Abdul Hakim Katawazi (1925 – 2 November 1995) was a Brigadier General in the Royal Afghan Army, where he served as the commander of the 7th Mechanized Infantry Division in the Central Corps.
Military Career
From 1957 to 1960, Katawazi was in charge of the Junior Officers' School, where he trained new military officers. From 1962 to 1965, he served as the Director General of the Ministry of Defense. After that, he became the Chief of Police in Kabul from 1965 to 1969. He later commanded the 7th Infantry Division, one of the country's main military units, until the 1973 coup d'état.
Early Life and Education
Katawazi was born in 1925 into a religious family in Kherkoot Kotwazi, Paktika province, Kingdom of Afghanistan. At the age of eight, he moved with his father and uncle to Kabul. During this time, his father and uncle were imprisoned due to political unrest in their home region. While his father was imprisoned, Katawazi and his brother attended the Rashidya Military School. He also studied at Yohanton Military Academy and the Turkish Military Academy.
Imprisonment
Following the 1973 Afghan coup d'état that overthrew King Zahir Shah, Katawazi was imprisoned for his loyalty to the king, but he was later released. He was imprisoned again after the Saur Revolution in 1978, but he avoided execution because General Sayed Abdul Ghani Wardak testified that Katawazi was not involved in the coup against the communist government.
Death
He died on 2 November 1995 at the age of 70 in Peshawar, Pakistan.
Awards
He was awarded the Medal of Honour for Faithful Service and Good Conduct.
