Taliban Stops Tribal Elders Meeting With Hamid Karzai in Kabul
Taliban officials in Kabul halted a meeting between tribal elders and Hamid Karzai
Reliable sources in Kabul say Taliban officials entered the home of Hamid Karzai in Kabul on Wednesday morning, the first day of Mehr, and prevented a number of tribal elders and residents who had gone to meet Afghanistan’s former president from doing so. According to the sources, the armed forces present at the scene also dispersed the protesters.
The sources said those who had gone to Karzai’s house were not allowed to meet him, and some of the tribal elders were treated in a “disrespectful” manner during the incident. They said these people entered Karzai’s residence without prior coordination.
The reason for the move remains unclear, and the Taliban administration has not offered any explanation. It is also not known on whose orders the raid was carried out, but the sources stressed that no attempt was made to detain Hamid Karzai in the incident.
One source said this latest restriction was likely linked to Hamid Karzai’s recent statements on political developments in Afghanistan. Last week, in two separate messages marking the anniversary of the assassinations of Ahmad Shah Massoud and Burhanuddin Rabbani, he paid tribute to the two political and jihadist figures.
The sources also reported tighter restrictions on Hamid Karzai’s social and political activities. Based on this information, he cannot meet domestic and foreign figures, diplomats and political leaders without permission.
According to the sources, the Taliban administration had previously imposed restrictions on Karzai’s movement and activities. In past years, several of his foreign trips were blocked, and in the month of Saratan he was also not allowed to travel to Kandahar, his hometown.
The sources also said several senior Taliban officials have asked him not to make public comments on the country’s political situation, girls’ education and other issues.
Hamid Karzai has remained in Afghanistan since the Taliban returned to power. During this period, he has made only limited trips, including to Germany, the United Arab Emirates and Britain, and it has been reported that at least some of these visits were for medical examinations.
