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Afghan Politicians Mark 5th Anniversary Of Marshal Fahim’s Death

Afghan politicians and hundreds of their supporters at a gathering in the Loya Jirga tent in Kabul marked the fifth anniversary of Marshal Mohammad Qasim Fahim, who was a prominent Jihadi leader and served as vice president during former President Hamid Karzai’s government. 

Five years ago, Marshal Fahim died on this day, 09th March 2014. His death anniversary is marked every year.  

Addressing the ceremony, Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah said Marshal Fahim was a peace-loving figure. 

He said a “just” peace is a priority for the Afghan government and the Afghan people. “Afghanistan will be a free country a day when there is no terrorist group and after that, there will be no need for foreign forces presence here,” he added.

Abdullah said all political leaders should come together and work for a sustainable peace in the country.

Former President Hamid Karzai said at the event that Afghans are supporting the ongoing efforts by the US for Afghan peace. 

He said efforts are underway in national level to move towards a lasting peace in which the achievements of the past years should be preserved.

Mohammad Karim Khalili, head of the High Peace Council, said there is a national consensus on peace in Afghanistan. “At least 200 Afghan youth are killed every day from both the sides of the war,” he said.

“We will not go back to a Taliban emirate,” Khalili said, adding that Afghans want peace with dignity. “Afghanistan has changed,” Khalili added.

Meanwhile, Abdul Rab Rasul Sayyaf, former Jihadi leader, said Afghans want peace with dignity and that everyone in the country is in favor of peace. 

“We want peace with dignity and we welcome everyone trying to reach a lasting peace in Afghanistan,” he added. “This government does not belong to (President Ashraf) Ghani, (Chief Executive Abdullah) Abdullah or (Second Vice President Mohammad Sarwar) Danish; it belongs to the Afghan people. We should maintain dignity of both the government and the people in (peace) negotiations.”

He called on presidential candidates to be cautious in their campaigns and consider the “sensitive” situation in the country.  

A Brief Look At Marshal Fahim’s Biography

Marshal Fahim was born in 1957 in Omraz, a small village in Panjshir province. 

He started his primary education in his birthplace and completed his studies in Islamic Sharia at Arabic Institute of Kabul.

He fled Afghanistan to Pakistan after the Sawr Revolution in 1978 and returned to Shegal area in Kunar province to fight the then Soviet troops.

Following the Sawr Revolution, Dr Najibullah took over as president in April 1978.

“A big part of the responsibilities was assigned to the Marshal. I think he lead the convoy in a good way and made big decisions in different occasions,” Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah said. 

“He had the thought and idea of struggle and liberation from his adolescence and it was with him from that time,” Atta Mohmmad Noor, CEO of Jamiat-e-Islami party, said. 

Fahim visited Panjshir in summer of 1979 to mobilize Mujahideen groups and become a commander for Ahmad Shah Masoud, the National Hero of Afghanistan.

After starting political activities with Mujahideen, he became a close and trusted aide to Massoud. 

In 1988, he was appointed as the general commander of Mujahideen in north of Kabul and in 1990 he visited Balkh, Jawzjan and Faryab provinces to mobilize more Mujahideen.

During their fight against Taliban, called as ‘Resistance’, Marshal Fahim played a vital role in Afghanistan and following Ahmad Shah Massoud's assassination in 2001, he became the leader of government and Resistance forces and came to Kabul with the assistance of international coalition forces in the same year.  

“He was an honest, determined and purposeful man,” former Jihadi leader Abdul Rab Rasul Sayyaf said. 

Fahim was defense minister during the interim government under Hamid Karzai and at that time,  he was entitled as Afghanistan’s Marshal. 

“He was always a defender of the national unity and was against discrimination and discord. He played a vital role in preserving Afghanistan's territory,” President Ashraf Ghani said. 

After the interim government, he was the first vice president during Hamid Karzai’s government until he died in 2014.

Marshal Fahim died at his home in Kabul in 2014 due to an illness when he was the first vice president of Afghanistan.

Afghan Politicians Mark 5th Anniversary Of Marshal Fahim’s Death

Afghan politicians said peace in Afghanistan was the only hope of Marshal Mohammad Qasim Fahim. 

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Afghan politicians and hundreds of their supporters at a gathering in the Loya Jirga tent in Kabul marked the fifth anniversary of Marshal Mohammad Qasim Fahim, who was a prominent Jihadi leader and served as vice president during former President Hamid Karzai’s government. 

Five years ago, Marshal Fahim died on this day, 09th March 2014. His death anniversary is marked every year.  

Addressing the ceremony, Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah said Marshal Fahim was a peace-loving figure. 

He said a “just” peace is a priority for the Afghan government and the Afghan people. “Afghanistan will be a free country a day when there is no terrorist group and after that, there will be no need for foreign forces presence here,” he added.

Abdullah said all political leaders should come together and work for a sustainable peace in the country.

Former President Hamid Karzai said at the event that Afghans are supporting the ongoing efforts by the US for Afghan peace. 

He said efforts are underway in national level to move towards a lasting peace in which the achievements of the past years should be preserved.

Mohammad Karim Khalili, head of the High Peace Council, said there is a national consensus on peace in Afghanistan. “At least 200 Afghan youth are killed every day from both the sides of the war,” he said.

“We will not go back to a Taliban emirate,” Khalili said, adding that Afghans want peace with dignity. “Afghanistan has changed,” Khalili added.

Meanwhile, Abdul Rab Rasul Sayyaf, former Jihadi leader, said Afghans want peace with dignity and that everyone in the country is in favor of peace. 

“We want peace with dignity and we welcome everyone trying to reach a lasting peace in Afghanistan,” he added. “This government does not belong to (President Ashraf) Ghani, (Chief Executive Abdullah) Abdullah or (Second Vice President Mohammad Sarwar) Danish; it belongs to the Afghan people. We should maintain dignity of both the government and the people in (peace) negotiations.”

He called on presidential candidates to be cautious in their campaigns and consider the “sensitive” situation in the country.  

A Brief Look At Marshal Fahim’s Biography

Marshal Fahim was born in 1957 in Omraz, a small village in Panjshir province. 

He started his primary education in his birthplace and completed his studies in Islamic Sharia at Arabic Institute of Kabul.

He fled Afghanistan to Pakistan after the Sawr Revolution in 1978 and returned to Shegal area in Kunar province to fight the then Soviet troops.

Following the Sawr Revolution, Dr Najibullah took over as president in April 1978.

“A big part of the responsibilities was assigned to the Marshal. I think he lead the convoy in a good way and made big decisions in different occasions,” Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah said. 

“He had the thought and idea of struggle and liberation from his adolescence and it was with him from that time,” Atta Mohmmad Noor, CEO of Jamiat-e-Islami party, said. 

Fahim visited Panjshir in summer of 1979 to mobilize Mujahideen groups and become a commander for Ahmad Shah Masoud, the National Hero of Afghanistan.

After starting political activities with Mujahideen, he became a close and trusted aide to Massoud. 

In 1988, he was appointed as the general commander of Mujahideen in north of Kabul and in 1990 he visited Balkh, Jawzjan and Faryab provinces to mobilize more Mujahideen.

During their fight against Taliban, called as ‘Resistance’, Marshal Fahim played a vital role in Afghanistan and following Ahmad Shah Massoud's assassination in 2001, he became the leader of government and Resistance forces and came to Kabul with the assistance of international coalition forces in the same year.  

“He was an honest, determined and purposeful man,” former Jihadi leader Abdul Rab Rasul Sayyaf said. 

Fahim was defense minister during the interim government under Hamid Karzai and at that time,  he was entitled as Afghanistan’s Marshal. 

“He was always a defender of the national unity and was against discrimination and discord. He played a vital role in preserving Afghanistan's territory,” President Ashraf Ghani said. 

After the interim government, he was the first vice president during Hamid Karzai’s government until he died in 2014.

Marshal Fahim died at his home in Kabul in 2014 due to an illness when he was the first vice president of Afghanistan.

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