Hamid Karzai
Hamid Karzai حامد کرزی Karzai speaking to journalists in Kabul after casting his vote in the 2014 Afghan presidential election President of Afghanistan In office 7 December 2004 – 29 September 2014 Acting: 22 December 2001 – 7 December 2004 Vice President Karim Khalili Mohammed Fahim Yunus Qanuni Preceded by Burhanuddin Rabbani Succeeded by Ashraf Ghani Personal details Born (1957-12-24) 24 December 1957 (age 57) Kandahar, Afghanistan Nationality Afghan Political party Independent Spouse(s) Zeenat Quraishi (1999–present) Children Mirwais Malalai Howsi Alma mater Himachal Pradesh University, India Religion Sunni Islam Hamid Karzai (Pashto: حامد کرزی , Persian: حامد کرزی , born 24 December 1957) served as President of Afghanistan for almost a decade, from 7 December 2004 to 29 September 2014. He comes from a politically active family, Karzai's father, uncle and grandfather were all active in Afghan politics and government. Karzai's father, Abdul Ahad Karzai, was the head of the Popalzai tribe of the Durrani tribal confederation. In the 1980's Karzai was active as a fundraiser for the Afghan mujahideen who were fighting to expel Soviet Union troops during the Soviet war in Afghanistan (1979-1989). After the Soviet withdrawal the Islamic State of Afghanistan was established and then it was replaced in 1996 when the Taliban came to power and established the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan. In July 1999 Karzai's father was assassinated and Karzai succeeded his father as head of the Popalzai tribe. In October 2001 the American invasion of Afghanistan began and Karzai became a dominant political figure after the removal of the Taliban regime in late 2001. During the December 2001 International Conference on Afghanistan in Germany, Karzai was selected by prominent Afghan political figures to serve a six-month term as Chairman of the Interim Administration. He was then chosen for a two-year term as Interim President during the 2002 loya jirga (grand assembly) that was held in Kabul, Afghanistan. After the 2004 presidential election, Karzai was declared winner and became President of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan. He won a second five-year term in the 2009 presidential election.