Abdul Rahim Ghafoorzai
Encyclopedia
Abdul Rahim Ghafoorzai was a politician and diplomat of Afghanistan
. He was an ethnic Pashtun
, a member of the Mohammadzai tribe. During the 1970s he entered the Afghan foreign service. He was sent to the United States to represent the political administration supported by the Soviet Union. As the Ambassador to the UN, Mr. Ghafoorzai thought it his duty to call on the global partners to denounce the Soviet invasion in 1979. From then until 1992, he worked as a representative official to trigger international support against the regime that the Soviets had set up in Afghanistan. When the communist government fell in 1992, Ghafoorzai acted as an intermediary to unite the factions of Afghanistan. He worked in the United Nations
until 1995, and then became deputy foreign minister. He became foreign minister
in July 1996. in September 1996 the government troops withdored from Kabul and the Taliban captured Afghanistan's capital, Kabul
, The International community did not recognize the Taliban as Afghanistan legitimate government except Pakistan, United Arab Emirates
and Saudi Arabia
, the Islamic State of Afghanistan
government established the new cabinet in Mazar e Sharif in the north of Afghanistan, meanwhile the Afghanistan Embassies and the Permanent Mission of Afghanistan to the United Nations was in control of Islamic State of Afghanistan as legitimate representative of Afghanistan. Ghafoorzai continued as Afghanistan Foreign Minister until August 11, 1997, just 10 days before his death, he was appointed prime minister
of the Islamic State of Afghanistan government. He was killed in a plane crash in Bamyan Province when he was going to negotiate to form his cabinet with their allies.
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
. He was an ethnic Pashtun
Pashtun people
Pashtuns or Pathans , also known as ethnic Afghans , are an Eastern Iranic ethnic group with populations primarily between the Hindu Kush mountains in Afghanistan and the Indus River in Pakistan...
, a member of the Mohammadzai tribe. During the 1970s he entered the Afghan foreign service. He was sent to the United States to represent the political administration supported by the Soviet Union. As the Ambassador to the UN, Mr. Ghafoorzai thought it his duty to call on the global partners to denounce the Soviet invasion in 1979. From then until 1992, he worked as a representative official to trigger international support against the regime that the Soviets had set up in Afghanistan. When the communist government fell in 1992, Ghafoorzai acted as an intermediary to unite the factions of Afghanistan. He worked in the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
until 1995, and then became deputy foreign minister. He became foreign minister
Foreign minister
A Minister of Foreign Affairs, or foreign minister, is a cabinet minister who helps form the foreign policy of a sovereign state. The foreign minister is often regarded as the most senior ministerial position below that of the head of government . It is often granted to the deputy prime minister in...
in July 1996. in September 1996 the government troops withdored from Kabul and the Taliban captured Afghanistan's capital, Kabul
Kabul
Kabul , spelt Caubul in some classic literatures, is the capital and largest city of Afghanistan. It is also the capital of the Kabul Province, located in the eastern section of Afghanistan...
, The International community did not recognize the Taliban as Afghanistan legitimate government except Pakistan, United Arab Emirates
United Arab Emirates
The United Arab Emirates, abbreviated as the UAE, or shortened to "the Emirates", is a state situated in the southeast of the Arabian Peninsula in Western Asia on the Persian Gulf, bordering Oman, and Saudi Arabia, and sharing sea borders with Iraq, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, and Iran.The UAE is a...
and Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia , commonly known in British English as Saudi Arabia and in Arabic as as-Sa‘ūdiyyah , is the largest state in Western Asia by land area, constituting the bulk of the Arabian Peninsula, and the second-largest in the Arab World...
, the Islamic State of Afghanistan
Islamic State of Afghanistan
The Islamic State of Afghanistan was the name of the state of Afghanistan after the collapse of the communist regime, the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan, in 1992. In 1996, the country was renamed the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan by the Taliban, after seizing control of the majority of the...
government established the new cabinet in Mazar e Sharif in the north of Afghanistan, meanwhile the Afghanistan Embassies and the Permanent Mission of Afghanistan to the United Nations was in control of Islamic State of Afghanistan as legitimate representative of Afghanistan. Ghafoorzai continued as Afghanistan Foreign Minister until August 11, 1997, just 10 days before his death, he was appointed prime minister
Prime minister
A prime minister is the most senior minister of cabinet in the executive branch of government in a parliamentary system. In many systems, the prime minister selects and may dismiss other members of the cabinet, and allocates posts to members within the government. In most systems, the prime...
of the Islamic State of Afghanistan government. He was killed in a plane crash in Bamyan Province when he was going to negotiate to form his cabinet with their allies.