Editing Mohammad Qasim Fahim (section)

==Careers==
When the Soviet-backed Afghan government collapsed in 1992, Fahim became a key member in the new government. He was appointed head of the Afghan intellgicence service [[KHAD]], under interim president [[Sibghatullah Mojaddedi]]. He continued to serve as the country's head of intelligence under president [[Burhanuddin Rabbani]].<ref name="contemporary afghanistan">{{cite book |last=Bhatia |first=Shyam |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=psjHxAuiL78C&q=fahim%20marshal&pg=PA43 |title=Contemporary Afghanistan |publisher=Har-Anand Publications |year=2003 |isbn=9788124109014 |format=Book |quote=pages 43–44 |access-date=14 December 2008}}</ref><ref name="the garudian">{{cite news |last=Oliver |first=Mark |last2=Brown |first2=Derek |date=3 December 2001 |title=Who's Who in Afghanistan? |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2001/dec/03/afghanistan.terrorism |access-date=16 December 2008 |work=The Guaridan |location=London}}</ref>

In 1996, Fahim personally offered to evacuate former President [[Mohammad Najibullah]], then in custody in Kabul, from the advancing [[Taliban]] forces, but Najibullah refused to be evacuated and was captured and executed by a Taliban mob.<ref>[http://store.eiu.com/article/1553659355.html Political scene: Dr Najibullah made a fatal mistake] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110710173802/http://store.eiu.com/article/1553659355.html |date=10 July 2011 }}, EIU, 11 November 1996</ref> Fahim continued to serve as head of the Intelligence and Minister of National Security of the internationally recognised [[United Islamic Front]] Government, even when it was ousted and the Taliban took the power over most provinces of Afghanistan in the second half of the 1990s.<ref name=NST>{{cite news|title=Legendary Afghan Rebel Dies|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=nqktAAAAIBAJ&sjid=fHgFAAAAIBAJ&pg=4856,2670890&dq=mohammad-fahim&hl=en|access-date=7 March 2012|newspaper=New Straits Times|date=15 September 2001}}</ref> During this time of Taliban rule in Afghanistan Fahim was active as military commander for the United Islamic Front in the north of Afghanistan, especially in Panjshir and [[Mazar-i-Sharif]].<ref name=Telegraph100314 />

===As Defense Minister===
On 9 September 2001, Ahmad Shah Massoud, Afghanistan's most important resistance leader and Defense Minister of the ousted but international recognized government, was assassinated by [[al-Qaeda]] operatives posing as journalists. Two days later, Fahim was confirmed as the new defence minister of the United Islamic Front (Northern Alliance), succeeding Massoud. Fahim was a close ally and protégé of Massoud.<ref name=telegraph061201>{{cite news|last=Warren|first=Marcus|title=New faces take over from the old guard|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/afghanistan/1364535/New-faces-take-over-from-the-old-guard.html|access-date=18 March 2012|newspaper=The Telegraph|date=6 December 2001}}</ref>

In the wake of building pressure of the US against the Taliban regime after [[September 11 attacks|September 11, 2001]], as general commander of the mujahideen resistance forces, Fahim became America's main proxy in the fight against the Taliban.<ref name=Telegraph100314 /> He was anxious to start a military offensive and even pledged to launch an attack against the Taliban, without waiting for US military action, saying: "Today we have a chance to defeat the Taliban and the terrorists, and we will use it whatever the cost."<ref name=breakingnewsie>{{cite news|title=Afghan opposition threaten attack before US|url=http://www.breakingnews.ie/world/afghan-opposition-threaten-attack-before-us-25715.html|access-date=7 March 2012|newspaper=Breaking News.ie|date=5 October 2001}}</ref> On 7 October, the day the US started bombing Taliban targets, he proclaimed an offensive on the northern and western fronts.<ref name=ITAR>{{cite news|title=Afghan Northern Alliance commander calls for uprising against "split" Taleban|url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=NewsLibrary&p_multi=BBAB&d_place=BBAB&p_theme=newslibrary2&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0F97A55A292073D5&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM|access-date=7 March 2012|newspaper=ITAR-TASS news agency|date=7 October 2001}}</ref>

On October, 20, a US team of [[Special Forces (United States Army)|Green Beret]]s landed in Afghanistan and teamed up with Fahim. On 30 October, Fahim met with American General [[Tommy Franks]] where they discussed the idea to launch the first major strike of the war against Mazar-e-Sharif, a city that Fahim a month earlier named as the first city that he would conquer.<ref>Chipman, Don. "Air power and the Battle for Mazar e Sharif", Spring 2003</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=A Nation Challenged: The Alliance; Afghan Rebels Seem a Reluctant Force So Far|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2001/11/04/world/a-nation-challenged-the-alliance-afghan-rebels-seem-a-reluctant-force-so-far.html|access-date=7 March 2012|newspaper=The New York Times|date=4 November 2001|author=[[Dexter Filkins]]|author2=[[David S. Rohde|David Rohde]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Hatoum|first=Bassam|title=Taliban claim US Bombing damages hospital|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=liovAAAAIBAJ&sjid=oNwFAAAAIBAJ&pg=1290,54479&dq=mohammad+fahim&hl=en|access-date=7 March 2012|agency=Associated Press|date=1 November 2001}}</ref>

Mazar-e Sharif [[Fall of Mazar-i-Sharif|was captured]] by opposition forces on 9 and 10 November and only a few days later, the Taliban evacuated Kabul. US President [[George W. Bush]] had requested that opposition forces would not enter the city before a new, broad-based, multi-ethnic government was formed. But Fahim went into the city with a group of specially trained security personnel, although he made sure to leave the main body of his troops outside the city.<ref name=Times-Union1311>{{cite news|title=Kabul|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=O7c_AAAAIBAJ&sjid=AlcMAAAAIBAJ&pg=6141,2389660&dq=mohammed+fahim&hl=en|access-date=10 March 2012|newspaper=Times-Union|date=13 November 2001}}</ref>

At the end of November, forces loyal to Fahim captured the city of [[Kunduz]]. That brought Fahim in charge of two of the five biggest cities, since other main cities were captured by militias of [[Gul Agha Sherzai]] and [[Hamid Karzai]] (Kandahar), [[Ismail Khan]] (Herat) en [[Abdul Rashid Dostum]] (Mazar-e-Sharif).

In the first days after the fall of Kabul, a supreme military council, headed by Fahim, was set up to administer the captured parts of the country.<ref name=KOMOnews>{{cite news|title=Factions Asked To Join Together in Post-Taliban Afghanistan|url=http://komonews.com/archive/factions-asked-to-join-together-in-post-taliban-afghanistan|access-date=22 July 2016|newspaper=KOMO News|date=13 November 2001}}</ref> The military council gave itself a three-month mandate in which they proclaimed not to hand over the power to United Islamic Front president [[Burhanuddin Rabbani]].<ref name=Manillanews>{{cite news|title=Ousted Afghan President won't go back yet|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=95kVAAAAIBAJ&sjid=mAsEAAAAIBAJ&pg=2366,1691316&dq=mohammad+fahim&hl=en|access-date=17 March 2012|newspaper=Manila Standard|date=16 November 2001}}</ref>

===Formation of an interim government in Bonn===
[[File:Vladimir Putin 22 October 2001-2.jpg|thumb|Marshal Fahim (center) standing next to former Afghan President [[Burhanuddin Rabbani]] and [[President of Russia|Russian President]] [[Vladimir Putin]] in October 2001.]]
During these three months, the international community sponsored a [[Bonn Conference|conference on Afghanistan in Bonn]] to decide about the future leadership of the country. With crucial US military help, the opposition forces had captured virtually all of Afghanistan from the Taliban in the beginning of December 2001, and in Bonn the formation of an interim administration was discussed.

As the US started bombing Afghanistan in the fall of 2001, it became clear that the United Islamic Front of Fahim would play an important role in the transition government that would emerge after the Taliban was ousted. However, since Fahim lacked Massoud's magnetism, his role as opposition leader was generally seen as temporary.<ref>{{cite news|title=Even After Death, 'Lion' Remains King of the Rebels|url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/washingtonpost/access/85514687.html?dids=85514687:85514687&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Oct+11%2C+2001&author=Peter+Baker+and+William+Branigin&pub=The+Washington+Post&desc=Even+After+Death%2C+%27Lion%27+Remains+King+of+the+Rebels&pqatl=google|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120722043856/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/washingtonpost/access/85514687.html?dids=85514687:85514687&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Oct+11,+2001&author=Peter+Baker+and+William+Branigin&pub=The+Washington+Post&desc=Even+After+Death,+'Lion'+Remains+King+of+the+Rebels&pqatl=google|url-status=dead|archive-date=22 July 2012|access-date=7 March 2012|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=11 October 2001|author=Peter Baker|author2=William Branigin}}</ref><ref name=Eug1210>{{cite news|title=Opposition Embraces Masood Legend|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=WVFWAAAAIBAJ&sjid=_OsDAAAAIBAJ&pg=2946,2733350&dq=mohammed-fahim+-rayan&hl=en|access-date=7 March 2012|newspaper=Eugene Register-Guard|date=12 October 2001}}</ref> When in the first weeks of US bombardments Fahim's forces did not make any large breakthroughs, it was speculated that he was struggling with his role and he appeared wooden and awkward in front of his troops.<ref name=record-journal>{{cite news|title=Afghan rebels are a reluctand force, so far|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=DFlGAAAAIBAJ&sjid=hOUMAAAAIBAJ&pg=1586,576826&dq=mohammad+fahim&hl=en|access-date=7 March 2012|newspaper=Record-Journal|date=4 November 2001}}</ref> But although Fahim was described as colorless,<ref>{{cite news|title=A Nation Challenged: Front Lines; Roar of the Warplanes Overhead Bolsters the Hopes of the Rebels|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2001/10/22/world/nation-challenged-front-lines-roar-warplanes-overhead-bolsters-hopes-rebels.html|access-date=7 March 2012|newspaper=The New York Times|date=22 October 2001|author=[[David S. Rohde|David Rohde]]}}</ref> it was clear that as the leader of the main military forces that were fighting the Taliban, Fahim had to play a central role in any possible government that would succeed the Taliban.<ref>{{cite news|last=Settle|first=Michael|title=Is there a moderate faction among the Taliban?|url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/smgpubs/access/86071877.html?dids=86071877:86071877&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Oct+23%2C+2001&author=Michael+Settle&pub=The+Herald&desc=Is+there+a+moderate+faction+among+the+Taliban%3F&pqatl=google|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130202000059/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/smgpubs/access/86071877.html?dids=86071877:86071877&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Oct+23,+2001&author=Michael+Settle&pub=The+Herald&desc=Is+there+a+moderate+faction+among+the+Taliban%3F&pqatl=google|url-status=dead|archive-date=2 February 2013|access-date=7 March 2012|newspaper=The Herald|date=23 October 2001}}</ref>

In the talks in Bonn Fahim took a leading role, together with two other young and moderate Tajik leaders from the [[United Islamic Front]] (UIF), [[Yunus Qanuni]] and dr. [[Abdullah Abdullah|Abdullah]].<ref name=NYTdec01 /><ref name="LAtimesdec01">{{cite news |last=Williams |first=Carol J. |date=4 December 2001 |title=Afghans at Conference Sort Through Candidates for Interim Government |url=https://www.latimes.com/la-120401meeting-story.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141011054310/https://www.latimes.com/la-120401meeting-story.html |archive-date=2014-10-11 |access-date=2025-03-20 |newspaper=Los Angeles Times}}</ref> After the death of Massoud, this trio had de facto been leading the United Islamic Front. Fahim was reportedly advocating a broad-based government headed by someone outside the leadership of the United Islamic Front.<ref name=NYTdec01>{{cite news|last=Kifner|first=John|author-link=John Kifner|title=A Nation Challenged: Generational Struggle; Technocrats In Kabul Try To Rebuild|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2001/12/04/world/a-nation-challenged-generational-struggle-technocrats-in-kabul-try-to-rebuild.html|access-date=18 March 2012|newspaper=The New York Times|date=4 December 2001}}</ref><ref name=thetelegraphnov01>{{cite news|title=I would step down to help my country|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/afghanistan/1363370/I-would-step-down-to-help-my-country.html|access-date=18 March 2012|newspaper=the telegraph|date=24 November 2001|first=Ahmed|last=Rashid}}</ref> According to sources Fahim lobbied for [[Hamid Karzai]] as the next Afghan president instead for his formal leader Rabbani.<ref name=Eurasianetdec01>{{cite news|last=Rashid|first=Ahmed|title=Hamid Karzai Moves From Lightweight to Heavyweight in Afghan Politics|url=http://www.eurasianet.org/departments/insight/articles/eav121001.shtml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20011218020332/http://www.eurasianet.org/departments/insight/articles/eav121001.shtml|archive-date=18 December 2001|newspaper=Eurasianet|date=10 December 2001|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

The Bonn conference bypassed President Rabbani and appointed Hamid Karzai as Interim President. Qanuni, Abdullah and Fahim all got crucial posts in the [[Afghan Interim Administration|new government]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Whitmore |first=Brian |date=2001-12-05 |title=A Younger Generation Poised To Govern Afghanistan |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-boston-globe-a-younger-generation-po/168403738/ |access-date=2025-03-20 |work=The Boston Globe |page=18 |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref> Initially there was some fear that the trivium of former Massoud-aides could overshadow Karzai, but at the same time, they were praised for giving away the chairmanship while they controlled Afghanistan militarily.<ref>{{cite news|last=Rohde|first=David|author-link=David S. Rohde|title=Background: Ruling Afghanistan|url=https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/background-ruling-afghanistan|newspaper=PBS|date=21 December 2001}}</ref>

As commander of Afghans largest military force, Fahim was appointed Defence minister of Afghanistan.<ref name="A NATION CHALLENGED">{{cite news|last=Erlanger|first=Steven|author-link=Steven Erlanger|title=A Nation Challenged: After the Taliban; After Arm-Twisting, Afghan Factions Pick Interim Government and Leader|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2001/12/06/world/nation-challenged-after-taliban-after-arm-twisting-afghan-factions-pick-interim.html?pagewanted=1|access-date=18 March 2012|newspaper=The New York Times|date=6 December 2001}}</ref> At the same time, he was one of the five [[Vice President of Afghanistan|vice-chairs]] of the Interim Administration. Together with Abdullah and Qanuni, one of the most dominant figures in the interim administration.

===Vice-Chairman of the Interim Administration===
In the interim administration, Karzai much needed the support of Fahim. Karzai was the official chairman of the executive committee of the government, but as commander of the most effective military force commanding the capital, Fahim had the real power.

Since Fahim was afraid a large international peace keeping force would take away his power base, he argued for a limited number of foreign troops in Afghanistan. Karzai, however, was less afraid of international involvement, and might even fear a [[Tajik people|Tajik]] hegemony of Afghanistan without them.<ref name="dec1501">{{Cite news |last=Rupert |first=James |date=2001-12-15 |title=How Large A Force To Keep The Peace? |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/newsday-how-large-a-force-to-keep-the-pe/168403945/ |access-date=2025-03-20 |work=Newsday |page=A18 |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref><ref name=Bangordailey2112>{{cite news|last=Azoy|first=Whitney|title=December of '41|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=p6RJAAAAIBAJ&sjid=ew0NAAAAIBAJ&pg=1423,1337727&dq=mohammad+fahim&hl=en|access-date=31 March 2012|newspaper=Bangor Dailey|date=21 December 2001}}</ref>

After the inauguration ceremony on 22 December 2001, where Fahim was installed as minister of Defence and vice-chair of the interim government, he requested that international forces leave the capital.<ref name=telegraph2412c>{{cite news|title=Commandos forced to leave as cabinet meets|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/afghanistan/1366183/Commandos-forced-to-leave-as-cabinet-meets.html|access-date=31 March 2012|newspaper=The Telegraph|date=24 December 2001|first=Michael|last=Smith}}</ref> He "would no longer accept foreign troops in Afghanistan operating without a UN mandate," Fahim said.<ref name=guardian061201>{{cite news|title=Alliance happiest as deal is sealed|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2001/dec/06/afghanistan.ianblack|access-date=18 March 2012|newspaper=The Guardian|date=6 December 2001|author=Nicholas Watt|author2=Luke Harding|author3=Ian Black}}</ref> Later he demanded that 100 British servicemen who just had entered the country leave [[Bagram Air Base]].<ref name="ITAR-TASS news agencynov2001">{{cite news|title=Northern Alliance reportedly against foreign military presence in Afghanistan|url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=NewsLibrary&p_multi=BBAB&d_place=BBAB&p_theme=newslibrary2&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0F97A68402BF396D&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM|access-date=17 March 2012|newspaper=ITAR-TASS news agency|date=17 November 2001}}</ref> "The British forces perhaps have an agreement with the UN but not with us," said Fahim.<ref name=albawabanov01>{{cite news|title=Northern Alliance: British Forces in Afghanistan without Approval|url=http://www.albawaba.com/news/northern-alliance-british-forces-afghanistan-without-approval|access-date=17 March 2012|newspaper=Al Bawaba|date=17 November 2001}}</ref> He also stated that a UN force should not exceed 1,000 men and should play a very limited role in Afghan politics and that his own forces could eradicate sources of instability.<ref name=beavercounty01>{{cite news|title=Afghans call for limited UN force|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=1exVAAAAIBAJ&sjid=5kANAAAAIBAJ&pg=1560,3206411&dq=mohammad+fahim&hl=en|access-date=20 March 2012|newspaper=Beaver County Times|date=11 December 2001}}</ref><ref name=iolsa01>{{cite news|title=Bin Laden men pushed to final stronghold|url=http://www.iol.co.za/news/world/bin-laden-men-pushed-to-final-stronghold-1.78326|access-date=20 March 2012|newspaper=SA Times|date=11 December 2001}}</ref> His own Northern Alliance forces should police Kabul, said Fahim, because he said that his troops in Kabul were security troops, not military.<ref name="torontostar1201">{{Cite news |last=Kenna |first=Kathleen |date=2001-12-12 |title=Northern Alliance vows to stay put |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-toronto-star-northern-alliance-vows/168403995/ |access-date=2025-03-20 |work=The Toronto Star |page=A18 |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref><ref name="newsday1201">{{Cite news |last=Rupert |first=James |date=2001-12-12 |title=Jockeying Persists Among Rivals |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/newsday-jockeying-persists-among-rivals/168404057/ |access-date=2025-03-20 |work=Newsday |page=A36 |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref>

Fahim discussed the deployment of foreign troops with US Generals and Defense Secretary [[Donald Rumsfeld]] who demanded the presence of a large international force.<ref>{{cite news|title=Suspect chemical war camp found|url=http://edition.cnn.com/2001/WORLD/europe/12/16/ret.rumsfeld.afghan/index.html|access-date=24 March 2012|publisher=CNN|date=16 December 2001}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Pleven |first=Liam |date=2001-12-18 |title=Uneasy Bond For 2 Armies |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/newsday-uneasy-bond-for-2-armies/168404091/ |access-date=2025-03-20 |work=Newsday |page=A48 |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref> Fahim was in charge of the meetings with the British General [[John McColl (British Army officer)|John McColl]] to establish the exact task, length of stay and size of international forces.<ref name=Telegraph161201>{{cite news|last=Rayment|first=Sean|title=1,000 British troops to spearhead security role|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/afghanistan/1365472/1000-British-troops-to-spearhead-security-role.html|access-date=24 March 2012|newspaper=The Daily Telegraph|date=16 December 2001}}</ref> Reportedly, Fahim refused to meet McColl until Rumsfeld pressured him and told him to meet the British general.<ref>{{cite news|title=Alliance snub British general|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/afghanistan/1365666/Alliance-snub-British-general.html|access-date=24 March 2012|newspaper=The Daily Telegraph|author=Peter Foster|author2=Michael Smith|date=18 December 2001}}</ref>

In the end, it was decided that an international security force of a few thousand troops would be deployed,<ref>{{cite news|title=Kabul accepts 5 000-strong outside force|url=http://www.iol.co.za/news/world/kabul-accepts-5-000-strong-outside-force-1.78790|access-date=24 March 2012|newspaper=IOL News|date=18 December 2001}}</ref> but that they would agree to Fahim's demands to not take control of Kabul and not start immediately disarming Afghan militias.<ref>{{cite news|last=Rohde|first=David|author-link=David S. Rohde|title=A Nation Challenged: Kabul; British in Accord With Afghans On Force to Keep Order in Kabul|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2001/12/19/world/nation-challenged-kabul-british-accord-with-afghans-force-keep-order-kabul.html|access-date=24 March 2012|newspaper=The New York Times|date=19 December 2001}}</ref> Of the approximately 3,000 men that would be deployed, 2,000–3,000 men would be deployed in a garrison in the center of Kabul. Of the 30,000 men, only a third would be deployed for security reasons, the others would receive logistical and humanitarian tasks.<ref>{{cite news|title=A Nation Challenged: Hunting Fugitives; Afghans and Pakistanis at Odds on Whereabouts of bin Laden; Bombing Is Waning|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2001/12/29/world/nation-challenged-hunting-fugitives-afghans-pakistanis-odds-whereabouts-bin.html|access-date=3 June 2012|newspaper=The New York Times|date=29 December 2001|first=Amy|last=Waldman|author-link=Amy Waldman}}</ref> Another important task for the British and Americans would be the training of the Afghan troops. Fahim expressed the wish to build an Afghan army of around 250,000 men.<ref>{{cite news|last=Conachy|first=James|title=International aid pledges fall far short of Afghanistan's basic needs|url=http://www.wsws.org/articles/2002/jan2002/afgh-j28.shtml|access-date=4 June 2012|newspaper=World Socialist Web Site|date=28 January 2002}}</ref> After the negotiations, The Telegraph described Fahim as someone who is popularly known as "the village and Pansher valley idiot," but who actually very shrewd.<ref name=telegraph070202>{{cite news|title=Britain's troops get cracking to rebuild war-weary nation|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/afghanistan/1380637/Britains-troops-get-cracking-to-rebuild-war-weary-nation.html|access-date=4 June 2012|newspaper=The Telegraph|date=7 January 2002|first=Charles|last=Moore}}</ref>

When the first foreign troops of the peacekeeping mission arrived on 20 December 2001, Fahim said "They won't be needed for security."<ref name="Toronto Star201201">{{Cite news |last=Kenna |first=Kathleen |date=2001-12-20 |title=Afghanistan sees limited duties for peacekeepers |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-toronto-star-afghanistan-sees-limite/168404121/ |access-date=2025-03-20 |work=The Toronto Star |page=10 |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref> "They are here because they want to be," and because the United Nations Security Council sent them to Afghanistan to prevent another civil war, Fahim said,<ref name=usatoday201201>{{cite news|last=Spitzer|first=Kirk|title=U.K. peacekeepers arrive in Afghanistan|url=https://www.usatoday.com/news/attack/2001/12/20/peacekeepers-usat.htm|access-date=24 March 2012|newspaper=USA Today|date=20 December 2001}}</ref> but insisted that their presence was merely symbolic and that the foreign troops were not supposed to use force.<ref name=mosc201201>{{cite news|title=UN Approves Security Force for Afghanistan|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ONwjAAAAIBAJ&sjid=SNEFAAAAIBAJ&pg=3297,3689201&dq=mohammed+fahim&hl=en|access-date=24 March 2012|newspaper=Moscow-Pullman Daily News|date=20 December 2001}}</ref> "Some ministers in the new government who have always lived outside the country are worried about security and they feel they need the peacekeepers for protection, but when they arrive here they will see that the situation is OK and that it is not necessary" Fahim added, possibly hinting at Chairman Karzai who lived for years in Pakistan. The heavily armed units of northern alliance soldiers who swept into Kabul will be withdrawn from the streets, Fahim added, but they will not leave the capital.<ref name="Southeast Missourian1201">{{cite news|last=Gannon|first=Kathy|title=Afghan defense ministry sees U.N. peacekeepers as symbolic|url=http://www.semissourian.com/story/55552.html|access-date=24 March 2012|agency=Associated Press|date=20 December 2001}}</ref>

There was not only a disagreement between Fahim and Karzai about the size of the peacekeeping force, but also about the duration they were supposed to stay in Afghanistan. Fahim indicated that the international forces should leave after six years, but Karzai said that they would stay "as long as we need them, six years as a minimum".<ref name=telegraph2412b>{{cite news|title=Security forces to stay 'as long as necessary'|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/1366217/Security-forces-to-stay-as-long-as-necessary.html|access-date=31 March 2012|newspaper=The Telegraph|date=24 December 2001}}</ref>

As Defense Minister, Fahim had the task to unite the country's disparate armed groups. A daunting task, since Fahim's own troops had so far shied away from vast stretches of southern and eastern lawless lands under the sway of armed former Taliban warriors, most of them members of the dominant Pashtun ethnic group. Still, although a sometimes bumbling and awkward figure in public, and especially unpopular with the Uzbek minority,<ref name=Time221001>{{cite news|last=Calabresi|first=Massimo|title=Who Will Rule?|url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,179522,00.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101030141835/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,179522,00.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=30 October 2010|access-date=4 June 2012|newspaper=Time|date=22 October 2001}}</ref> Fahim quietly had gained control of the Northern Alliance's fractious military commanders.<ref name=NYT151201>{{cite news|last=Rohde|first=David|author-link=David S. Rohde|title=A Nation Challenged: The Politics; When the Combat Ends, Another Struggle Looms|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2001/12/16/world/a-nation-challenged-the-politics-when-the-combat-ends-another-struggle-looms.html|access-date=24 March 2012|newspaper=The New York Times|date=16 December 2001}}</ref> He continued to hold this control, even when [[Abdul Rashid Dostum]], the most powerful [[Uzbek people|Uzbek]] warlord who had taken control of the city of Mazar-e-Sharif and who was very critical of the Bonn Agreement, was appointed his deputy.<ref name=telegraph2412>{{cite news|title=Karzai appoints deputy defence minister|work=The Telegraph|access-date=31 March 2012|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/1366205/Karzai-appoints-deputy-defence-minister.html|date=24 December 2001}}</ref> But the cooperation between the two strongmen didn't start easy, already after a month forces of Dostum were clashing with forces of Fahim over control of a district in [[Kunduz Province]].<ref name=iol240102>{{cite news|title=Bush to throw billions at war on terror|url=http://www.iol.co.za/news/world/bush-to-throw-billions-at-war-on-terror-1.81343#.T80N7VKNOSo|access-date=4 June 2012|newspaper=IOL|date=24 January 2002|author=Peter Millership|author2=Sayed Salahuddin}}</ref> The dispute erupted after his forces tried to disarm soldiers from a rival military unit. When those troops resisted, a firefight broke out, killing three soldiers.<ref>{{cite news|last=Landler|first=Mark|author-link=Mark Landler|title=A Nation Challenged: Politics in Kabul; Afghans Choose Panel for Organizing Crucial Grand Council|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2002/01/26/world/nation-challenged-politics-kabul-afghans-choose-panel-for-organizing-crucial.html|access-date=4 June 2012|newspaper=The New York Times|date=26 January 2002}}</ref>

On 29 December, Fahim urged the Americans to stop their bombing campaign on Afghanistan, because bin Laden had probably fled Afghanistan and moved to Peshawar in Pakistan. "Osama is out of our control," Fahim said.<ref name=sarsota2912>{{cite news|title=U.S. Steps up Interrogation of Prisoners|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ngAiAAAAIBAJ&sjid=vn8EAAAAIBAJ&pg=6934,4733258&dq=mohammad+fahim&hl=en|access-date=3 June 2012|newspaper=Sarasota Herald Tribune|date=29 December 2001}}</ref> A day later, however, foreign minister Abdullah Abdullah stated that they did not know where bin Laden was and that air raids will continue "for as long as it takes to finish off the terrorists."<ref name="NYdaileynews3112">{{cite news |last=Bazinet |first=Kenneth R. |date=31 December 2001 |title=Report: Osama's Left Afghanistan |url=https://www.nydailynews.com/2001/12/31/report-osamas-left-afghanistan/ |access-date=2025-03-20 |newspaper=New York Daily News}}</ref>

===Relations with other states===
As Minister of Defence in his first months, Fahim traveled extensively to neighbouring countries to build relations between the new government and Afghanistan's most influential neighbours. When US-envoy to Afghanistan [[Zalmay Khalilzad]] said in January 2002 that Iran might be backing Afghan fighters in an attempt to unsettle the Karzai-government, Fahim, who visited the Iranian minister of Defense half January,<ref name=iranreport280102>{{cite news|title=Iran Report|url=http://www.globalsecurity.org/wmd/library/news/iran/2002/3-280102.html|access-date=4 June 2012|publisher=Globalsecurity.org|date=28 January 2002}}</ref> stated that there was no sign of Iran "creating insecurity".<ref name=semissourian180102>{{cite news|last=Gannon|first=Kathy|title=U.S. Envoy – Iran may be interfering against Afghan government|url=http://www.semissourian.com/story/58935.html|access-date=4 June 2012|newspaper=South East Missourian|date=18 January 2002}}</ref> At the end of January 2002, Fahim set in on a meeting of Karzai met with [[United Nations Secretary General]] [[Kofi Annan]] and spoke with the two of them about security issues.<ref>{{cite news |title=Secretary-General Makes Historic Visit to Kabul, 25 January |url=https://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2002/sgt2307.doc.htm |url-status=dead |publisher=United Nations |date=25 January 2002 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120604173400/https://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2002/sgt2307.doc.htm |archive-date=4 June 2012}}</ref>

===First term as Vice President===
{{more citations needed section|date=March 2014}}
During the [[2002 loya jirga]], where a new [[Afghan Transitional Administration|transitional government]] was formed, Fahim supported the candidacy for president of Karzai. In turn he retained as vice-president and defense minister.

In the summer of 2002, American officials are said to have picked up intelligence that Fahim was considering an attempt to assassinate Karzai, as a result of which, in July 2002, US Special Forces wrested presidential bodyguard duties away from soldiers loyal to Fahim. The move followed the assassination earlier in the month of one of Karzai's vice presidents, [[Abdul Qadir (Afghan leader)|Abdul Qadir]], a powerful Pashtun warlord and Karzai ally.<ref name=Telegraph100314 />

As Defense Minister, he toured army bases in the United Kingdom, negotiated security issues with US General [[Tommy Franks]] and Canadian Defense Minister [[John McCallum]], [[NATO]] Secretary General [[George Robertson, Baron Robertson of Port Ellen|George Robertson]], visited Moscow and Washington, DC. He also replaced 15 ethnic [[Tājik people|Tajik]] generals with officers from the [[Pashtun people|Pashtun]], [[Uzbeks|Uzbek]] and [[Hazara people|Hazara]] ethnic groups, although he was accused of delaying reforms that would have required him to replace his Tajik generals with a more ethnically balanced officer corps. The reform was a precondition for carrying out a $200 million UN-sponsored plan to pay off and disarm 100,000 militiamen loyal to the warlords.<ref name=Telegraph100314 />

While holding the position, he continued to command his own militia which he inherited from the United Front or more commonly known as the [[Northern Alliance]]. However, on 10 December 2003, he ordered part of his militia to transport their weapons to an [[Afghan National Army]] installation near [[Kabul]].

On 12 September 2003, [[Miloon Kothari]], appointed by the [[United Nations Commission on Human Rights]] to investigate housing rights in [[Afghanistan]], announced that many of the government ministers including Fahim and Education Minister [[Yunus Qanuni]] were illegally occupying land and should be removed from their posts. However, three days later, Kothari sent a letter to [[Lakhdar Brahimi]], the head of the UN in Afghanistan, saying he had gone too far in naming the ministers.
[[File:George W. Bush meets Afghan politicians in Kabul.jpg|thumb|Marshal Fahim greeting former U.S. President [[George W. Bush]] in 2006. Others to the side are Afghan President [[Hamid Karzai]] and 2nd Vice Afghan President [[Karim Khalili]] with the turban.]]

In 2004, many expected Karzai to name Fahim or Qanuni as candidate for vice-president in the upcoming [[2004 Afghan presidential election|presidential election]], but he named [[Ahmad Zia Massoud]] instead. Subsequently, Fahim backed the candidacy of his fellow Tajik, [[Yunus Qanuni]] for president.

After Karzai's victory, Fahim was not reappointed Defense Minister and was succeeded by his deputy [[Abdul Rahim Wardak]]. Karzai dropped Fahim from his cabinet to rebalance the Ministry of Defence, and as a result of intense pressure from various foreign organizations who viewed Fahim as a major bottleneck in the disarmament process.<ref>Antonio Giustozzi, The Army of Afghanistan: A Political History, Hurst, 2015, 132-3.</ref> He was dismissed in August 2004. Fahim also had no higher education, and article 72 of Afghanistan's constitution states that an appointed Minister to the President's cabinet should have a higher education.<ref name=afghanistanonline /> In a decree made in December 2004, Karzai, who called Fahim his "close friend and confidant" confirmed that Fahim would hold the rank of [[Marshal]], Afghanistan's highest, for life.<ref name=Telegraph100314 /> Years after his death, at a gathering of Fahim's supporters and Afghan politicians, Marking the 5th anniversary of his death, Hazara leader [[Muhammad Mohaqiq]], defending Fahim's military title arguing "When he was given the title of Afghanistan's Marshal by the former president, he deserved it. Because the Mujahideen had won the war against the occupier forces."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://tolonews.com/afghanistan/brief-look-marshal-fahim%E2%80%99s-biography|title=A Brief Look At Marshal Fahim's Biography|website=TOLOnews|language=en|access-date=2019-11-20}}</ref>

Although Fahim lost his formal role in the government, he remained a powerful and influential figure in Afghanistan. In 2006, Karzai, faced with a resurgent Taliban, returned Marshal Fahim to Government as an advisor.<ref name=Telegraph100314 />

Some Afghan analysts attest that, despite losing his military position, Fahim remained a very powerful figure in the country. "[He] is particularly popular among people in the north, because he had fought [[Union of Soviet Socialist Republics|Soviet Russia]], and later the [[Taliban]] and [[Al-Qaeda]]. He spent many years fighting aggressors." (Erada, 2005)

Later in the year 2006, Karzai said, "Marshal Fahim is one of the sons of our [mujahedin], a patriot and [a man who loves] his country. I have a great deal of respect for Marshal Fahim. He has been my close friend and confidant. He has his own unique place in Afghanistan. He has been a respectable military man. He is a five-star general. And he is a senator." Regarding his decision in appointing Marshal Fahim as one of his advisors, Karzai added that "I hope that officially as my adviser, he will continue to cooperate with me. He comes to all of the National Security Council meetings. He is my dear brother. No one can ever reduce the respect that Marshal Fahim has earned for himself." (Azadi Radio, 5 April 2006) Throughout his time as a public figure, he has had persistent accusations of corruption and human rights abuses. When he died, the American-led coalition simply expressed condolences to Fahim's family.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/10/world/asia/afghan-vice-president-ex-northern-alliance-commander-dies.html?hp|title=Warlord Who Tamped Conflicts as Afghan Vice President Dies|newspaper=The New York Times|date=9 March 2014|last1=Rosenberg|first1=Matthew}}</ref>

Fahim was a member of the (now defunct) political party [[United National Front (Afghanistan)|United National Front]], a broad coalition of former and current strongmen, mainly with a basis in the United Islamic Front.

===Second term as Vice President===
In 2009, Fahim was chosen by incumbent President [[Hamid Karzai|Karzai]] as candidate for first Vice President in the [[2009 Afghan presidential election|2009 presidential election]]. Fahim by then had a reputation as one of Afghanistan's most powerful, brutal and corrupt warlords. Karzai's decision to include him on his ticket therefore dismayed international observers.<ref name=Telegraph100314 /> Many in Kabul alleged Marshal Fahim was at the time involved in criminal activities, including kidnapping for ransom. By choosing Fahim as his vice-president, Karzai was said to have stained his own credibility even further.<ref>Anderson, Jon Lee. "The Man In The Palace." ''The New Yorker'' 81.16 (2005): 60–73. ''Academic Search Premier''. Web. 21 February 2013.</ref><ref>[[Pamela Constable|Constable, Pamela]]. "Karzai's Would-Be Competition in Disarray." ''Washington Post, The'' 2009 May 3: ''Newspaper Source Plus.'' Web. 21 February 2013.</ref>

But for Karzai such considerations were trumped by Fahim's status as a leading member of Afghanistan's [[Tajik people|Tajik]] minority (the second largest ethnic grouping after Karzai's Pashtun community), which helped to split the Tajik vote which might otherwise have gone to Karzai's Tajik rival, [[Abdullah Abdullah]].<ref name=Telegraph100314 />

The election was won by Karzai and from 19 November on, Fahim again served as vice president.