Established in 2005, the university is named after the late Marshal Mohammad Fahim, an Afghan political and military leader who served as the first vice president of Afghanistan from 2004 until his death in 2014.

MFNDU educates and trains military officers, senior civil servants, and professionals from various government and non-government organizations in Afghanistan and other partner nations.

The university also offers short-term courses, workshops, and seminars for professionals in specific fields, conducts research on various security and defense-related issues, and publishes academic papers, reports, and policy briefs.

The key to Qargha's historical and strategic importance is its geographical position, lying on the western outskirts of Kabul, a low plateau dominated to the north and west by a crescent-shaped range of hills.

To the southwest the pass leading to Wardak, Ghazni and Kandahar form a deep V shape cut into the mountains; to the west lie the Paghman mountains, the Paghman plateau and the road leading into the Hazarajat; and to the north, beyond the ridge, the Kabul valley extends to Bagram, Charikar and the passes at Parwan and into the Panjshir Valley[citation needed].

The valley in which the university is situated has witnessed the passage of Afghanistan's invaders throughout recorded history, from Mongols, Alexander the Great in 326 BC to Genghis Khan in 1222 AD, followed by Tamerlane (Timur) in 1380 and Babur in 1504.

The decision of Abdul Rashid Dostum to move his Jowzjani militia out of Qargha to join Ahmad Shah Massoud’s coalition of warlords in the north and northeast of the country contributed to the downfall of Mohammad Najibullah's government.

The installations left over from the Royal Army and Soviet periods made it an ideal site for the Taliban, who moved in and used it as a training and ordnance depot.

Schools include Armor, Artillery, Human Resources, Signal, Infantry, Engineer, Legal, Military Police, Logistics, Religious/Cultural Affairs, Intelligence and Finance.

[7] On 29 March 2012 UK Defence Secretary Philip Hammond met with Afghan General Abdul Rahim Wardak and signed a statement of intent on developing the academy.

On 19 July 2012 on a visit to Kabul the British Prime Minister David Cameron signed a Memorandum of Understanding for the UK to provide mentors and advisors to the Afghan National Army Officer Academy.

[10] The first concrete steps were taken 10 Oct 12 to start the construction of the academy with a ground breaking ceremony attended by a number of dignitaries including the ANA Chief of General Staff General Shir Mohammad Karimi, Her Majesty's Ambassador to Afghanistan Sir Richard Stagg, ISAF Deputy Commander Lt. Gen. Adrian Bradshaw and Commander of the NATO Training Mission (NTM-A) Lt Gen Bolger.

Training is being delivered by a staff of Afghan officers and soldiers in cooperation with a team of mentors from the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Denmark and Norway.

[citation needed] In April 2019, at Marshal Fahim National Defense University (MFNDU), the women's participation program (WPP) was awarded 5 buildings at 3 sites.