Posts Tagged: Hamid Karzai

New Afghan president signs security pact in win for Washington

September 30, 2024 by Lara Vergnaud in Asia-Pacific.

Afghan National Security Adviser Hanif Atmar (R) and NATO's Senior Civilian Representative in Afghanistan Maurits Jochems (R) sign the Status of Forces Agreement documents as Afghan President Ashraf Ghani (3R) and Afghanistan's new Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah (2L) look on at the Presidential Palace in Kabul on September 30, 2014.

The pact will allow some 10,000 American troops to remain in the country after the withdrawal of NATO-led forces at the end of 2014.

Understanding Afghanistan’s election stalemate

August 20, 2024 by Lara Vergnaud in Asia-Pacific.

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Independent Election Commission (IEC) employees count ballots at a polling station in Kabul, Afghanistan, Saturday, June 14, 2014.

The vote marks the first democratic transition of power in Afghanistan – and an end to twelve turbulent years under the increasingly autocratic Karzai.

Afghan election marred by fraud claims, ethnic tensions

June 23, 2024 by Lara Vergnaud in Asia-Pacific.

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Afghan presidential candidate Abdullah Abdullah holds up his inked finger as he speaks to media after casting his vote at a polling station on June 14, 2024 in in Kabul, Afghanistan. Polling stations have opened across Afghanistan as Afghans head to the polls for the second and final round of voting to elect Hamid Karzai's successor, in a run-off between former foreign minister Abdullah Abdullah and former World Bank economist Ashraf Ghani. (Photo by Majid Saeedi/Getty Images)

The presidential vote marks the first democratic transfer of power in Afghanistan, and will shape the country’s post-Karzai future, not to mention its trajectory once a U.S.-led military coalition withdraws by the end of the year.

Tensions high as Afghanistan prepares for critical presidential run-off

June 12, 2024 by Lara Vergnaud in Asia-Pacific.

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A soldier guards a polling station, as Afghans defy Taliban threats and vote in record numbers in presidential elections on April 5, 2014, in Kabul, Afghanistan. On a day that was largely peaceful in the capital and urban centers, despite Taliban vows to disrupt the vote and kill those who took part, Afghans clogged polling stations in Kabul and urban centers, reaching an estimated 60 percent turnout to elect a successor to President Hamid Karzai. (Photo by Scott Peterson/Getty Images)

Though the first round, held on April 5, was relatively violence-free, tensions are on the rise this time around as the Taliban accelerates its traditional summer offensive.

Afghans prepare for election results as Karzai lingers in Kabul

May 13, 2024 by Lara Vergnaud in Asia-Pacific.

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Men line up to get into a polling station as Afghans defy Taliban threats and vote in record numbers in presidential elections on April 5, 2014, in Kabul, Afghanistan. On a day that was largely peaceful in the capital and urban centers, despite Taliban vows to disrupt the vote and kill those who took part, Afghans clogged polling stations in Kabul and urban centers, reaching an estimated 60 percent turnout to elect a successor to President Hamid Karzai. (Photo by Scott Peterson/Getty Images)

The front-runners — notably ex-foreign minister Abdullah Abdullah and former World Bank economist Ashraf Ghani — are expected to proceed to a run-off vote, tentatively scheduled to take place in mid June.

Karzai’s grifter nationalism

March 5, 2024 by Matt Taylor in Uncategorized.

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Afghan President Hamid Karzai watches fireworks during the opening ceremony of the 2014 Winter Olympics, Friday, Feb. 7, 2014, in Sochi, Russia. (AP Photo/David Goldman, Pool)

The outgoing president is feigning concern about his successor’s legitimacy by pushing his brother out of the upcoming presidential election.

Karzai blows up Afghan security pact

November 22, 2024 by Matt Taylor in Middle East.

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Afghan President Hamid Karzai speaks during the opening of the Loya Jirga, or grand council, in Kabul November 21, 2013. REUTERS/Omar Sobhani

Fiery nationalist president at least temporarily scuttles a deal on keeping U.S. troops behind after 2014, strengthening his own hand ahead of the election to replace him.

Karzai and Kerry near Afghan security pact

November 19, 2024 by Matt Taylor in Middle East, U.S..

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Afghanistan's President Hamid Karzai addresses the World Islamic Economic Forum in London October 29, 2013. REUTERS/Luke MacGregor

The old friends might have overcome the snags that torpedoed security negotiations between the U.S. and Iraq ahead of the American military withdrawal there in 2011.

Afghan tribal council faces catch-22 with U.S. pact

November 15, 2024 by Lara Vergnaud in Asia-Pacific.

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Afghan National Army soldiers keep watch near the site of a gunfight in Qargha, on the outskirts of Kabul October 26, 2013.

President Karzai looks to be doing his best to stall the U.S. deal (or at least divert responsibility for it, given high anti-American sentiment).

Obama’s drone regression could hurt Taliban peace talks

November 1, 2024 by Matt Taylor in Asia-Pacific, Middle East.

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Pakistan's Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif speaks during a meeting with U.S. President Barack Obama in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington October 23, 2013. REUTERS/Larry Downing

Latest use of the controversial anti-terror tactic comes as Pakistani, Afghani governments are attempting to come to terms with Islamic militant group.

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