{{Short description|Afghan military commander (born 1992)}} {{Infobox military person | name = Hasib Markaz<br/>{{nobold|{{lang|prs|حسیب مرکز}}}} | native_name_lang = prs | image = File:Hasib qoway markaz.jpg | alt = | birth_date = 28 January 1992 | birth_place = Abdara, Panjshir Province, Islamic State of Afghanistan | nickname = Knight of Panjshir | allegiance = National Resistance Front | service_years = 2021–present | rank = | unit = Special Force | battles = {{tree list}} * Republican insurgency in Afghanistan {{tree list/end}} }} '''Hasib Qoway Markaz Panjshiri'''{{Efn|{{langx|prs|حسیب قوای مرکز پنجشيری}}}} (born 28 January 1992) is an Afghan military commander who is one of the key commanders of the National Resistance Front (NRF). He is currently in charge of the Special Forces of the NRF in Panjshir province.
== Early life and background == Hasib Qoway Markaz Panjshiri was born on 28 January 1992 in Abdara, Panjshir province, to an ethnic Tajik family.{{Sfn|Ahmad|2023}} In 2014, after completing higher military education, he entered the special units of the (National Directorate of Security). Markaz left the NDS in 2018. Later in 2019, he broadcast a video tape and claimed that the NDS asked him to assassinate six of the country's elites,{{Sfn|Amiry|2021}} but he refused.{{Sfn|''Ariana News''|2019}} After these statements, the National Security Directorate of Afghanistan issued a warrant for his arrest. In a statement, the Ministry of Interior accused Markaz of three murders and stated that he will be arrested soon.{{Sfn|Azhar|2019}} On March 24, 2019, special forces of National Directorate of Security (NDS) and the Ministry of Interior of Afghanistan (MOA) went to Panjshir province to arrest him. After several hours of fighting, the Afghan Ministry of Interior announced that the operation to capture Markaz by the central forces had failed.
After the fall of Kabul on 15 August 2021, Markaz with the forces under his command, led by Ahmad Massoud, prepared for armed defense against the Taliban. With frequent Taliban attacks on Panjshir Valley and bloody conflicts in this province, he was able to inflict heavy casualties on the Taliban,{{Sfn|''Panjshir News''|2022}} but due to the lack of ammunition, lack of sufficient forces and the breaking of the battle lines by Taliban infiltrators, Markaz with the forces under his command had to retreat.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Taliban says it has captured Panjshir, Resistance Front: War continues |url=https://www.bbc.com/persian/afghanistan-58459529.amp/ |access-date=2021-09-06 |website=BBC Persian |ref={{SfnRef|''BBC''|2021}}}}</ref>
In 2022, during the chain of conflicts and intense attacks by the Taliban in the Panjshir Valley, Markaz managed to shoot down a fleet of Russian Mi-17 helicopters belonging to Taliban forces. He captured two Taliban pilots and one senior commander who were onboard the chopper.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Taliban launches fresh attacks in Panjshir Valley to rescue its commander|url=https://www.indianarrative.com/world-news/taliban-launches-fresh-attacks-in-panjshir-valley-to-rescue-its-commander-40374.html|website=India Narrative}}</ref>
In 2025, Markaz and another NRF commander Khalid Amiri, appeared in photos, claiming presence in mountains of Afghanistan.{{Sfn|''Afghanistan International''|2025}}<ref>{{Cite web |title=Hasib Qowai Markaz's Message: The Path of the Martyrs Continues. |url=https://elmedia.news/en/hasib-qowai-markazs-message-the-path-of-the-martyrs-continues/?v=1772031286 |access-date=2026-02-25 |website=El Media |language=en-US}}</ref> Later on, NRF military leader Qadam Shah Shahim confirmed NRF presence in Afghanistan.{{Sfn|''Afg International''|2025}}
==Notes== {{notelist}}
== References ==
=== Citations === {{Reflist}}
=== Sources === *{{Cite web |last=Amiry |first=Sharif |date=2021 |title=Wanted Man Says 'NDS Asked Him to Commit Assassinations' in Kabul |url=https://tolonews.com/afghanistan/wanted-man-says-%E2%80%98nds-asked-him-commit-assassinations%E2%80%99-kabul |access-date=2021-01-27 |website=TOLO NEWS}} *{{Cite web |last=Ahmad |first=Farid |date=2023-06-20 |title=Hasib Quvoi Markaz: "warlord" or hero of our time? |url=https://sangar.info/en/f/hasib-quvoi-markaz-warlord-or-hero-of-our-time |access-date=2025-10-31 |website=sangar.info |language=en-gb}} *{{Cite web |year=2019 |title=NDS is involved in the assassination of elites |url=https://www.ariananews.af/fa/%D8%AD%D8%B3%DB%8C%D8%A8-%D9%82%D9%88%D8%A7%DB%8C-%D9%85%D8%B1%DA%A9%D8%B2-%D8%A7%D8%B2-%D8%A7%D9%85%D9%86%DB%8C%D8%AA-%D9%85%D9%84%DB%8C-%D8%AF%D8%B3%D8%AA%D9%88%D8%B1-%D8%AA%D8%B1%D9%88%D8%B1/ |website=Ariana News |ref={{SfnRef|''Ariana News''|2019}}}} *{{Cite web |last=Azhar |first=Massoud |year=2019 |title=Ministry of Interior: "Hasib Quwai Markaz" is accused of three murders and will arrested |url=https://tolonews.com/fa/afghanistan/%D9%88%D8%B2%D8%A7%D8%B1%D8%AA-%D8%AF%D8%A7%D8%AE%D9%84%D9%87-%C2%AB%D8%AD%D8%B3%DB%8C%D8%A8-%D9%82%D9%88%D8%A7%DB%8C-%D9%85%D8%B1%DA%A9%D8%B2%C2%BB-%D8%A8%D9%87-%D8%B3%D9%87%E2%80%8C%D9%82%D8%AA%D9%84-%D9%85%D8%AA%D9%87%D9%85-%D8%A7%D8%B3%D8%AA-%D9%88-%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%B2%D8%AF%D8%A7%D8%B4%D8%AA-%D9%85%DB%8C%E2%80%8C%D8%B4%D9%88%D8%AF |website=TOLO NEWS}} *{{Cite web |date=2022-02-07|title=برای آزادی، شرف، عزت و هویتمان میجنگیم {{!}} پنجشیرنیوز |url=https://www.panjshirnews.com/interview/496/%D8%A2%D8%B2%D8%A7%D8%AF%DB%8C-%D8%B4%D8%B1%D9%81-%D8%B9%D8%B2%D8%AA-%D9%87%D9%88%DB%8C%D8%AA%D9%85%D8%A7%D9%86-%D9%85%DB%8C-%D8%AC%D9%86%DA%AF%DB%8C%D9%85 |access-date=2025-10-31 |website=پنجشیرنیوز {{!}}خبرگزاری صدای افغانستان |language=fa |ref={{SfnRef|''Panjshir News''|2022}}}} *{{Cite web |date=2025-05-17 |title=NRF Confirms Its Forces Are Active Across Afghanistan |url=https://www.afintl.com/en/202505174677 |access-date=2025-10-24 |website=www.afintl.com |language=en |ref={{SfnRef|''Afg International''|2025}}}} *{{Cite web |date=2025-05-17 |title=Two Afghan Resistance Commanders Appear In New Photos, Claim Presence In Mountains |url=https://www.afintl.com/en/202505179941 |access-date=2025-10-24 |website=www.afintl.com |language=en |ref={{SfnRef|''Afghanistan International''|2025}}}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Markaz, Hasib}} Category:1992 births Category:Living people Category:Afghan Tajik people Category:Spymasters Category:Directors of intelligence agencies Category:21st-century Afghan people Category:People from Panjshir Province Category:Tajik military personnel Category:Afghan military officers