Afghan Biographies

Daoud, Muhammad Eng.


Name Daoud, Muhammad Eng.
Ethnic backgr. Pashtun
Date of birth 1957
Function/Grade Ex-Governor
History and Biodata

2. Previous Functions:
Provincial Governor Helmand (2005 - 2006)

3. Biodata:
Muhammad Daoud Mohammad Daud was born in Helmand in 1957. He studied civil engineering, specializing in irrigation at the famous Kabul polytechnic, graduating in 1980 with a Bachelor of Science. Following that he wanted to build apartments for the Afghan Ministry of Defense in Kabul, before fleeing to join the resistance in the early 80’s. It is said he is from Pashtun Safi tribe and he is close to Gulbuddin Hekmatyar.

Later Daud joined the freedom fighters in Helmand were he quickly rose as the liaison point between field commanders and the leadership in the freedom fighters city of Quetta. It was at that time he assisted the refugees fleeing the soviets. He went into communist controlled southern Afghanistan on a number of occasions, delivering much needed food and supplies to ordinary villagers.

The 1990 In the 1990’s Mohammad Daud continued to help the people of southern Afghanistan. He joined the NGO’s assisting afghan refugees with food, accommodation and medical assistance, and was elected by to head the NGO co-ordination body for southern Afghanistan (SWABAC) and subsequent elected to co-ordinate NGO and UN activity in that area; the first time a non-UN person held that post.

After September 2001, Mohammad Daud joined the Administration of Hamid Karzai, as a Director in the office of the newly constituted National Security Council in 2002. In that role, he worked very closely with President Karzai, The National Security Advisor and senior international colleagues as lead on combat prisoner issues, Camp x-ray and the reconciliation commission (PTS).

The Times of London reported that the British government requested Daoud's appointment. 4,000 British troops were posted to Helmand, following Daoud's appointment. Daoud had requested additional British troops. The Times report described Daoud as one of the few Governors of Afghanistan who observers were confident was honest. Radio Free Europe quoted critical comments from journalist Ahmed Rashid, about extraordinary support the Hamid Karzai Presidency was providing Daoud's predecessor.

In November 2006 a British Foreign Office official expressed frustration that Afghanistan's President Hamid Karzai had appointed Daoud's predecessor Sher Mohammed Akhundzada to Afghanistan's Upper House; continued to meet with him, and appointed his brother, Amir Muhammad Akhundzada, as Daoud's deputy.

Daud said after he was fired: “I think in Afghanistan, particularly Helmand province, the opium business has a strong role in everything — security, administration, corruption, terrorist activities. The mafia or drug smugglers are against eradication, law enforcement, peace and stability and against me. That’s the real struggle in our area." The Times reported that Daoud's deputy, Amir Muhammad Akhundzada, had also been replaced. They also reported that Daoud declined an appointment to be Governor of Farah Province.

Last Modified 2012-04-04
Established 2012-04-04