The following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to Afghanistan:
Pir Ishaq Gailani is a member of Afghanistan's national legislature, the Wolesi Jirga. He founded the National Solidarity Movement of Afghanistan. His family includes a number of Sufi religious leaders.
Sayed Mahmood Husamuddeen Al-Gailani was elected to represent Ghazni Province in Afghanistan's Wolesi Jirga, the lower house of its National Legislature, in 2005. He is from the Pashtun ethnic group. He is a grandson of Pir Gailani, a prominent Sufi, and leader of an Afghan political party. He doesn't live in Ghazni. He leads the Qadriyya sufi order in Afghanistan. He has worked more for promotion of Qadriyya in Afghanistan
'Ali Akbar Qasimi was elected to represent Ghazni Province in Afghanistan's Wolesi Jirga, the lower house of its National Legislature, in 2005. He is a member of the Hazara ethnic group. He is a General in the Afghan National Army, and was a former commander of the 14th Division, which was garrisoned in Ghazni.
Muhammad Dawood Sultanzoy, is an Afghan presenter and politician elected to represent Ghazni Province in Wolesi Jirga, the lower house of its National Legislature, in 2005. He was a Pashtun from the Ghilzai tribe. He was fluent in English, and prior to his election he was an airline captain for United Airlines. He is noteworthy for promoting women's right to vote.
Hajji Niyaz Mohammad Amiri was elected to represent Ghazni Province in Afghanistan's Wolesi Jirga, the lower house of its National Legislature, in 2005.
Rahila Bibi Kobra Alamshahi was elected to represent Ghazni Province in Afghanistan's Wolesi Jirga, the lower house of its National Legislature, in 2005. She is a member of the Hazara ethnic group. She is a teacher and journalist. She lived as a refugee in Iran for 28 years.
Hajji Zahera Ahmadyar Mawlayee was elected to represent Ghazni Province in Afghanistan's Wolesi Jirga, the lower house of its National Legislature, in 2005. She is a member of the Hazara ethnic group. She was formerly the head of the Ghazni women's shura. She was a University Physics and Math instructor at a medical faculty. She has worked with non-governmental organizations.
Shah Gul Rezai was elected to represent Ghazni Province in Afghanistan's Wolesi Jirga, the lower house of its National Legislature, in 2005. She is a member of the Hazara ethnic group. She was a teacher from the Jaghori district.
Abdul Qayyum Sajjadi was elected to represent Ghazni Province in Afghanistan's Wolesi Jirga, the lower house of its National Legislature, in 2005. He is a member of the Hazara ethnic group. He speaks English and was the editor of a science journal prior to taking office.
Abdul Baqi Baryal came to serve to represent Ghazni Province in Afghanistan's Meshrano Jirga, the upper house of its National Legislature, in 2005. Abdul Baqi Baryal is a member of the Pashtun ethnic group. He was injured by a rocket during the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan, losing a leg and his vision. He was a refugee in Pakistan until 2002. He founded an organization for the disabled when he lived in Pakistan. He is a poet, and the editor of the magazine Bright Heart.
Doctor Abdul Ahmad Zahedi Niqala came to serve to represent Ghazni Province in Afghanistan's Meshrano Jirga, the lower house of its National Legislature, in 2005.
Sohaila Sharifi came to serve to represent Ghazni Province in Afghanistan's Meshrano Jirga, the upper house of its National Legislature, in 2005. She is a member of the Qizilbash ethnic group She was a refugee in Iran for fifteen years, where she ran a non-governmental organization called the Afghan Refugee Association.
Shah Nawaz Khan came to serve to represent Ghazni Province in Afghanistan's Meshrano Jirga, the upper house of its National Legislature, in 2005. He is a member of the Pashtun ethnic group.
Fariba Ahmadi Kakar was elected to represent Kandahar Province in Afghanistan's Wolesi Jirga, the lower house of its National Legislature, in 2005. Born in 1965 in Kandahar, a report on Kandahar prepared at the Navy Postgraduate School stated she was a "self-educated teacher" and a member of the Pashtun ethnic group. She sits on the Communications Committee. In August 2013, while travelling with her children in Gazni, Afghanistan, she was kidnapped by the Taliban who demanded the release of four Taliban prisoners in exchange for the release of Mrs Kakar. On 8 September 2013, she was freed in return for the release of several family members of Taliban fighters held in captivity.
Colonel General Khodaidad is a former Minister of Counter Narcotics of Afghanistan.
Rouh Gul Khairzad is an Afghan politician and senator of the Meshrano Jirga. A teacher for 28 years, Khairzad was elected to the Meshrano Jirga in 2010 from the area of Nimroz, and is one of a number of female elected politicians in Afghanistan. She is the head of the Meshrano Jirga's defense and internal security commission.
The Ghazni offensive began on 10 August 2018, when Taliban fighters launched an assault on the city of Ghazni, Afghanistan's sixth largest city and one which has been culturally and strategically important for much of the country's history. The attack resulted in the deaths of hundreds of insurgents, soldiers, police, and civilians. The city also sustained large-scale property damage. The battle, occurring only weeks before Afghanistan's 2018 parliamentary election, was the largest since a three-day truce in June had raised hopes of peace talks.
