Hamid Karzai

Hamid Karzai speaking at a major conference in Germany

Hamid Karzai (Pashto: حامد کرزی, Hāmid Karzay; born 24 December 1957) has been the President of Afghanistan since 7 December 2004. He was the first democratically elected leader of the country. Before 2004 he served as interim president since December 2001. He is ethnic Pashtun from Kandahar and can speak several different language, including English, French, Persian, Urdu and his native Pashto language. He was educated in Afghanistan and India. He lived in Pakistan before becoming popular in late 2001. He has many family members and relatives living in the United States.