Juma Khan Hamdard, the governor of Paktia province is born in 1954 in Balkh district of Balkh province. He is graduated from a high school. Hamdard was a prominent jihadi commander in Northern provinces during the Russian invasion and was appointed by Hezb-i-Islami Afghanistan as organizing director of the party there.
 
After a brief resistance during the Taliban era, he was immigrated to Iran while after the collapse of Taliban, he returned to the country. He was then appointed as commander of the military corps number eight in 2002, Baghlan governor in 2003 and Jowzjan governor in 2004.
 
In 2006, he was appointed as President’s advisor in border and tribal affairs and the governor of Paktia.
 
His native language is Pashto but he speaks Dari and to some extent English as well.