Mullah Abdul Salam Zaeef was the Taliban’s ambassador to Pakistan in 2001 and one of the most well-known faces of the movement following the 9-11 attacks.

Born in southern Afghanistan in 1968, he played a role in many of the historical events of his lifetime: as mujahed in the 1980s war against the Soviets, to administrative positions within the Taliban movement, to imprisonment in Guantánamo jail, to a role of public advocacy and criticism of the US-backed Karzai government following his release in 2005.  He lives in Kabul.

Felix Kuehn travelled to Afghanistan first some 5 years ago, having spent several years in the Middle East including just short of a year in Yemen, where he first learnt Arabic in 2002.  In 2006, he founded AfghanWire.com together with Alex Strick van Linschoten.  He is currently working on a history of southern Afghanistan 1970-2001 together with Alex Strick van Linschoten.

He speaks Arabic, English and German and can get by in French and Spanish.  He hopes to be able to say the same about Pashtu soon.  Felix holds a degree from the School of Oriental and African Studies (BA Arabic and Development Studies), and lives permanently in Kandahar, Afghanistan.

A graduate of the School of Oriental and African Studies (BA Arabic and Persian), Alex Strick van Linschoten first came to Afghanistan six years ago as a tourist.  In 2006, he founded AfghanWire.com together with Felix Kuehn.  He is currently working on a book and PhD at the War Studies Department of King’s College London on the interactions between Sufi groups and militant jihadi organisations in Iraq, Afghanistan, Chechnya and Somalia, as well as on a history of southern Afghanistan 1970-2001 together with Felix Kuehn.

He has worked as a freelance journalist from Afghanistan, Syria, Lebanon and Somalia, writing for Foreign Policy, International Affairs, ABC Nyheter, The Sunday Times (UK), The Globe and Mail (Canada) and The Tablet (UK).  He speaks Arabic, Farsi, Pashtu and German and can get by in French and Dutch.  He lives permanently in Kandahar, Afghanistan.

© Philip Poupin 2008