User:Stanagul sherzad/sandbox

Stanagul Sherzad was born on 20th of April 1954, in Sherzad district, Ningarhar Afghanistan. His father, late Shah Rasool, was an honest, brave and well known military officer during the reign of King Zaher Shah.

After completing his elementary education in the Primary School of Toto and his secondary school in Faqrullah High School, he studied some Islamic books from the well- known Islamic scholars of Sherzad district.

Later, he joined the department of geography and history at the University of Kabul. From which he graduated in 1977 with a degree in social sciences. After the graduation from the University of Kabul he then fulfilled the compulsory military service in Wazir Military Academy in Ningarhar province.

He joined the Afghan Mellat (Afghan Social Democratic Party) in 1967 because of his political ideals and visions. Afghan Mellat has been the unique party in entire Afghanistan which believes in the principles of Islam, democracy, social justice and freedom. Through becoming an active member of Afghan Mellat Party he wanted to serve his homeland and people under the holy slogan of Khoday (God), Watan (homeland) and Mellat (nation).

From 1976 until 1986 he was responsible for the political, cultural, social and financial affairs of the party.

In 1978 after the coup d’état of the communist party he had to leave Afghanistan and emigrated to Pakistan due to political reasons.

In 1988 he was appointed as a General Secretary of Afghan Mellat Party. From 1988 until 1999 he served in the capacity of General Secretary in the same party. Due to his persistent wish to serve his people and country he joined in the exile the Afghan Teachers Training Center (ATTC) in Peshawar. This center was donated and funded by the Belgium government. In1989 he worked as teacher in Khogyani High School in Peshawar. However, because of his political involvement and responsibilities he could not continue to work as a teacher for a long time.

In order to participate in the freedom and independence struggle of Afghans against Soviet occupation army and communist regime he entered Afghanistan and took over the command of Afghan Mujahedeen in Paktia and in Ningarhar provinces. He had successfully commanded the first military revolt against the communist regime in Pachir-i- Agam District, in Ningarhar province.

Later, he served as a military commander of the Afghan Mujahedeen in Paktia province for two years and fought there against the enemies of Islam and Afghanistan. Mr. Sherzad was not only politically active inside Afghanistan, but also in Pakistan. For instance, he played a key role in leading and organizing the political and military struggle of Afghan people against the Soviet´s intervention in Afghanistan. Actually he has dedicated his whole life to support with all means and tools the resistance of Afghan Mujahedeen in Peshawar.

Furthermore, in Pakistan he made efforts and spoke out openly for the protection of human rights, peaceful and democratic Afghanistan. Mr.Sherzad and his party were under constant pressure and threats from the enemies of a free, independent, tranquil and peaceful Afghanistan in Peshawar. In spite of all these hurdles and problems he did not give up and continued his political struggle by organizing many anti-terror demonstrations and conferences in order to achieve his objectives and goals.

It is worthy to mention that these demonstrations and conferences were supported and visited by a large number of Afghan politicians, intellectuals and supporters of democracy.

For bringing peace, stability and reconciliation to Afghanistan Mr. Sherzad founded along with other Afghan intellectuals, politicians and technocrats such as late commander Abudlhaq, late Abdul Hakim Katawazai etc., an Afghan movement which was called Shora-i-Tafahom (Council of Understanding) in Peshawar. Besides being the member of the executive committee of Shora-i-Tafahom, he was leading and making strategies and plans as a General Secretary for his party in Peshawar. He managed to lead his party in very challenging and difficult times in the history of the Party. As a General Secretary of Afghan Mellat Party Mr. Sherzad attended numerous national and international conferences for seeking a political solution to the Afghan conflict. Mr. Sherzad participated in a conference which was organized by a parliamentary group of the German Social Democratic Party in 1988 in Germany.

In 1990, he was officially invited to India for discussing the Afghan problem. It was a high level visit which was hosted and organized by the Indian government. As a General Secretary of ASDP he had the honor to attend the World´s Social Democrats Conference in Berlin in 1992. In the same year he was invited to Austria by the president of Austrian Parliament for debating on Afghan conflict. In 1997 he was requested to participate in a conference in Tehran. The conference which included all Afghan political leaders and parties focused on searching for a political solution for the Afghan conflict. In his address to the convention Mr. Sherzad underlined the political stand of Afghan Mellat Party regarding the Afghan problem. He emphasized on seeking a political solution and promoting a dialogue between all involved parties and groups in the Afghan conflict. Furthermore, he condemned and warned about the consequences of the foreign interference of the regional powers in the internal affairs of Afghanistan. He requested the international community to support Afghan people in rebuilding their war shattered country and stop the intervention of the neighbor countries in Afghanistan. One year later he took part in another conference in Tehran which was convened by the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The agenda of the above mentioned conference was again the afghan conflict. From 2002 until 2005, he served as the president of the Afghan Associations Federation in Holland. The Afghan Associations Federation represents more than 53 afghan social and cultural organizations in the whole world. As a chairman of the Afghan Associations Federation in Holland he was defending and and made efforts for the rights of Afghan refugees at European level. He has been able to accomplish a lot for the welfare and sake of the Afghan refugees in whole Europe. In the summer of 2007, he was re-elected for the third time as a General Secretary of Afghan Afghan Mellat Party in a party congress, which was held in the tent of Loya Jirga in Kabul.

After 5 years 03-10-2012 afghanmellat had their 6th congress. Where Mr sherzad elected as new leader of afghanmellat party. At present he lives in Kabul and has devoted his life and energy for the service of his party and people. In addition of his political struggle and efforts Mr. Sherzad continued his political and social struggle in written form as well. He had published and written three books under the names of Imperialism and Nationalism, Political Expressions and Political Teaching so far. Furthermore, his political engagement included publishing hundreds of articles on political and social topics. These articles and interviews were widely published in different press media such as Afghan newspapers, Afghan Televisions, Pakistan newspapers, Voice of America and BBC. Pashto is Mr. Sherzad´s native language, but he speaks Dari and Dutch as well.