Afghan Biographies

Kakar, Faizullah Dr.


Name Kakar, Faizullah Dr.
Ethnic backgr. Pashtun
Date of birth 1950
Function/Grade Ex President Ahmadzai Staff Member
History and Biodata

2. Previous Functions:

University of Washington, Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Epidemiology (1984-1986)

Staff Scientist at Cancer Control Research Unit of the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle, Washington (1986-1988)

Founder of the Research and Advisory Council of Afghanistan (RACA), Peshawar, Pakistan (1988-1989)

General Chief and then Chairman of the Division of Preventive Medicine of the Ministry of Public Heath, Interim Islamic Government of Afghanistan (1989-1990)

Dean for the College of Medicine IUA (1990-1991)

Vice-Chancellor IUA (1991-1992)

Deputy Minister of Public Health for the Islamic Government of Afghanistan in Kabul, Afghanistan, (1993-1995)

Chancellor of Islamic University of Afghanistan (IUA) in Peshawar, Pakistan (1992-1996)

Medical Officer/Epidemiologist, World Health Organization (1997-2004)

Deputy Minister of Public Health of Afghanistan, Policy and Planning and Chairman of Ad Hoc Commission (2005-2009)

Minister for Advising the President on Health and Education Affairs (2009) and
also Presidential National Focal Point Adviser for Polio Eradication (2012)
Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan in Doha, Qatar (201904309
Chief of Staff / OAA President Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai (20190629)

3. Biodata:
Dr. Faizullah Kakar waKakar_Faizullahs born 24 December 1950 in Gurziwan, Belcheragh, Faryab Province in Afghanistan. Kakar attended secondary school at Laisay Habibia in Kabul, Afghanistan. After primary and secondary education he went to the US for higher education. From 1971 to 1975 he went to Earlham College Richmond, Indiana, where he was awarded Bachelor’s degree (BA) in Biology. Then he studied from 1975 to 1977 at Indiana University where he received a Master’s degree (MS) in Toxicology. 1977 to 1982 he studied at the University of Washington, Seattle, Washington to be awarded with the Doctoral degree (PhD) in Epidemiology. From 1988 to 1995 he lived in Peshawar, Pakistan where he had different high level jobs. He published 18 Publications between 1985 and 2009. After that he worked with WHO. From 2005 to 2009 he was the Deputy Minister Public Health in Kabul. Dr. Faizullah Kakar was a Minister Adviser to President Karzai on Health, Education and Higher Education Affairs. He was appointed to this position in 2010. He planned to write and publish a book on the health care system in Afghanistan and to continue serving as advisor to the President of the country at least for the next three years, when his term expires.

 He is married to Mrs. Dr. Suzette Rene Kakar (former: Graber) and they have three children. Faizullah Kakar has dual USA and Afghanistan citizenship. They have a son Sanzar Kakar. His wife, Dr. Suzette Kakar served as a Senior Medical Officer for the World Health Organization (WHO) in Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Faizullah Kakar was nominated by President Ashraf Ghani as Counter-Narcotics Minister.(20150112) Rejected by Wolesi Jirga because of dual citizenship.(20150121)
 

In an interview Afghanistan's ambassador to Qatar, Faizullah Kakar, said that another country should not be negotiating on the use of Afghan territory by militants.

"It is the government that should be deciding, whoever the government is, that the territory is used or not used against another country," he said. (20190320)
 

The Office of the Chief of Staff in a statement said President Ghani has issued a decree confirming Mr. Kakar’s appointment as his new Chief of Staff.(20190630)

Kakar is fluent in English, Pashtu and Persian/Dari.

Last Modified 2020-04-09
Established 2009-10-21