KABUL: Former Afghan President Hamid Karzai, who has played a prominent role in Afghan politics for years, has found himself facing travel restrictions imposed by the Islamic Emirate.
This development has raised concerns about the state of political and civic activities within the Taliban-controlled government.
Relatives of Hamid Karzai have confirmed that there is a ban on his travel abroad, despite receiving three official invitations from foreign nations after his return from the United Kingdom. This ban comes as a significant hindrance to his diplomatic engagements and international interactions.
As Shahzada Masoud, a relative of Karzai, explains, Karzai had received official invitations from three countries when he returned to Afghanistan from England, but he was not allowed to travel. As far as internal visits are concerned, Afghans come daily and their documents are checked by the security forces, then they are allowed to enter.
Moreover, Hamid Karzai’s ability to engage in diplomatic meetings and discussions within Afghanistan has also been restricted. A recent incident highlights this constraint, as he was not permitted to meet a delegation of seven individuals from Iran who had travelled to Kabul.
Karzai, known for his active presence on social media, has been sharing updates about his meetings with both Afghan residents and foreign officials. However, a notable gap of eight days existed between his meeting with the Japanese ambassador in Kabul, Takashi Okada, and his previous posts regarding meetings.
Political analysts and observers are expressing concerns about the implications of these restrictions on Hamid Karzai’s political activities and the broader political and civic landscape in the Taliban government. Sayed Javad Sajadi, a political analyst, commented, “The imposition of restrictions on Hamid Karzai’s political activities indicates the restriction of political and civic activities in the Taliban government.”
Najibullah Jami, another political analyst, stressed the importance of safeguarding Afghanistan’s national interests, saying, “Afghanistan’s national interests demand that no restrictions should be imposed on Karzai and any other Afghan.”
At the time of this report, the Islamic Emirate has not issued any official comments or statements regarding the travel restrictions imposed on Hamid Karzai.
It’s worth noting that Hamid Karzai chose to remain in Afghanistan during the reestablishment of the Islamic Emirate and only left the country on July 3, 2022, after fifteen months. During his time in Afghanistan, he has consistently emphasized the need for the creation of a national discourse and the reopening of girls’ schools, reflecting his commitment to Afghan society’s well-being.
