Who Is Mohammad Najibullah? Age, Biography and Wiki
Mohammad Najibullah was born on August 6, 1947, making him 77 years old in 2025. He is best known for his role as the President of Afghanistan from 1986 to 1992. His leadership during a turbulent period in Afghan history is widely studied and debated. Najibullah was known for his attempts to steer Afghanistan toward a moderate, democratic approach before the Soviet withdrawal and the subsequent rise of the Mujahideen.
He was a pivotal figure in the People's Democratic Party of Afghanistan (PDPA) and during his presidency, he faced significant opposition both domestically and internationally. His tenure was characterized by efforts to stabilize the country amidst ongoing civil strife, which ultimately led to his downfall and assassination in 1996.
| Occupation | Physicians |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | August 6, 1947 |
| Age | 49 Years |
| Birth Place | Gardez, Kingdom of Afghanistan |
| Horoscope | Leo |
| Country | Afghanistan |
| Date of death | 27 September, 1996 |
| Died Place | Kabul, Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan |
Popularity
Mohammad Najibullah's Popularity over time
Height, Weight & Measurements
While specific details regarding Mohammad Najibullah's height and weight are not extensively documented, it is noted that he maintained a fit and commanding presence during his active years in politics. His demeanor and authoritative stature contributed to his image as a leader.
Family, Dating & Relationship Status
Mohammad Najibullah was married to Zainab Najibullah, and they had three children together. His family formed a crucial part of his life, providing support during his tumultuous presidency and the challenging events that followed. After his fall from power, Najibullah was executed by the Taliban, but his family's legacy continues through their advocacy and remembrance of his contributions to Afghanistan.
Not long before Kabul's fall, Najibullah appealed to the UN for protection after his guards fled, which was rejected. His attempt to flee to the airport was thwarted by troops of Abdul Rashid Dostum – once loyal to him, but now allied with Ahmad Shah Massoud – who controlled the airport.
At the UN compound in Kabul, while waiting for the UN to negotiate his safe passage to India, he occupied himself by translating Peter Hopkirk's book The Great Game into his mother tongue Pashto. India was placed in a difficult position by deciding to allow Najibullah political asylum and safely escorting him out of the country.
Supporters claimed he had always been close to India and should not be denied asylum, but others said doing so would risk antagonizing India's relationship with the new mujahideen government formed under the Peshawar Accord.
Net Worth and Salary
As of 2025, estimates of Mohammad Najibullah's net worth fluctuate due to the obscure nature of financial records during his presidency. However, it is acknowledged that his income was primarily derived from his political career and affiliations. Following his time in power, factors including the nationalization efforts during his regime and the country's economic downturn likely impacted personal wealth significantly.
Career, Business and Investments
Najibullah's primary career spanned his political life within the PDPA, and he held various significant governmental positions throughout the 1970s and 1980s. His presidency from 1986 to 1992 focused on establishing a socialist state in Afghanistan, supported by the Soviet Union. Despite the challenges he faced, Najibullah's policies aimed at modernizing Afghanistan's infrastructure and promoting education and women's rights, which set a precedent for future governance.
After his presidency, Najibullah lived a life of hardship until he was captured and executed by the Taliban in 1996, bringing an end to an era marked by attempts at reform.
On 15 May, Najibullah announced that a collective leadership had been established, which was led by himself consisted of himself as head of party, Karmal as head of state and Sultan Ali Keshtmand as Chairman of the Council of Ministers.
When Najibullah took the office of PDPA General Secretary, Karmal still had enough support in the party to disgrace Najibullah. Karmal went as far as to spread rumours that Najibullah's rule was little more than an interregnum, and that he would soon be reappointed to the general secretaryship.
As it turned out, Karmal's power base during this period was KHAD.
The Soviet leadership wanted to ease Karmal out of politics, but when Najibullah began to complain that he was hampering his plans of National Reconciliation, the Soviet Politburo decided to remove Karmal; this motion was supported by Andrei Gromyko, Yuli Vorontsov, Eduard Shevardnadze, Anatoly Dobrynin and Viktor Chebrikov.
A meeting in the PDPA in November relieved Karmal of his Revolutionary Council chairmanship, and he was exiled to Moscow where he was given a state-owned apartment and a dacha. In his position as Revolutionary Council chairman Karmal was succeeded by Haji Mohammad Chamkani, who was not a member of the PDPA.
Social Network
Mohammad Najibullah's presence in contemporary social media networks is minimal due to his passing in 1996. However, his legacy is discussed widely in academic and political forums addressing Middle Eastern history and the political evolution of Afghanistan. There are various pages and groups dedicated to remembering his contributions and discussing the implications of his policies.
A graduate of Kabul University, Najibullah held different careers under the People's Democratic Party of Afghanistan (PDPA). Following the Saur Revolution and the establishment of the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan, Najibullah was a low profile bureaucrat. He was sent into exile as Ambassador to Iran during Hafizullah Amin's rise to power.
He returned to Afghanistan following the Soviet intervention which toppled Amin's rule and placed Babrak Karmal as head of the state, the party and the government. During Karmal's rule, Najibullah became head of the KHAD, the Afghan equivalent of the Soviet KGB. He was a member of the Parcham faction led by Karmal.
During Najibullah's tenure as KHAD head, it became one of the most brutally efficient governmental organs. Because of this, he gained the attention of several leading Soviet officials, such as Yuri Andropov, Dmitriy Ustinov and Boris Ponomarev. In 1981, Najibullah was appointed to the PDPA Politburo.
In 1985, Najibullah stepped down as the state security minister to focus on PDPA politics; he had been appointed to the PDPA Secretariat. Soviet General Secretary Mikhail Gorbachev, also the last Soviet leader, was able to get Karmal to step down as PDPA General Secretary in 1986, and replace him with Najibullah.
For a number of months, Najibullah was locked in a power struggle against Karmal, who still retained his post of Chairman of the Revolutionary Council. Najibullah accused Karmal of trying to wreck his policy of National Reconciliation, a series of efforts by Najibullah to end the conflict.
Education
Najibullah’s educational background began at Kabul University, where he studied medicine. However, his interests soon shifted towards politics, which set the stage for his eventual career in governance. His education and early involvement in politics were instrumental in shaping his ideologies and leadership style during his presidency.
Najibullah was educated at Habibia High School in Kabul, at St. Joseph's Higher Secondary School in Baramulla, Jammu and Kashmir, India, and at Kabul University where he began studying in 1964 and completed his Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) in 1975; however, he never practiced medicine.
