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Abdullah Abdullah

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Abdullah Abdullah
Dr. Abdullah Abdullah at the Pentagon in 2004
Born(1960-09-05)September 5, 1960
Kabul, Afghanistan
Alma materKabul Medical University
Known forForeign minister of Afghanistan
Websitewww.drabdullah.af

Abdullah Abdullah, M.D. (Persian: عبدالله عبدالله) (born September 5,[citation needed] 1960[1]) is a politician in Afghanistan with formal training and experience in medicine. He is running as an independent candidate in the 2009 Afghan presidential election and is currently in second with 30.5% of the total votes, pending a run off election November 7.

Early life

Abdullah was born in Kabul, Afghanistan. Like most Afghans, he was raised in a devout Muslim family. Abdullah's father is of Pashtun ethnicity while his mother is Tajik.[2][3] His father, Ghullam Muhayuddin Khan, was from the Kandahar region, and was a high ranking government official who had risen through the ranks. Abdullah's early years were split between living in Kandahar and Kabul where his father was serving as an administrator in the land survey and subsequently the inspection section of the Prime Minister’s office. A number of his ancestors had worked in the court of the royal house of Afghanistan in past centuries, except for the period of the Musahibans[citation needed].

Eventually, Abdullah’s family settled in Kabul where his father was appointed as an elected senator by King Zahir Shah. Abdullah’s father had a great impact on his life and future as a role model who taught him a lot about the value and importance of public work. At the early age of 6 or 7, Abdullah started learning a great deal about Islam, Qur’an, and Persian Literature and Poetry of Sufi masters such as Hafez, Saadi, and Maulana-i-Balkhi (known as Rumi) from his father.[citation needed]

Education

Abdullah was a top student throughout his elementary and high school years. He graduated from Naderia High School in 1976 and went on to study ophthalmology at Kabul University’s Department of Medicine where he graduated at the top of his class and received his M.D. degree in 1983.[4]

Medical career

After receiving his degree, Abdullah served as the resident ophthalmologist at Noor Eye Institute in Kabul until 1985. Starting in 1985, Abdullah left the country due to the social and political unrest during the leftist government and went on to work at the Syed Jamaluddin Afghani Eye Hospital for Afghan Refugees in Peshawar, Pakistan.

In September 1985 Abdullah became the Head of the Health Department for the Panjshir Resistance Front.

Soviet war in Afghanistan

In 1986 Abdullah became a close associate and advisor to Commander Ahmad Shah Massoud in the Soviet war in Afghanistan.[5]

Islamic State of Afghanistan

In 1995 Abdullah became the Spokesperson for the Islamic State of Afghanistan. Following the capture of Kabul by the Taliban in 1996, the United Islamic Front for the Salvation of Afghanistan (also known as the Northern Alliance) was created. Abdullah became the group's Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs in September 1997.

Taliban Era

During the Taliban era, Abdullah was one of the few English-speaking people in the so-called Northern Alliance, the anti-Taliban movement headed by Ahmad Shah Massoud and Burhanuddin Rabbani. The Northern Alliance was Afghanistan's internationally recognized government at that time, and Abdullah served as the country's official foreign minister.

Interim Government of Afghanistan

See also: Bonn Agreement (Afghanistan) and 2001 in Afghanistan

As a result of Bonn conference on Afghanistan, Abdullah was appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Interim Administration in December 2001. On June 11, 2002, there was an emergency loya jirga, held on the grounds of Kabul Polytechnic. As a result, Abdullah was reconfirmed as Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Transitional Islamic State of Afghanistan.

Islamic Republic of Afghanistan

Following the 2004 Afghanistan Presidential Elections, Abdullah was one of the few people who kept their position from the Transitional Government and was re-appointed as Minister of Foreign Affairs.[6]

Massoud foundation

Abdullah has been the Secretary General of the Massoud Foundation since June 2006.

2009 Afghan presidential campaign

On May 6, 2009, Abdullah registered as an Independent candidate for the 2009 Afghan presidential election. He has selected Humayun Shah Asefi as his First Vice President and Dr Cheragh Ali Cheragh (a Shia Hazara[citation needed] surgeon from Kabul) as his Second Vice President. Uncertified results on September 16, 2009, showed Abdullah Abdullah in second, with 27.8% votes.[7]

References

  1. ^ Official website of Dr. Abdullah
  2. ^ http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/afghanistan/6018945/Afghan-election-Hamid-Karzais-rival-Abdullah-Abdullah-crosses-ethnic-divide.html
  3. ^ "Poll shows Afghan vote headed for second round". Reuters. 2009-08-14. Retrieved 2009-08-15.
  4. ^ "The Transition to Democracy in Afghanistan and the Challenges Ahead". Council on Foreign Relations. October 17, 2002. Retrieved 2009-05-15.
  5. ^ "Profile: Abdullah Abdullah". BBC News. 22 March 2006. Retrieved 2009-05-15.
  6. ^ "Afghan President Karzai appoints new cabinet". Pakistan Times. 24 December 2004. Retrieved 2009-05-15.
  7. ^ "Why Karzai's Rival Abdullah Won't Budge on Runoff". Time. Retrieved 2009-09-21.
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