2. Previous Functions of Dr. Zahir Tanin:
Journalist in Kabul (1980)
Vice President of the Journalist Union of Afghanistan (1987-1992)
Freelance writer in France and Editor-in-Chief of Afkbar-e-Haftah and Sabawoon Magazine (1992- 1993).
London School of Economics and Political Science, Research Fellow at the International Relations Department (1994-1995)
Television Producer (1995-2000)
Senior Producer (2000 to 2001)

Editor for BBC World Service, Afghanistan and Central Asia (Persian Section)  (2001-2003)
Editor for Persian/Pashto Section, in Afghanistan (2003-2006)
Permanent Representative to the United Nations for Afghanistan (20061200, 20141220-20150820)

UN’s special envoy in Kosovo (20150820)

3. Biodata:
Zahir Tanin, born on 1 May 1956, is a graduate of Kabul Medical University.. He is the Permanent Representative to the United Nations for Afghanistan. He assumed the position in December 2006.  He has completed BBC broadcasting, media management, finance management and other courses, including a one-year BBC leadership program.

Tanin began his career in 1980 working as a journalist in Kabul. He co-authored, The Communist Regime in Afghanistan, a study of the political and social changes in Afghanistan from 1978 to 1992. He also authored, Afghanistan in the Twentieth Century. He produced a 29-part program, The Oral History of Afghanistan in the 20th Century, that was later broadcast on the BBC. After 1992, Tanin was a freelance writer in France and Editor-in-Chief of Afkbar-e-Haftah and Sabawoon Magazine until 1993. Before beginning a career at the BBC, he was at the London School of Economics and Political Science, where he was a Research Fellow at the International Relations Department from 1994 to 1995. Mr. Tanin worked as Television Producer, 1995 to 2000, Senior Producer, (2000 to 2001), and was an editor for BBC World Service, Afghanistan and Central Asia (Persian Section) from 2001 to 2003. Following this he was an editor for Persian/Pashto Section, in Afghanistan from 2003 to 2006, before taking his appointment as Permanent Representative to the United Nations. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs for Afghanistan announced, in June 2008, that Zahir Tanin was selected as a Deputy President (Vice-President) of the United Nations General Assembly for one year.
 

Tanin has been reappointed to head a key UN panel on the crucial issue of reforming the Security Council. In fact, the re-appointment of Zahir Tanin was among the first decisions taken by the president of the 66th General Assembly since his election UN member-states early this month.Tanin has been asked to lead the inter-governmental negotiations on Security Council for the fourth consecutive year.(20110919)

UN Secretary General Bank Ki-moon announced on Wednesday Aug 19, 2015 the appointment of Zahir Tanin ias the Special Representative and Head of the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK). Tanin replaces Farid Zarif .

He is married with two children and holds a British Passport.

Tanin speaks Dari, Pashtu and English