Afghan Biographies

Hakimi, Ahmad Eklil


Name Hakimi, Ahmad Eklil
Ethnic backgr. Pashtun
Date of birth 1968
Function/Grade Ex Senior presidential advisor in international affairs
History and Biodata

2. Previous Functions:
Ambassador People's Republic of China (2005),
Ambassador to Japan (200905-2010),
Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs (Political Affairs) (2010),
Ambassador to the USA (20110217-20150126)
Minister of Finance (201501-20180627, 20161113 survived vote of no confidence) stepped down (20180626)
Senior presidential advisor in international affairs (20180627)

3. Biodata:
EHakimi_Eklilklil Ahmad Hakimi Iklil Ahmad Hakimiwas born in 1968 in Kabul. After his graduation from Estiqlal High School in 1985, he enrolled at the Kabul Polytechnic Institute. He obtained his Masters degree from the Polytechnic Institute in 1992 and joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the same year. In 1994, when the political situation in Kabul deteriorated, he left for the United States of America with his wife Sultana and two young daughters and pursued higher education. From 1995 to 1998, he studied at California Long Beach University and after receiving his diploma, he entered into the private sector, working as an engineer for Liebert, a branch of the well-known American engineering firm Emerson.

Between 1998 and 2002, he worked in banking, engineering, management, marketing, policy formation and strategic planning. When the Interim Administration came to power in 2002, he returned to Afghanistan and worked as an advisor in the fields of policy making, strategic planning, public sector reform programs, restructuring of government institutions, capacity building and donor contribution for the Ministry of Finance, Independent Administrative Reform and Civil Service Commission, the office of the Vice President and other government agencies.

Hakimi presented his Credentials as the new Afghan Ambassador to the USA to President Obama Feb. 23, 2011.

Haroon Alako, the son of Afghan Attorney General, who is the counselor congress affairs of the embassy, has reportedly beaten the Afghan Ambassador and Hassan Sorosh counselor political affairs of the embassy staff. But the Ministry of Foreign Affairs  denied that any physical clash had taken place at the embassy in Washington, saying that it will investigate about it.(20120212)
 

A number of Wolesi Jerga members on Monday accused Afghanistan ambassador, Eklil Hakimi of being involved in embezzlement when buying an Afghan embassy related building in Tokyo (20121112)

It is rumored that Eklil Hakimi will replace Ghulam Jilani Popal (stepped back) as a nominee of President Ashraf Ghani as Minister of Finance.(20150119) Eklil Hakimi has been nominated to Wolesi Jirga as Minister of Finance.(20150120) Wolesi Jirga gave vote of confidence to Nominee for the Ministry of Finance Eklil Hakimi won with 128 votes, 88 against, 21 blank, and eight invalid.(20150128)

Hakimi, who received the medal on 7 August 2016 for “outstanding services,” is a close confidant to president who is often tasked with responsibilities that exceed his position as minister. Abdullah, irritated by the ‘special treatment’ Hakimi and other ministers that are appointed and trusted by Ghani receive, referred to the finance minister again in his speech when he said, “Most ministries are being run by acting ministers and a minister does not have the authority to even appoint an acting official. Once it was said that the minister of finance should appoint the heads of the finance departments of all ministries, but later it was realised that this was against the Afghan Constitution.”
 

Hakimi and his wife Sultana, an engineer and U.S. citizen whom he met and married while both were at university in Kabul, have three daughters: Sameena, Sabiah and Zahra.

Hakimi survived a vote of no confidence received 112 votes of confidence against 85 votes of no confidence and was approved by the parliament. (20161113)
 

Afghanistan’s Finance Minister Eklil Hakimi has announced his resignation, citing personal reasons. The former diplomat told a press conference that June 27 would be his last day in office.(20180626)
 

US property and company records show that Eklil Hakimi, the president’s longtime finance minister and ally, bought at least 10 properties in California, including during Hakimi’s time in office, and after leaving in 2018, sources reported.

According to California property records, Hakimi and his wife’s properties include a five-bedroom home and pool, in a luxury Laguna Niguel community near the beach. It is worth $2.5 million, according to the real-estate company Zillow. In total, the 10 properties are worth more than $10 million. The couple’s latest acquisition, made early this year, was a $1.1 million beachfront South Cove condo in a new development in California, WSJ reported.


Hakimi is fluent in Dari and English, and is well-versed in Pashto, Urdu, and French.

Last Modified 2022-03-13
Established 2009-11-22