Abdul Matin Baig
Matin Bek | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1987 Hazar Sumuch District, Takhar Province, Afghanistan |
| Other names | Abdul Matin Beyk |
| Occupation | Politician |
| Known for | Chief of Staff under President Ashraf Ghani; Chairman of Independent Directorate of Local Governance (IDLG) |
Matin Bek (born 1987 in Hazar Sumuch District, Takhar Province), also referred to as Abdul Matin Beyk, held the position of Chief of Staff under President of Afghanistan Ashraf Ghani.
Early life and education
Originating from Takhar province, Bek earned his bachelor's degree at Delhi University and completed a master's degree in political science at Jawaharlal Nehru University. He was among 29 siblings born to his father, who had four wives.
Political career
Bek provided counsel to the Ministry of Interior Affairs as well as to the deputy chief of the National Directorate of Security responsible for provincial matters. In 2017, he assumed leadership as chairman of the Independent Directorate of Local Governance (IDLG), where he championed appointments based on competence rather than favoritism and advocated for women's rights advancement. Additionally, Bek took part in peace talks involving the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan and the Taliban.
Following the Fall of Kabul, Bek remained a firm supporter of the deposed president Ashraf Ghani, though he later conveyed feelings of being "deceived and betrayed," despite his dedication to fostering national unity and progress in Afghanistan.
Media
Bek featured in the BBC documentary titled Afghanistan: Getting Out.
Personal life
His spouse, Adela Raz, served as Afghan Ambassador of Afghanistan to the United States from July 2021 until February 2022. The couple jointly appeared on a podcast produced by the BBC World Service.
Bek’s father, Abdul Motalib Bek, was a prominent Tajik tribal chief, former parliamentarian, and an anti-Soviet Mujahid affiliated with the United Front. He was killed by a Taliban suicide bombing in December 2011.