At age four, Safi attended Afghanistan's National Army school (Pashto: Arbi Shwanzai) [citation needed].

In 1975, he was appointed as the Commander of Army's 12th Infantry in Gardēz (Dari: گردیز, Pashto: ګردېز), the capital of Paktiā province of Afghanistan [citation needed].

His work as founder and leading instructor of Course-e-Haa, Air Defense, and for translating numerous military books and articles from Turkish to Pashto and Dari was recognized even during the communist regime of Afghanistan [citation needed].

General Safi was forced out of the Army since he did not assist Sardar Mohammed Daoud Khan during his successful coup d'etat in 1973 against King Zahir.

[citation needed] Eventually President Daoud Khan met with Safi and acknowledged his service for Afghanistan rather than for the disposed monarchy, and reappointed him.

[citation needed] The former prime minister, Mohammad Hashim Maiwandwal (Pashto: محمد هاشم میوندوال), was arrested for his alleged part in this plot.

[citation needed] Maiwandwal was supposedly killed by the Parcham (Pashto: پرچم meaning "Banner" or "Flag") wing of the communist party (who controlled the Interior Ministry) during his custody.

[citation needed] General Safi was in Nahrin when he heard the news of the Saur Revolution in 1978, unable to bring his infantry to Kabul to assist President Daoud Khan.

After his return to Kabul, Safi was put under house arrest by the new communist regime for a short period of time, and later on forced to an honorable retirement.

[citation needed] During the communist regime, General Safi was put under house arrest twice during President Nur Muhammad Taraki and then Hafizullah Amin.

He was invited to many government sponsored events but Safi refused to attend, except those related to Afghanistan's military history and culture [citation needed].