Hamid Karzai

2.1. Birth and family background

Hamid Karzai was born on December 24, 1957, in the Karz area of Kandahar City in southern Afghanistan. He is an ethnic Pashtun and a descendant of the khans, or traditional chiefs, of the influential Popalzai tribe, a dominant Pashtun clan that produced many Afghan kings. The Karzai family were staunch monarchists and remained strong supporters of Mohammed Zahir Shah, the last King of Afghanistan, who was affectionately known as "Baba-e-Millat" (Father of the Nation).

His family had deep roots in Afghan politics. His father, Abdul Ahad Karzai, served as the Deputy Speaker of the Afghan Parliament during the 1960s and later became the chief of the Popalzai tribe. His grandfather, Khair Mohammad Khan, was a key figure who fought in the 1919 Third Anglo-Afghan War and held the position of Deputy Speaker of the Senate. Karzai's uncle, Habibullah Karzai, served as the Afghan representative at the United Nations and is noted to have accompanied King Zahir Shah to the United States in the early 1960s for a meeting with U.S. President John F. Kennedy. This strong lineage within the Popalzai tribe, particularly the Shamizai subtribe to which Karzai is believed to belong, positioned his family as a viable alternative to the traditional Sadozai leadership in the aftermath of the Soviet invasion. Karzai has six brothers, including Mahmood Karzai and Qayum Karzai, and one sister, Fauzia Karzai. The family also owns and operates several Afghan restaurants on the East Coast of the United States and in Chicago.

2.2. Education

Karzai's formal education began in Afghanistan. He attended Mahmood Hotaki Primary School in Kandahar and Sayed Jamaluddin Afghani School in Kabul. He graduated from Habibia High School in Kabul in 1976.

After completing his schooling in Afghanistan, Karzai pursued higher education abroad. In 1976, he went to India as an exchange student. He then enrolled at Himachal Pradesh University in Shimla, Himachal Pradesh, where he studied international relations and political science, earning his master's degree in 1983. Some sources also indicate he studied journalism at Lille University in France in 1985. His educational background in India connected him deeply with the country, a relationship that would later influence his foreign policy as president.

3.1. Mujahideen activities and early government roles

Following his studies in India, Karzai moved to Pakistan where he became actively involved in the Afghan resistance. He served as a fundraiser for the anti-communist Afghan Mujahideen during the Soviet-Afghan War (1979-1989) and its aftermath. Despite his involvement, he did not directly participate in combat within Afghanistan.

In early October 1988, late in the Soviet-Afghan War, Karzai returned to Afghanistan to assist the rebels in their victory in Tarinkot. He played a crucial role in mobilizing the Popalzai and other Durrani tribes, helping to drive the Soviet-backed Mohammad Najibullah regime from the city. Karzai also facilitated the defection of five hundred of Najibullah's soldiers. When the pro-Soviet government collapsed in 1992, the Peshawar Accords established the Islamic State of Afghanistan and an interim government. Karzai accompanied the first Mujahideen leaders into Kabul after President Najibullah stepped down. He briefly served as Deputy Foreign Minister in the government of Burhanuddin Rabbani. However, his tenure was short-lived; he was arrested by Mohammed Fahim (who would later become his Vice President) on charges of spying for Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, a claim Karzai stated was an effort to negotiate between Hekmatyar's forces and Rabbani's government. Karzai subsequently fled Kabul with assistance from Hekmatyar. In 1982, he had joined the Afghan National Salvation Front, led by Sibghatullah Mojaddedi, serving as its spokesman and later as its political head by 1987. He eventually left Rabbani's government in 1994.

3.2. Evolving relationship with the Taliban

When the Taliban emerged as a political force in the mid-1990s, Karzai initially welcomed them, believing they would bring an end to the widespread violence and corruption plaguing Afghanistan. His relationship with the Taliban was initially cordial, to the extent that in 1996, they offered him the position of their Ambassador to the United Nations. However, Karzai refused this offer, expressing to friends his growing distrust of the Taliban due to what he perceived as undue influence from Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and various Arab factions.

Despite his initial recognition of their legitimacy, Karzai grew wary of the Taliban's hardline views and foreign connections. While living in the Pakistani city of Quetta among many Afghan refugees, he actively worked to reinstate the former Afghan King Mohammed Zahir Shah, meeting with the king several times in Italy. Karzai also engaged with Western embassies, including the U.S. embassy in Islamabad, and held discussions with UN diplomat Norbert Holl, seeking American support for "modern, educated Afghans" to counter the Taliban's ideology. His father, Abdul Ahad Karzai, reportedly expressed annoyance with Hamid for not making clear-cut choices and attempting to maintain friendly relations with all sides.

A pivotal turning point in Karzai's stance occurred in July 1999 when his father, Abdul Ahad Karzai, was assassinated in Quetta while returning from a mosque. Reports strongly suggested the Taliban were responsible for the killing. Following this tragic event, Karzai succeeded his father as the khan (chief) of the Popalzai tribe and definitively shifted his allegiance to the anti-Taliban Northern Alliance, which was led by Ahmad Shah Massoud.

In 2000 and 2001, Karzai traveled extensively to Europe and the United States to garner support for the anti-Taliban movement. Both Massoud and Karzai reportedly warned the United States about the Taliban's connections with al-Qaeda and an impending attack on the U.S., but their warnings went unheeded. Tragically, on September 9, 2001, just two days before the September 11 attacks in the U.S., Massoud was assassinated by al-Qaeda agents in a suicide bombing. As the United States Armed Forces prepared for confrontation with the Taliban in September 2001, Karzai publicly urged NATO states to rid Afghanistan of al-Qaeda, stating in a BBC interview, "These Arabs, together with their foreign supporters and the Taliban, destroyed miles and miles of homes and orchards and vineyards... They have killed Afghans. They have trained their guns on Afghan lives... We want them out."

4.1. Post-Taliban overthrow

After the October 7, 2001, launch of Operation Enduring Freedom, Karzai, who had been a contact for the U.S. CIA and was well-regarded by the agency, played a pivotal role in the formation of a new government. While the United Front (Northern Alliance) worked with U.S. special forces to overthrow the Taliban regime, Karzai and his group began a covert operation from Quetta. It was widely believed that at this moment, the U.S. decided Karzai would be the next leader of Afghanistan.

Before entering Afghanistan, Karzai conveyed the extreme risks to his fighters, stating, "We might be captured the moment we enter Afghanistan and be killed. We have 60 percent chance of death and 40 percent chance to live and survive. Winning was no consideration. We could not even think of that. We got on two motorbikes. We drove into Afghanistan." He gathered several hundred fighters from his tribe but was attacked by the Taliban, narrowly surviving and using his CIA contacts to call for an airlift. On November 4, 2001, American special operation forces flew Karzai out of Afghanistan for protection. On December 5, 2001, Karzai and his group survived a friendly fire missile attack by United States Air Force pilots in southern Afghanistan, sustaining injuries, including to Karzai's facial nerves, which were sometimes noticeable during his speeches.

In December 2001, Afghan political leaders convened in Bonn, Germany, to establish new leadership structures. Under the Bonn Agreement of December 5, Karzai was selected as Chairman of a 29-member Interim Administration, officially sworn in on December 22. This interim body paved the way for the loya jirga (grand assembly) held in Kabul on June 13, 2002. This assembly appointed Karzai as the Interim President of the new Afghan Transitional Administration. Despite his new role, former members of the Northern Alliance, notably Vice President Mohammed Fahim who also served as Defense Minister, retained significant influence.

To symbolize national unity and continuity, Karzai re-enacted the original coronation of Ahmad Shah Durrani at the shrine of Sher-i-Surkh outside Kandahar. This event involved leaders of various Afghan tribes, including a descendant of the religious leader who originally selected Ahmad Shah Durrani in 1747, underscoring Karzai's vision of himself as fulfilling a monarch's role in the Durrani tradition. His late brother, Ahmed Wali Karzai, also made statements that reflected this perspective, asserting that in Afghanistan, the king's brothers, cousins, and sons are powerful, a reality that would not change overnight. As part of his efforts to unite Afghanistan's diverse ethnicities, Karzai adopted an Afghan dress style that combined traditional design features from various groups: a Pashtun-style long shirt and loose trousers, an outer robe popular among Tajiks and Uzbeks, and most distinctly, a karakul hat worn by highlanders from the Panjshir Valley. In 2002, fashion designer Tom Ford famously called Karzai "the most chic man in the world" for his unique style.

Initially, Karzai's authority outside the capital city of Kabul was so limited that he was often derided as the "Mayor of Kabul." This was particularly challenging as his administration lacked the financial and political means to implement reforms beyond the Kabul region, with other areas historically influenced by local leaders. Karzai attempted to negotiate and form amicable alliances with these leaders to benefit Afghanistan as a whole, rather than engaging in aggressive conflicts that could trigger uprisings. In 2004, he rejected an international proposal to eradicate poppy production through aerial chemical spraying, fearing it would severely impact the economic well-being of his countrymen. This decision was further complicated by rumors of his younger brother, Ahmed Wali Karzai, who partly financed Hamid's presidential campaign, being involved in the Afghan opium and heroin trade, a charge Hamid Karzai vehemently denied as political propaganda.

4.2. 2004 presidential election and inauguration

In October 2004, Hamid Karzai ran as a candidate in Afghanistan's first democratic presidential election. Despite concerns about a lack of national support, he secured victories in 21 of the 34 provinces, ultimately defeating 22 other candidates. This landmark election marked him as the first democratically elected leader of Afghanistan.

Although his campaigning was restricted due to security concerns and fears of violence, the elections proceeded without significant incidents. Following an investigation by the United Nations into alleged voting irregularities, the national election commission officially declared Karzai the winner in early November, negating the need for a runoff. He garnered 55.4% of the vote, representing 4.3 million out of the total 8.1 million votes cast. The election was considered a success, taking place safely despite an increase in insurgent activity.

Karzai was formally sworn in as President of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan on December 7, 2004, during a significant ceremony held in Kabul. The event was widely interpreted as a symbolically important "new start" for the war-torn nation, marking its transition towards a more stable, democratic future. Notable guests at the inauguration included the country's former King, Mohammed Zahir Shah, three former U.S. presidents, and U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney.

5.1. First term (2004-2009)

After securing a democratic mandate in the 2004 election, there was an expectation that Karzai would pursue a more aggressive reformist agenda in 2005. However, his approach proved to be more cautious than anticipated. Following his new administration taking office in 2004, the economy of Afghanistan began to grow rapidly for the first time in many years. Government revenue saw annual increases, although the nation remained heavily reliant on foreign aid.

During Karzai's first term, public discontent mounted due to widespread corruption within the government and the increasing number of civilian casualties resulting from international military operations during the 2001-14. In May 2006, an anti-American and anti-Karzai riot erupted in Kabul, leading to at least seven deaths and 40 injuries. A year later, in May 2007, following an incident where as many as 51 Afghan civilians were killed in a bombing, Karzai publicly stated that his government "can no longer accept" casualties caused by U.S. and NATO operations.

In September 2006, Karzai addressed the United Nations General Assembly, declaring Afghanistan the "worst victim" of terrorism. He asserted that terrorism was resurging in his country, with militants infiltrating borders to launch attacks on civilians. He emphasized that the roots of terrorism were not solely within Afghanistan, arguing that military action alone would not achieve the goal of eliminating it. He called for international assistance to dismantle terrorist sanctuaries both inside and outside Afghanistan, urging the world to "look beyond Afghanistan to the sources of terrorism" and "destroy terrorist sanctuaries beyond" the country. He also highlighted that these activities deprived thousands of Afghan children of their right to education and hindered health workers. Furthermore, Karzai pledged to eliminate opium-poppy cultivation, which he noted fueled the ongoing Taliban insurgency. He consistently pressed NATO forces to exercise greater care in avoiding civilian casualties during military operations in residential areas. In a September 2006 video broadcast, Karzai contended that if the funds spent on the Iraq War had been invested in rebuilding Afghanistan, the country would "be in heaven in less than one year."

5.2. 2009 re-election and second term

On the eve of the August 20, 2009, presidential election, Karzai, despite widespread unpopularity, was still considered likely to secure the majority of votes. He faced significant blame for the failures plaguing Afghanistan's reconstruction since the fall of the Taliban in 2001, including rampant corruption, the resurgence of the Taliban, and the explosive growth of the poppy trade. This combination of unpopularity and anticipated victory created an atmosphere of national demoralization, potentially discouraging many Afghans from voting and dimming hopes for substantial post-election progress.

In this second presidential election, Karzai was initially announced to have received over 50% of the votes. However, the election was heavily criticized, marked by a lack of security, low voter turnout, and widespread reports of ballot stuffing, intimidation, and other forms of electoral fraud. Two months later, facing intense international pressure, Karzai accepted calls for a second-round runoff vote, which was scheduled for November 7, 2009. During the runoff campaign, he successfully garnered the support of influential power brokers, including the Ismailis in Afghanistan, whose local representative, Sayed Mansur Naderi, organized two large campaign rallies for him in Kayan and Kabul stadium, attracting nearly a hundred thousand attendees.

On November 2, 2009, Karzai's runoff opponent, Abdullah Abdullah, withdrew from the race, leading election officials to cancel the runoff. As the only remaining contender, Karzai was declared the winner shortly thereafter.

Following his re-election, Karzai presented his first list of 24 cabinet nominees to the Afghan parliament on December 19, 2009. However, on January 2, 2010, the parliament rejected 17 of these nominees, citing reasons beyond competency, with a member of parliament suggesting they were largely chosen based on "ethnicity or bribery or money." On January 16, 2010, the parliament rejected 10 of Karzai's 17 replacement picks, complaining that the new choices were either unqualified or had close ties to Afghan warlords. Despite this second setback, by mid-January, 14 of the 24 ministerial positions, including the critical foreign, defense, and interior ministries, had been confirmed. The parliament then began its winter recess, lasting until February 20, without waiting for Karzai to select additional names for his cabinet. This move prolonged the political uncertainty and left Karzai facing the embarrassment of attending the London Conference on Afghanistan with nearly half of his cabinet positions vacant.

5.3. Peace negotiation attempts and policies

Since late 2001, Karzai consistently pursued peace in Afghanistan, even offering pardons to militants who would lay down their weapons and participate in the rebuilding process. However, his offers were largely rejected by militant groups. In April 2007, Karzai acknowledged engaging in discussions with some militants to foster peace, emphasizing that Afghan militants were welcome in the country, but foreign insurgents were not.

In September 2007, following a security scare that cut short a commemoration speech, Karzai again extended an offer for talks with militant fighters. From his palace, where he met with visiting Latvian President Valdis Zatlers, Karzai held a joint news conference, stating, "We don't have any formal negotiations with the Taliban. They don't have an address. Who do we talk to?" He further articulated, "If I can have a place where to send somebody to talk to, an authority that publicly says it is the Taliban authority, I will do it."

In December 2009, Karzai announced plans for a Loya Jirga (large assembly) to address the Taliban insurgency, inviting Taliban representatives to participate. By January 2010, he formally set the framework for dialogue with Taliban leaders, urging them to join the jirga for peace talks. A Taliban spokesman, however, declined to discuss the offer in detail, stating militants would decide soon. In April 2010, while visiting a northern province, Karzai urged Taliban insurgents to disarm and voice their grievances, adding that foreign forces would remain as long as fighting persisted. By July 2010, Karzai approved a plan aimed at encouraging Taliban foot soldiers and low-level commanders to reintegrate. In mid-August 2013, Attorney General Mohammad Ishaq Aloko was reportedly dismissed after meeting with Taliban officials in the U.A.E. against instructions, though an official in Aloko's office denied the dismissal, claiming he was at the Presidential Palace for Independence Day celebrations.

5.4. Foreign relations

Karzai's presidency saw a dynamic and often challenging landscape in Afghanistan's foreign relations, marked by shifts in alliances and priorities.

Initially, Karzai maintained strong relations with NATO countries, particularly the United States, which led efforts to rebuild Afghanistan. He enjoyed a very friendly and strategically significant partnership with the U.S., despite various disagreements. The U.S. had supported him since late 2001 to lead his nation. He made many important diplomatic trips to the United States and other NATO countries. In August 2007, Karzai was invited to Camp David in Maryland, USA, for a special meeting with U.S. President George W. Bush. The U.S. also established a special envoy for Afghanistan and Pakistan, led by Marc Grossman, to mediate and resolve issues between the three nations.

However, in later years, relations between the U.S. and Karzai became increasingly strained. Karzai was notably critical of the U.S. military due to high civilian casualties, stating in 2007 that his government could "no longer accept" such losses. In a 2019 retrospective interview, he described a "major fight" he had with American military officials in 2007, where he repeatedly urged them to "leave the Afghan people alone" if they wished to fight terrorism. Karzai claimed he felt he was being used as a tool by the United States. This strain was further exacerbated in 2014 when Afghanistan, under Karzai's leadership, joined a select group of countries-including Cuba, Nicaragua, North Korea, Syria, and Venezuela-in recognizing the Russian annexation of Crimea. Despite condemnation from the United States, European countries, and most other nations, Karzai's office stated, "We respect the decision the people of Crimea took through a recent referendum that considers Crimea as part of the Russian Federation," citing "the free will of the Crimean people."

Karzai's relations with neighboring Pakistan were initially good, especially with the Awami National Party (ANP) and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP). He often described Afghanistan and Pakistan as "inseparable twin brothers," a reference to the Durand Line border dispute between the two states, despite numerous border skirmishes during his presidency. In December 2007, Karzai and his delegation traveled to Islamabad, Pakistan, for meetings with Pervez Musharraf focused on trade ties and intelligence sharing. He also met with Benazir Bhutto for 45 minutes on December 27, hours before her assassination; Karzai called her his sister and a brave woman with a clear vision "for her own country, for Afghanistan, and for the region-a vision of democracy, prosperity, and peace." Relations between Afghanistan and Pakistan improved after the PPP came to power in 2008, with frequent contacts on counter-terrorism and trade. Pakistan even permitted NATO forces in Afghanistan to launch attacks on militant groups within its territory, a policy strongly opposed by previous Pakistani governments. In 2011, the two states finally signed the long-awaited Afghanistan-Pakistan Transit Trade Agreement to boost trade. While acknowledging Pakistan's historical interference in Afghanistan's conflicts, Karzai stated in a 2015 interview that Afghanistan desires a "friendly relationship but not to be under Pakistan's thumb."

Karzai believed Iran is a friend to Afghanistan, despite U.S. claims of Iranian interference in Afghan affairs. In 2007, he stated that Iran had been helpful in the reconstruction process. He acknowledged in 2010 that the Government of Iran had been providing millions of dollars directly to his office, describing these payments as gifts intended for renovating his Presidential Palace in Kabul, a matter he claimed was transparent and had even been discussed with President Bush at Camp David. In October 2007, Karzai rejected Western accusations against Iran, emphasizing the strong bonds between the two nations, stating, "The two Iranian and Afghan nations are close to each other due to their bonds and commonalities, they belong to the same house, and they will live alongside each other for good."

In June 2010, Karzai visited Japan for five days, where discussions revolved around new aid and Afghanistan's recently announced untapped mineral resources. Karzai invited Japanese companies like Mitsubishi to invest in Afghan mining projects, assuring Japanese officials that they would receive priority in bids for resource exploration. He stated that "morally, Afghanistan should give access as a priority to those countries that have helped Afghanistan massively in the past few years." While in Japan, Karzai also made his first visit to Hiroshima to pray for the atomic bomb victims. Japan has contributed billions of dollars in aid to Afghanistan since early 2002.

Relations between Karzai and India were consistently friendly, especially given his university education there. Afghanistan-India relations strengthened considerably in 2011, particularly following the death of Osama bin Laden in Pakistan. In October 2011, Karzai signed a strategic partnership agreement with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. During a speech in New Delhi, Karzai clarified that "The signing of the strategic partnership with India is not directed against any country. It is not directed against any other entity. This is for Afghanistan to benefit from the strength of India."

On July 16, 2014, President Karzai convened a special cabinet meeting where he condemned the Israeli attacks on Gaza and the killing of civilians, pledging 500.00 K USD in aid to Gaza.

5.5. Assassination attempts

Throughout his presidency, Hamid Karzai was the target of numerous assassination plots, primarily attributed to the Taliban's Quetta Shura and the Taliban-allied Haqqani network, which allegedly received support and guidance from Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI).

As recently as October 2011, while Karzai was on a visit to India to sign a significant strategic partnership agreement with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, agents of Afghanistan's National Directorate of Security (NDS) arrested six individuals in Kabul for planning to assassinate Karzai. Among those implicated were four Kabul University students, one of its professors (Dr. Aimal Habib), and Mohibullah Ahmadi, a guard outside the Presidential Palace in Kabul. This alleged group of assassins was associated with al-Qaeda and the Haqqani network and reportedly received 150.00 K USD from Pakistani-based Islamic terrorists. A U.S. official confirmed that the threat against President Karzai was "real, was credible, but it was only in the early stages of planning."

Other notable failed assassination attempts include:

• September 5, 2002: An assassination attempt took place in Kandahar. A gunman wearing the uniform of the new Afghan National Army opened fire, injuring Gul Agha Sherzai (the former governor of Kandahar) and an American Special Operations officer. The gunman, one of the President's bodyguards, and a bystander who tackled the gunman were killed when Karzai's American bodyguards returned fire. Pictures of the United States Naval Special Warfare Development Group (DEVGRU) responding to the incident were later released.
• September 16, 2004: An attempted assassination occurred when a rocket narrowly missed the helicopter Karzai was traveling in while en route to the city of Gardez in eastern Afghanistan.
• June 10, 2007: Taliban insurgents attempted to assassinate Karzai in Ghazni where he was giving a speech to elders. Insurgents fired approximately 12 rockets, with some landing within 656 ft ^{(200 m)} of the crowd. Karzai remained unharmed and was transported from the location after completing his speech.
• April 27, 2008: Insurgents, reportedly from the Haqqani network, launched an attack using automatic weapons and rocket-propelled grenades on a military parade attended by Karzai in Kabul. While Karzai was safe, at least three people were killed, including a parliamentarian, a ten-year-old girl, and a minority leader, and ten others were injured. Other high-ranking officials, former warlords, diplomats, and military leaders were also present at the event, which commemorated the 16th anniversary of the fall of the Afghan communist government to the Mujahideen. The United Nations condemned the attack, stating the attackers "have shown their utter disrespect for the history and people of Afghanistan." Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid claimed responsibility, asserting their aim was to demonstrate their capability to attack anywhere. The ability of the attackers to get so close to Karzai suggested insider help, with Defense Minister Wardak confirming a police captain's connection to the plot and an army officer supplying the weapons and ammunition. Warlord insurgent Gulbuddin Hekmatyar also reportedly claimed responsibility.

6.1. Corruption and electoral fraud

Karzai's administration faced persistent and widespread accusations of corruption, nepotism, and electoral fraud, which severely undermined Afghanistan's nascent democratic institutions and its international standing. Accusations of nepotism and involvement with his late half-brother Ahmed Wali Karzai in the drug trade were also leveled against him.

A notable legislative controversy during his administration was his signing of the draconian Shia Personal Status Law in 2009. This law was widely criticized by women's rights advocates and NATO leaders for effectively legalizing marital rape within Afghanistan's minority Shia Muslim community, drawing significant condemnation.

Under Karzai's leadership, electoral fraud became so pervasive that it raised serious questions about Afghanistan's status as a democratic state. The 2009 presidential election and the 2010 parliamentary elections were particularly marred by allegations of widespread irregularities. Furthermore, Karzai personally established a special court, in defiance of constitutional norms, that sought to reinstate dozens of candidates who had been disqualified for fraud by the Independent Electoral Commission in the 2010 elections.

Reports from The New York Times indicated that many members of the Karzai family leveraged their familial ties to blend personal interests with state affairs, accruing immense wealth through opaque means. Afghanistan's struggle with corruption was starkly illustrated by its consistent low rankings on Transparency International's Corruption Perception Index, tying with Somalia and North Korea at the bottom in 2012, and ranking 172 out of 175 countries in 2014.

One prominent case was the implication of Karzai's brother, Mahmoud Karzai, in the 2010 Kabul Bank crisis. Mahmoud Karzai was the third-largest shareholder in the bank, holding a 7% stake. Kabul Bank incurred massive losses from investments in villas in Palm Jumeirah in Dubai, which were registered under the bank's chairman, Sherkhan Farnood. Mahmoud Karzai reportedly purchased one such villa from Farnood for 7.00 M AED using money borrowed from Kabul Bank, only to sell it months later for 10.40 M AED. His acquisition of the 7% stake in Kabul Bank was also entirely financed by a loan from the bank, with the shares serving as collateral.

While admitting to widespread corruption in Afghanistan, Karzai frequently attributed the problem largely to the way contracts were awarded by the international community. He also contended that the "perception of corruption" was a deliberate attempt to weaken the Afghan government.

There has also been considerable debate regarding Karzai's alleged consultant work with Unocal (Union Oil Company of California), which was acquired by Chevron in 2005. In 2002, as Karzai gained media attention as a leading candidate to govern Afghanistan, reports circulated that he had previously worked as a consultant for Unocal. These claims originated from a December 6, 2001, article in the French newspaper Le Monde and were also echoed by The Christian Science Monitor, suggesting a connection to a proposed pipeline project from Uzbekistan through Afghanistan. However, spokesmen for both Unocal and Karzai have consistently denied any such employment or consulting relationship, although Unocal could not speak for all companies involved in the consortium. The company clarified that its records showed Karzai was "never a consultant, never an employee." It was suggested that the confusion might have arisen from the fact that Zalmay Khalilzad, who later became the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, had indeed been a Unocal consultant in the mid-1990s.

6.2. Financial ties with foreign entities

During his presidency, Karzai's administration faced scrutiny over its financial dealings with foreign governments and intelligence agencies, raising questions about transparency and influence.

On April 28, 2013, The New York Times revealed that Karzai's presidential office had been secretly funded with "tens of millions of dollars" in undisclosed cash from the U.S. CIA since December 2002. These payments were reportedly intended to buy influence within the Afghan government and were not subject to conventional oversight or restrictions. An unnamed American official was quoted in the article stating, "The biggest source of corruption in Afghanistan was the United States." In response to these revelations, on June 17, 2013, Senator Bob Corker placed a hold on 75.00 M USD designated for electoral programs in Afghanistan, citing unanswered inquiries from the Obama Administration regarding the CIA's "ghost money."

Karzai also openly admitted that his office received millions of dollars in cash from the Iranian government. He explained that these funds were provided as gifts and were used for expenses such as renovating his Presidential Palace in Kabul. Karzai maintained that these transactions were transparent, stating that he had even discussed them with President Bush during his visit to Camp David.

6.3. Views on Taliban and ISIS

Hamid Karzai's perspectives on the Taliban and Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIS) in Afghanistan were frequently controversial and drew significant international attention.

In a 2013 interview with Al Jazeera, Karzai referred to the Taliban as his "brothers." He asserted that the Afghan government and people did not seek to eliminate the Taliban but rather to reintegrate them into society. This was not the first instance of him using such terminology; he had previously called them "brothers" during his 2009 victory speech, the day after he was declared president.

Regarding the Taliban's activities, in September 2015, provincial police chief Gen. Daud Ahmadi claimed that Hamid Karzai had directly intervened to halt a planned military operation against a Taliban training camp in Logar Province. The camp, which reportedly housed around 200 militants, was being used as a launch pad for attacks, but Karzai allegedly ordered the operation to be stopped. In May 2021, speaking to the German newspaper Der Spiegel, Karzai reiterated his sympathy for the Taliban, viewing them as "victims of foreign forces" and asserting that Afghans were being used "against each other." He also criticized the U.S. role in Afghanistan, praised the European Union, and highlighted Pakistan's crucial role in Afghanistan's future. In November 2021, he again told BBC News's Yalda Hakim that he considered the Taliban to be "brothers." In October 2013, Karzai's administration and the Afghan Intelligence agency were reportedly found to be communicating with the Pakistani Taliban concerning the anticipated power shift if U.S. forces withdrew in 2014. At the time, it was unclear if Karzai was directly involved or aware of these communications.

Karzai's views on ISIS were even more contentious. In an April 2017 interview with Voice of America, he claimed that ISIS in Afghanistan was a tool of the United States, asserting that he saw no difference between ISIS and the U.S. A few weeks later, in an interview with Fox News, Karzai reiterated that ISIS in Afghanistan was a "product of the United States." He claimed to have routinely received reports of unmarked helicopters dropping supplies to support the terror group and demanded an explanation from the U.S. regarding these flights, further stating that the U.S. had turned Afghanistan into a testing ground for its weapons. In November 2017, speaking to Al Jazeera, Karzai again accused the United States of collaborating with ISIS in Afghanistan, alleging that the U.S. government had allowed ISIS to flourish and used the group as a pretext to deploy the GBU-43 (the "Mother of All Bombs") in Afghanistan. Separately, Karzai also accused Pakistan of supporting ISIS during an interview with Asian News International.