Hamid Karzai

by Tony Cross

Article published on the 2009-08-09 Latest update 2009-08-12 08:19 TU

Hamid Karzai
(Photo: AFP)

Hamid Karzai, 53, is a Pashtun and the incumbent President of Afghanistan.

1956: Born near Kandahar, father a royalist politician.

1976: Travels to India to study international relations and politics at Simla University, India.

1983: Moves to Pakistan, having obtained a degree; joins anti-Soviet forces in Pakistan.

1985: Director of Information for Sebghatullah Mujadidi’s National Liberation Front.

1992-1994: Deputy Foreign Minister in for the Islamic State of Afghanistan during the post-Soviet war between mujahedeen factions.

1995-1998: Works with Taliban, later breaking with them and refusing to serve as their UN ambassador.

2001: Suffers injuries from a friendly fire attack by a US missile while fighting the Taliban; flown out Afghanistan by Americans; named Chairman of the Interim Authority at the Bonn conference on Afghanistan.

2002: Survives assassination attempt.

2004: Elected President of Afghanistan, with 55.4 per cent of votes and a majority in 21 of 34 provinces, defeating 22 opponents, survives assassination attempt.

2007: Admits to having met Taliban; survives assassination attempt, offers peace talks to Taliban.

2008: Survives assassination attempt.

2009: Tries, unsuccessfully, to advance election debate to April. Stands to be reelected President of Afghanistan.