Haron Amin facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Haron Amin
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Mohammad Haron Amin in 2001
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| Afghan Ambassador to Japan | |
| In office April 30, 2004 – April 30, 2009 |
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| President | Hamid Karzai |
| Succeeded by | Eklil Ahmad Hakimi |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Mohammad Haron Amin
19 July 1969 Kabul, Kingdom of Afghanistan |
| Died | 14 February 2015 (aged 45) Phoenix, Arizona, U.S. |
Mohammad Haron Amin (born July 19, 1969 – died February 14, 2015) was an important diplomat from Afghanistan. He served as the Afghan ambassador to Japan from 2004 to 2009. He was also well-known for being a spokesperson for the Northern Alliance. This group worked against the Taliban government in Afghanistan.
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Early Life and Career
Mohammad Haron Amin was born in Kabul, the capital city of Afghanistan. His family belonged to the Tajik people. In 1979, the Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan. One year later, his family had to leave their home. They eventually moved to the United States.
In 1988, Haron Amin went back to Afghanistan. He joined the mujahideen, a group fighting against the Soviet forces. He worked under a famous commander named Ahmed Shah Massoud. In 1990, Massoud assigned Amin to work at Afghanistan's embassy in Washington.
Amin continued to work for the Afghan foreign ministry. This was until the Taliban took control of the government in 1996. When the September 11 attacks happened in 2001, Amin was working as a diplomat. He was part of the Afghan mission to the United Nations.
Diplomatic Roles
After the September 11 attacks, the United States led an invasion of Afghanistan. Haron Amin became a consistent voice in American media. He spoke for the Northern Alliance.
On January 14, 2002, the new Afghan government appointed Amin. He became the chargé d'affaires to the United States. This meant he was the highest-ranking Afghan diplomat in Washington for about a year.
In 2004, President Hamid Karzai chose Haron Amin for a new role. On April 30, 2004, he became Afghanistan's first ambassador to Japan. He served in this important position until 2009.
Education and Writings
In 2002, Newsweek magazine recognized Haron Amin. They named him one of 77 "People for the Future."
He continued his education while working. In 2005, he earned a master's degree in political science. He studied at St. John's University. Later, he also earned a Certificate of International Law from the same school.
In 2007, Haron Amin wrote a book. It was called Afghan–Japan Relations: Lands Under the Rising Sun. The book explored the history and similarities between Japan and Afghanistan. It was the first book to directly compare their pasts and cultures.
Awards and Recognition
Haron Amin received several honors for his work:
- Freedom, Faith and Hope Medal, from Georgetown University, USA (2002)
- President's Medal, from La Salle University, USA (2002)
Later Life and Passing
Haron Amin was diagnosed with cancer in 2011. He bravely fought the illness for several years. He passed away on February 14, 2015. He died in a hospital near Phoenix, Arizona, in the United States.
