Babrak Shinwari
Mobile: 0799476411

2. Previous Functions:
Wolesi Jirga Member 2005 MP MNA Nangahar

3. Biodata
Babrak Shinwari was born 1948 in Nangahar Province. Ex-General Babrak Shinwari, was the former head of the youth affairs section of the PDPA under Taraki and Amin, who migrated to Peshawar in Pakistan in the winter of 1992. Babrak Shinwari, who also served as a deputy minister during the 'communist' years. Being a Khalqi, he was imprisoned by Babrak Karmal in December 1979, when Russian forces entered Kabul. He remained in the infamous Pule Charkhi jail for 10 years when he was released by Dr Najibullah in 1989.

Shinwari migrated to Peshawar in the winter of 1992 when Sibghatullah Mujadidi was in power in Kabul. He kept a very low profile as most of his party colleagues were either killed by rival factions or fled to Europe and the United States. Shinwari brushed aside allegations that Pakhtoons were not given fair representation on the grand traditional council.

He later helped found the Afghanistan-Pakistan People Friendship Society and was elected member of the Loya Jirga by a council of elders from Nazyan Shinwari area of Nangarhar province. He is a fierce opponent of President Karzai and he was a member of the Committee on women affairs in Wolesi Jirga 2005.

Shinwari was a pivotal player in organising a jirga of elders from both Afghanistan and Pakistan in order to control increasing terrorism and militancy. In 2006, Shinwari was President of the Pakistan-Afghanistan Friendship Association. In 2008 Shinwari visited the UK to discuss plans to implement a programme that would convert poppy cultivation to pomegranate cultivation, known as the POM354 initiative. He is convinced that replacing poppies with viable alternatives is a top priority.

He was campaigning for the Presidency and his close Pakistan-Afghanistan relations will be invaluable.