Mohammad Zahir Aghbar
Mohammad Zahir Aghbar | |
|---|---|
محمد ظاهر اغبر | |
 Aghbar in 2011 | |
| Ambassador of Afghanistan to Tajikistan | |
| Assumed office 20 February 2020 | |
| President | Ashraf Ghani |
| Preceded by | Zalmai Younusi |
| 1st and 3rd President of the Afghanistan National Olympic Committee | |
| In office 14 September 2015 – 5 April 2018 | |
| Preceded by | Fahim Hashimy |
| Succeeded by | Hafizullah Wali Rahimi |
| In office 28 September 2009 – 30 April 2014 | |
| Preceded by | Office established |
| Succeeded by | Fahim Hashimy |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1964 (age 59–60) Nangarhar Province, Kingdom of Afghanistan |
| Police career | |
| Allegiance |  Afghanistan |
| Department |  Afghan National Police |
| Rank | Lieutenant general |
Mohammad Zahir Aghbar (Pashto/Dari: محمد ظاهر اغبر; also spelled Akhbar) (born 1964), is an Afghan diplomat and former law enforcement official. He currently serves as Afghanistan's ambassador to Tajikistan and has also claimed the title of acting First Vice President of Afghanistan.[1]
Early life
[edit]Zahir Aghbar was born in 1964 in Nangarhar Province.[2]
Law enforcement career
[edit]As the chief of the Afghan National Police,[3] Aghbar held the rank of lieutenant general.
Afghanistan National Olympic Committee
[edit]
Aghbar served as the head of the Afghanistan National Olympic Committee from 2009[2] until the election of Fahim Hashimy in 2014.[4] During this time, he supported Abdullah Abdullah's 2014 presidential campaign,[2] including protests against the result,[5] and later served as his security advisor.
After Hashimy's resignation as committee head the next year, Aghbar was again elected head of the committee, to the displeasure of Hashimy, who declared the results null and void.[6] After a government inquiry agreed with his rival, Aghbar then led a march on Kabul.[2]
After the march,[7] he withdrew from consideration as president in 2017,[8] paving the way for Hafizullah Wali Rahimi to be elected in 2018.
Diplomatic career
[edit]Aghbar's diplomatic career began in 2018, when he was appointed consul-general in Germany. He later became the Afghan ambassador to Tajikistan, presenting his diplomatic credentials on February 20, 2020.[9]
Taliban offensive
[edit]After the fall of Kabul to the Taliban in August 2021, Aghbar joined the Panjshir resistance.[10] He also decried the flight of Ashraf Ghani, called for his arrest for allegedly absconding with some $169 million US dollars,[11] and stated that "Panjshir stands strong against anyone who wants to enslave people."[3] Aghbar claimed Ghani “stole $169m from the state coffers” and called for Interpol to arrest not only Ghani, but also Ghani's two aides Hamdallah Moheb and Fazl Mahmoud Fazli for stealing public funds.[1][11][12]
In an interview with Eurasianet, Aghbar stated his resolve to keep working, even for no pay, and further claimed that Ghani "had a prior agreement with the Taliban".[13]
He was also given the title of Deputy President to acting Afghanistan President Amrullah Saleh.[citation needed]
References
[edit]- ^ a b Schnell, Mychael (18 August 2021). "Afghan ambassador says Ghani stole millions, calls for arrest". The Hill. Retrieved 21 August 2021.
- ^ a b c d Johnson, Thomas H.; Adamec, Ludwig W. (2021-05-15). Historical Dictionary of Afghanistan. Rowman & Littlefield. p. 54. ISBN 978-1-5381-4929-4.
- ^ a b "Afghan envoy says hold-out Panjshir province can resist Taliban rule". Reuters. 2021-08-18. Retrieved 2021-08-19.
- ^ Butler, Nick (2014-05-01). ""We want to produce a world class organisation", says new Afghanistan National Olympic Committee chief". Inside the Games. Retrieved 2021-08-19.
- ^ Ahmed, Azam (2014-06-27). "Afghan Candidate and Thousands of Supporters Continue Protests". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2021-08-19.
- ^ Butler, Nick (18 September 2015). "Exclusive: Former Afghanistan National Olympic Committee President hits out after rival is elected". Inside the Games. Retrieved 2021-08-19.
- ^ Nordland, Rod (2016-04-26). "Afghan Women, Eager to Play, Are Relegated to the Sidelines". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2021-08-19.
- ^ Seddiqi, Mir Saeed (2017-02-13). "Aghbar Withdraws As Candidate In Olympic Committee Election". TOLO News. Retrieved 2021-08-19.
- ^ "Afghanistan Ambassador presents his credentials to Tajik Foreign Minister". AKIpress. 2020-02-24. Retrieved 2021-08-19.
- ^ Rosenberg, Matthew; Kramer, Andrew E. (2021-08-18). "An old bastion of anti-Taliban sentiment is girding for a new fight". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2021-08-19.
- ^ a b "Ghani denies taking large sums of money as he fled Afghanistan". Al Jazeera. 2021-08-18. Retrieved 2021-08-19.
- ^ "Afghan embassy in Tajikistan requests Interpol to detain Ashraf Ghani". Report Wire. 18 August 2021. Retrieved 21 August 2021.
- ^ Ibragimova, Kamila (2021-08-18). "Interview: Afghanistan's ambassador to Tajikistan rejects Taliban rule". Eurasianet. Retrieved 2021-08-19.