Mohammad Aslam Watanjar

Colonel general
Aslam Watanjar
Aslam Watanjar in the 1980s
Minister of Defence
In office
6 March 1990  April 1992
PresidentMohammad Najibullah
Preceded byShahnawaz Tanai
Succeeded byAhmad Shah Massoud
In office
31 March  28 July 1979
PresidentHafizullah Amin
Preceded byAbdul Qadir
Succeeded byHafizullah Amin
Minister of Internal Affairs
In office
15 November 1988  6 March 1990
PresidentMohammad Najibullah
Preceded bySayed Mohammad Gulabzoy
Succeeded byRaz Muhammad Paktin
In office
28 July 1979  19 September 1979
Preceded bySherjan Mazdoryar
Succeeded byVacant
In office
11 July 1978  1 April 1979
Preceded byNur Ahmad Nur
Succeeded bySherjan Mazoryar
Minister of Communications
In office
10 January 1980  1988
Preceded byMohammad Zarif
Succeeded byUnknown
In office
30 April 1978  July 1978
Preceded byAbdul Karim Attayee
Succeeded bySayed Mohammad Gulabzoy
Personal details
Born1946
Paktia Province, Kingdom of Afghanistan
Died24 November 2000(2000-11-24) (aged 53–54)
Odesa, Ukraine
Political partyPeople's Democratic Party of Afghanistan
ProfessionMilitary officer
Politician
Nickname“The Yeti”
Military service
Allegiance Democratic Republic of Afghanistan
Branch/service Afghan Army
Years of service1967–1992
Rank Colonel General
Commands4th Tank Brigade
Battles/wars

Mohammad Aslam Watanjar (Dari/Pashto: محمداسلم وطنجار, 1946 – November 2000) was an Afghan military officer and politician. He played a significant role in the coup in 1978 that killed the Afghan President Mohammad Daoud Khan, starting the Saur Revolution. Watanjar later became a member of the politburo in the Soviet-backed Democratic Republic of Afghanistan.