Abdul Raof Arghandiwal

Abdul Raof Arghandiwal
Born	1974 (age 50–51) Tishkan District, Badakhshan Province, Afghanistan
Allegiance	Afghanistan
Branch	Afghan National Army
Rank	Major General
Unit	207th Corps
Commands	• 2nd Battalion, 111th Division • 207th Corps, Herat

Abdul Raof Arghandiwal (born 1974) is a former officer of the Afghan National Army who held the rank of Major General. He served as commander of the 207th Corps in Herat, Afghanistan, and earlier commanded the 2nd Battalion of the 111th Division. ^{[1] [2]}

Early life and education

Arghandiwal was born in 1974 in Tishkan District, Badakhshan Province. He attended the U.S. Marine Corps Command and Staff College, graduating in 2011. ^[3]

Military career

Command of the 2nd Battalion

In 2013, Arghandiwal commanded the 2nd Battalion of the 111th Army Division during operations in Wardoj District, Badakhshan. The campaign sought to remove terrorist groups, including the Taliban, from the area. ^{[4] [5]}

Command of the 207th Corps

Arghandiwal later served as commander of the 207th Corps, based in Herat. During this period, he was involved in overseeing security operations in western Afghanistan. ^{[6] [7]} Following the U.S. withdrawal in 2021, he was cited in reports regarding Russian efforts to recruit former Afghan special forces. ^{[8] [9] [10]}

Chief of Staff

Arghandiwal also served as Chief of Staff to the Afghan Minister of Defense. ^[11]

Contributions to Afghan security

As a senior officer, Arghandiwal held leadership roles during a period of heightened conflict in Afghanistan, particularly in the western provinces. ^[12]

References

1. "Database". www.afghan-bios.info. Retrieved 2025-09-24.
2. Press, Khaama (2021-02-13). "Military General warns of 'bloody spring' ahead". Khaama Press. Retrieved 2025-09-24.
3. "Database". www.afghan-bios.info. Retrieved 2025-09-24.
4. "ANSF Clears Badakshan District of Insurgents". TOLOnews. Retrieved 2025-09-24.
5. Hamdard, Hidayatullah (2013-10-30). "ANA battalion deployed to Warduj" . Retrieved 2025-09-24.
6. "Taliban Prisoners Have Returned to Battlefields: Govt". TOLOnews. Retrieved 2025-09-24.
7. Omar, By. "Newly trained Afghan soldiers vow to destroy enemies of the country". Salaam Times. Retrieved 2025-09-24.
8. "Russia Recruiting US-Trained Afghan Commandos, Former Generals Say". www.voanews.com. Retrieved 2025-09-24.
9. Press, Associated (2022-10-31). "Russia recruiting Afghan special forces who fought with US to fight in Ukraine". The Guardian. ISSN   0261-3077 . Retrieved 2025-09-24.
10. AP. "Russia recruiting US-trained Afghan commandos for Ukraine: Report". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 2025-09-24.
11. roxanna (2021-08-21). "The Taleban's rise to power: As the US prepared for peace, the Taleban prepared for war". Afghanistan Analysts Network - English (in Pashto). Retrieved 2025-09-24.
12. "مقام‌های ارتش در غرب: نظامیان آماده سرکوب طالبان استند". طلوع‌نیوز (in Persian). Retrieved 2025-09-24.