Photo: US Embassy Kabul Afghanistan (U.S. Department of State), cropped by Officer / Public domain (source: Wikimedia Commons)
Zalmay Khalilzad was born in Mazar-i-Sharif, Balkh Province, Afghanistan on March 22, 1951. Zalmay Khalilzad is listed as a diplomat, politician and ambassador. That works out to 75 years old in 2026. Schooling on record includes American University of Beirut. Recorded honors include Order of the Golden Fleece and Great Immigrants Award (2006).
My Take
Zalmay Khalilzad strikes me as one of the most fascinating bridge figures of his generation. Born in 1951 in Mazar-i-Sharif and educated at the American University of Beirut, he rose to the heights of American diplomacy, serving as ambassador to the United Nations and as special representative for Afghan reconciliation. His work is inevitably contested, given how high the stakes were, but I respect a man who tied half his life to the fate of his birthplace. As a story of an immigrant operating at the very top of statecraft, his name deserves remembering, whatever one's politics.
1. Profile
- Name (English)
- Zalmay Khalilzad
- Name (Japanese)
- ザルメイ・ハリルザド
- Reading
- ざるめい・はりるざど
- Born
- March 22, 1951 (age 75)
- Zodiac / Chinese zodiac
- Aries / Rabbit
- Origin
- Mazar-i-Sharif, Balkh Province, Afghanistan
- Occupation
- diplomat / politician / ambassador
2. Background
- University
- American University of Beirut
Awards & achievements
- Order of the Golden Fleece
- 2006 Great Immigrants Award
3. Links
4. About this entry
Tags
- Last updated
- 2026-06-21
Facts are limited to publicly available information up to 2024; non-public or unconfirmed items are omitted. English text is machine-assisted (facts translated by Sonnet, "My Take" written by Opus 4.8). The Japanese page is the source of record.
Frequently asked questions
When was Zalmay Khalilzad born?
Born March 22, 1951 (age 75).
Where is Zalmay Khalilzad from?
Zalmay Khalilzad is from Mazar-i-Sharif, Balkh Province, Afghanistan.
What does Zalmay Khalilzad do?
Zalmay Khalilzad works as diplomat, politician, ambassador.
Diplomat — see all → · Politician — see all → · More people from Afghanistan →