| Biography of Mohammad Fahim |
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Mohammad Fahim Qasim was born in the Umarz villay of Panjsher Province in 1957. After completing primary education at his birthplace, he pursued his secondary studies in Islamic Sharia at Kabul’s Arabic Studies Institute. With the communist coup in 1978, Mr. Fahim took his family to Pakistan and, after ensuring their safety, came back to Afghanistan to join the Mujahedeen in Kunar province and started his struggle against the Soviet-backed regime. In the same year, Mr. Fahim went to Panjsher and along with the late Ahmad Shah Masoud and founded the Mujahideen Association in Panjsher. As a commander of the Mujahideen, he was essential for the operational expansion throughout Afghanistan. In 1987, Mr. Fahim was appointed General Commander of the Mujahiddin in the north. After the Soviet withdrawal of Afghanistan and the formation of the Mujahideen Transitional Government, Mr. Fahim returned to Kabul and was appointed as the Minister for the National Security. With the emergency of Taliban and its supporters, Mr. Fahim left Kabul and began his resistance as a General Commander of the North under the late Ahmad Shah Massoud. He served in this position until the assassination of Ahmad Shah Massoud on Septermber 9, 2001. With the Bonn Conference and the beginning of the Interim Administration, Mr. Fahim was appointed Vice-President and Minister of Defense. In April 2002 he was granted the title of Marshall, the most senior title in the Afghan military, for his achievements and dedication towards Afghanistan. Mr. Fahim is also recipient of the Ahmad Shah Abdali Medal. Marshall Fahim is fluent in Dari, Pashto and Arabic. He is married and resides with his family in Kabul. |
