Afghan Biographies

Haidari, Mohammad Ashraf


Name Haidari, Mohammad Ashraf
Ethnic backgr. Tajik
Date of birth
Function/Grade Ambassador to Sri Lanka Colombo
History and Biodata

1. Former Ambassador to Sri Lanka:
Shaida Mohammad Abdali served as Afghanistan’s non-resident Ambassador to Sri Lanka
Azizuddin Ahmadzada (2013)

Mohammad Ashraf Haidari (2018, 2019)
2. Previous Functions of Mohammad Ashraf Haidari:
Assistant Vice President Federal Relation
Research Analyst
Assistent Director of Development in Georgetown University
UNHCR official in Mazar-i-Sharif· (1992-1995)
UNWFP official in Mazar-i-Sharif (1995-1997)
Afghan Embassy Washington, DC, various functions: Chargé d'Affaires, Counselor (Political), Acting Defense Attaché, First Secretary (Political, Security and Development Affairs), Director of Government an Media Relations, (2004-2010)
Afghan Embassy Washington DC, Deputy Chief of Mission, Political Counsellor (20101100) Chargé d’Affaires on September 22, 2010
 Deputy Assistant National Security Advisor of Afghanistan (2011-2012)
US NGO Roots of Peace Executive Member (20140328)
Deputy Chief of Mission (Minister Counselor) of Afghanistan to India (2012-2015)
Director-General of Policy and Strategy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Afghanistan (2015-2018)
Ambassador to Sri Lanke (20191212)

3. Biodata:
haidari_ashraf2Mohammad Ashraf Haidari hails from Kabul, where was born between 1970 and 1980. He later grew up in Mazar-i-Sharif, provincial Capital of Balkh Province, where he lived as a internally displaced person and where he went to school. He studied at Bakhter High School. His ethnic background  is Tajik/ Pashtun.

During 2000, Haidari studied International Relations at the Kent State University Study-Abroad Program in Geneva, Switzerland, and conducted research on the Hazara refugees at the UNHCR Regional Bureau for South West and Central Asia. Wabash College in Indiana admitted Haidari as an International Merit Scholar where he obtained a B.A. in Political Science and International Studies in May 2001. During 2002-2003, Haidari was a Fellow in Foreign Service and studied International Diplomacy at the Georgetown University Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service where he was a Peace Scholar completing his second year of Master of Arts in Security Studies. Haidari has co-authored a strategy paper on "Reconstruction, Commerce, and Trade in Afghanistan" published in "Afghanistan: Looking Forward the Future", Georgetown University, 2002. He was working as Government and Media Relations Officer at the Embassy of Afghanistan in Washington, DC. Later he became Deputy Chief of Mission. His assignment at the Afghan Embassy in Washington DC endet in 2010. He said he will soon return home to take up a new assignment at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Afghanistan.

He is a frequent lecturer on Afghanistan and regional security issues, haven spoken at many public and academic forums. His writings have appeared in numerous prominent US print media (Washington Post, NYT, et.al.) Haidari frequents major TV and Radio Shows in the US to discuss Afghanistan and regional affairs. He gives interviews to News agencies (CNN, Al Jazeeras, BBC et.al.)

Haidari is married and has a son.

Haidari speaks Dari (Farsi), English, Russian and French.

Last Modified 2019-12-12
Established 2010-09-03