Although his father was determined that Hani, like his older brother, would become a doctor, Hani decided to study computer engineering and travelled to India. But he became unsatisfied with the program, felt lost, and dropped out of school. He travelled to various countries in search of a path. In 1991, he travelled to Afghanistan to support the U.S-supported mujahideen against the Soviet-backed communist government. During that conflict, shrapnel became lodged his skull, causing lasting impairment. He studied and worked at the Khalden camp, which rejected the extremism of al Qaeda and did not believe in targeting civilians.