A number of Afghan politicians at a gathering in Kabul on Friday marked the 13th anniversary of the death of Sayed Mustafa Kazemi, the former Minister of Commerce, Kabul MP, and head of the Economic Commission of the Wolesi Jirga, the Lower House of the Parliament, who lost his life in a suicide bombing in Baghlan on November 6, 2007.
Kazemi was traveling to Kunduz when he had a stop in Baghlan province to visit a local factory where the suicide attack happened that killed 63 students and five other parliament members.
Five other MPs killed in the attack were Abdul Matin, Sibgatullah Zaki, Haji Sahib Rahman Hemat, Nazik Mir Sarferaz and Mohammad Arif Zarif.
Participants at Kabul gathering recalled the heinous attack on Kabul University and said Afghans continue to bear the brunt of the war despite efforts for peace.
Mohammad Mohaqiq, chairman of the People's Islamic Unity Party of Afghanistan, described Kazemi as a figure who established the foundations of unity in the country.
Another speaker of the event, Ata Mohammad Noor, the CEO of Jamiat-e-Islami party, said there is a need to end the war in the country.
He said Afghans are faced with an enemy that has no identity and it targets education centers, universities and mosques.
Kazemi was born in Surkhi Parsa district of Parwan province and he had studied business at Isfahan University in Iran for three years.
After the establishment of the interim government in 2001, he was appointed Minister of Commerce and then, after winning an election, he ws elected as a member of parliament representing Kabul.
Kazemi’s accomplishments include:
• Facilitating help for entrepreneurs for both large and small businesses
• Establishing an Investment Support Directorate
• Obtaining 80% customs exemptions in the United States and India for Afghan goods
• Initiating the construction of the Zaranj—Delaram—Chabahar transit road
• Founding the Afghan Chamber of Commerce and building connections with the US, Korea, Iran and many other countries.
• Attracting investors and creating the High Investment Commission
• Initiating building and renovation of industrial parks in Kabul and many other provinces