When Najiba was an 11-year-old child when her father was the Afghan Health minister, Dr Zeary. They were invited by Afghan President Hafizullah Amin, along with many other cabinet ministers, to a housewarming party of his new home, the Taj Beg Palace. On this night, on 27 December 1979, Russia invaded Afghanistan. The palace was attacked in Operation Storm-33, and a number of Afghan's were killed, including President Amin, and his two sons. The youngest son was 11-years old and died from shrapnel wounds. Najiba and her family survived the attack, although they were incarcerated in prison for some time directly after the attack.