Afghan Biographies

Barialay, Atiqullah Gen


Name Barialay, Atiqullah Gen
Ethnic backgr. Tajik
Date of birth 1965
Function/Grade Ex deputy minister
History and Biodata

2. Previous Functions:
Deputy defense minister of the Northern Alliance (20011125)
Deputy defence minister Karzai Interim Government (20030424)

3. Biodata:
Atiq Ullah Baryalai was born 1965 in Northern Afghanistan. In 2010, he earned a master’s degree from the Royal College for  Defense Studies, London, UK. He graduated in international relations and development studies from the University of East Anglia, UK in 2011. A Tajik from Badakhshan who made his career as a military commander under the famed Northern Alliance leader Ahmed Shah Massoud, he has modeled himself after his well-respected mentor. He had been appointed by the central government as military leader of four northern provinces--Baghlan, Takhar, Badakhshan and Kunduz. He blamed the notorious Uzbek Gen. Abdul Rashid Dostum--to whose territory the remaining Taliban fled--for fomenting the violence.(20021102)

Lt. Gen Baryalai, after joining the Jihad against the Soviet Army in 1982, was promoted to Brigadier General in 1997 and served as the Acting Head of National Guard’s High Command after which, in 2002, he served as Major General  and was Deputy Defense Minister (Weapons and Technology). From 2002 to 2004, he served again as Deputy Defense  Minister and Commander of the North-Eastern Front against the Taliban and al Qaida. He also headed the Disarmament Demobilization and Re-integration Commission (DDR), Revival and Rebuilding of National Army Commission and Reform Committee of the Ministry of Defense.

According to aides in both camps, Abdullah insists that former deputy defence minister, Atiqullah Baryalai, be made army chief of army staff. But Ghani did not agree.(20150417)

Atiqullah Baryalai, a former deputy defence minister, Jamiat-e Islami commander and is now a frequent commentator on strategic issues. (20160529)

Last Modified 2020-06-02
Established 2015-04-17