Editing Mohammad Qasim Fahim (section)

===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.