Sultan Ali Keschtmand

Sultan Ali Keschtmand (also Kishtmand , born  May 22, 1935 near Kabul ) is a former Afghan politician . He served as Prime Minister twice: from 1981 to 1988 and from 1989 to 1990 in the Soviet-backed Democratic Republic of Afghanistan (1978-1992).

Keschtmand is a member of the Hazara ethnic group . He studied economics at the University of Kabul . After becoming a member of the Socialist People's Democratic Party of Afghanistan , he joined the moderate Partschami faction within the DVPA, which was led by Babrak Karmal . Immediately after the coup d'état on April 27, 1978, the DVPA became the ruling party under the leadership of Nur Muhammad Taraki . Karmal became Deputy Prime Minister, Keschtmand Minister of Planning. But in August 1978 he lost his post again when the radical Chalq faction within the DVPA under Taraki gained absolute political influence. Keschtmand was arrested and charged with conspiracy against Prime Minister Taraki. He remained in custody, was sentenced to death and pardoned to 15 years in prison. He and some of his party comrades experienced torture while in detention.

On December 25, 1979, Soviet troops invaded Afghanistan, Babrak Karmal was appointed president of Moscow, and Keschtmand was released. He returned to the Politburo of the DVPA and in 1980 followed the deposed Asadullah Sarwari in the office of Prime Minister (1981–1988 and 1989–1990). He then became Vice President from 1990 to 1991. Shortly before the fall of the socialist regime, he was dismissed. He left Afghanistan first for Russia , then for Great Britain . Since then he has stood up for the rights of the Hazaras against the majority of the Pashtuns . He also published a book called Yaad daaschthaaye Syaasi wa Rooyidaadhaaye Taarichi (Political Notes and Historical Events ), an account of the 1979-1991 era with autobiographical elements.