholarships to foreign countries rose in Harbi Puhantun(حربی پوهنتون) and he along with some of his comrades succeeded in achieving the scholarship. Thus, leading his way he left for Moscow and completed his further studies within 6–7 years.

As he completed his graduation, he returned from Moscow and enrolled himself in the course of Parachute-e Afghanistan and after all advanced to the Commando Course in Maslak-e Commando, Afghanistan. He totally finished 26 years of education and was finally offered the post of Commander of Company-sized units(Toli) in Harbi Puhantun(حربی پوهنتون) in 1976 and later on followed his other posts. In addition to that, he also added that he was a member of the Khalq faction of the People's Democratic Party of Afghanistan.

Involvement in the Coup of March, 1990 (۱۳۶۹ حوت)
On 8 March 1990(۱۳۶۹, ۱۵ حوت), Shahnawaz Tanai and his Army personnel with the help of mujahideen commander, Gulbuddin Hekmatyar launched a coup against the then Russian-backed President Mohammad Najibullah. As Najibullah was transferring all the privileges of the Army to the tribal militias and in particular to his special guard, this policy intensified Tanai for which he launched the coup.

President Najibuulah was a member of the Parcham faction of the Communist People's Democratic Party of Afghanistan (PDPA) whereas Defence Minister Shahnawaz Tanai was a member of the Khalq faction of the People's Democratic Party of Afghanistan. After launching the Coup, Tanai taking asylum in Bagram with Lieutenant General Zafar Khan(the Commander in charge of 40th Army Corps, Bagram Airfield and Military Base) and Abdul Qadir Aqa (Air Force Commander) ordered to air strike against Government Buildings. Hekmatyar also ordered his fighters to intensify their attacks against the Kabul regime in support of Tanai. The battle of 8 March 1990(۱۳۶۹, ۱۵ حوت) continued as the Khalq party attacked Kabul with 40th Army Corps from Bagram Base and the Parcham party continued attacks on Bagram Base with 8th Army Corps, Ministry of Defence for Govt., Republic Guard, and his own Guards. In the meanwhile Russians backed Najib with huge supplies and troops which resulted in the breakdown of Khalq Hizb.

After the Battle, 80 senior officers including Generals and Commanders have seemed to be dead, 27 Khalqi officers along with Hekmatyar and Tanai escaped to Pakistan and 127 Khalqi officers were sentenced to life imprisonment among which Lt. General Zafar Khan, General Abdul Wahab, Lt. General Aziz Rahman, Colonel Sadiq were some of the prisoners.

After the Coup, 1990
As Tanai failed with his unsuccessful attempt, Mohammad Najibulllah along with his guard and soldiers won the battle of 8 March 1990(۱۳۶۹, ۱۵ حوت). He appeared on TV at 10 p.m. the same night to prove that he was physically there and in effective control of the state apparatus. But after he survived the coup, there grew the increasing tensions of the shortage of fuel and food at the end of winter in 1992, as all his supplies have either been damaged or consumed by the people and soldiers.On April 16, having lost internal control, was forced to resign by his own ruling party, following the capture of the strategically important Bagram air base and the nearby town of Charikar, by the Jamiat-e Islami guerrilla group and overnight Najib's regime became weaker and collapsed in winter 1992. As the Mujaheedin commanders entered the Kabul streets, now the entire Govt. was under the control of Mujaheedin. Hazrat Saheb became the president and the prisoners under Najib's regime were released. After the release, the officers fled to foreign countries along with their family and the regime of Taliban started. But even today, out of 127 officers 50 of them are still maintaining positions in Afghan National Army(ANA).

Current Status
General Zafar Khan re-designated as a Commander of 4th Brigade, 205th Hero Corps in Uruzgan province, Afghanistan on 11 September 2010. He still gathers a wealth of experience and is expecting of getting higher posts in ANA. As told by the sergeant Nur Muhammad of 4th Brigade, there is a lot of progress in Afghan National Army bases in several district of the Uruzgan Province. With the assistance and cooperation of ANA soldiers, there have been a lot of improvement and discipline in Battalions(Kandaks), Company-sized units(Toli), Command Bases and even in the entire Brigade.

He also shares some of his views on the development of Afghan National Army(ANA).
 * Afghan National Army(ANA) soldiers and sergeants should be educated about Fighter Aircraft, Artillery and Modern Equipments evidently so that they can be able to defend against the insurgent activities. If not provided with proper equipments and knowledge it'll obviously fail to defend and protect the country.
 * The authority of defence from coalition forces should be transferred to Afghan National Army(ANA). The ANA and the Afghan National Police is quite capable to defend the county.
 * The ANA Soldiers and Commanders should be taught to maintain loyalty and discipline in their respective positions. Due to the lack of discipline many ANA soldiers who are disturbed having no options left proceed to desert.
 * Each Soldier, Sergeant and Commander should be made aware about their honorary posts and qualification. As frequent disrespect behavior among the team or with seniors causes a mess following which the entire Brigade is disturbed.