Latest News

Karzai ‘invited’ IEA into Kabul to stop the chaos in August

Published

5 years ago

December 15, 2021

Former Afghan President Hamid Karzai offered insights into the secret and sudden departure of Afghan President Ashraf Ghani on August 15 and said he “invited” the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA) to enter Kabul.

In an interview with the Associated Press, Karzai said he issued the invitation in order “to protect the population so that the country, the city doesn’t fall into chaos and the unwanted elements who would probably loot the country, loot shops.”

Karzai said that when Ghani left, his security officials also left. The then defense minister Bismillah Khan even asked Karzai if he wanted to leave Kabul when Karzai contacted him to know what remnants of the government still remained. It turned out there were none. Not even the Kabul police chief had remained, AP reported.

Karzai, who was the country’s president for 13 years after the IEA was first ousted in the wake of the 9/11 attacks, refused to leave.

Karzai said Ghani’s flight scuttled a last-minute push by himself, the government’s chief negotiator Abdullah Abdullah and the IEA leadership in Doha that would have seen the IEA enter the capital as part of a negotiated agreement.

The countdown to a possible deal began August 14, the day before the IEA came to power, AP reported.

Karzai and Abdullah met Ghani, and they agreed that they would leave for Doha the next day with a list of 15 others to negotiate a power-sharing agreement. The IEA were already on the outskirts of Kabul, but Karzai said the leadership in Qatar promised IE forces would remain outside the city until the deal was struck.

Early on the morning of August 15, Karzai said, he waited to draw up the list. The capital was fidgety, on edge. Rumors were swirling about an IEA takeover. Karzai called Doha. He was told the IEA would not enter the city.

At noon, the IEA called to say that “the government should stay in its positions and should not move that they have no intention to (go) into the city,” Karzai said. “I and others spoke to various officials and assurances were given to us that, yes, that was the case, that the Americans and the government forces were holding firm to the places (and) that Kabul would not fall.”

However, by about 2:45 pm it became apparent Ghani had fled the city. Karzai called the defense minister, called the interior minister, searched for the Kabul police chief. Everyone was gone. “There was no official present at all in the capital, no police chief, no corps commander, no other units. They had all left.”

Ghani’s own protection unit’s deputy chief called Karzai to come to the palace and take over the presidency. He declined, saying legally he had no right to the job, AP reported. Instead, the former president decided to make a public, televised message, with his children at his side “so that the Afghan people know that we are all here.”

Karzai was adamant that there would have been an agreement for a peaceful transition had Ghani remained in Kabul.

“Absolutely. Absolutely. That is what we were preparing for, what we were hoping (along) with the chairman of the peace council to go to Doha that evening, or the next morning, and to finalize the agreement,” he said. “And I believe the Taliban (IEA) leaders were also waiting for us in Doha for the same … objective, for the same purpose.”

Today, Karzai meets regularly with the IEA leadership and says the world must engage with them. Equally important, he said, is that Afghans have to come together. War has dominated Afghanistan for more than 40 years, and in the last 20 years “Afghans have suffered on all sides,” he said.

The former president has a plan. In his talks with the IEA, he is advocating the temporary resurrection of the constitution that governed when Afghanistan was a monarchy. The idea was also floated during earlier Doha talks, AP reported.

At the same time, a traditional Loya Jirga — a grand council of all Afghans, including women — would be convened. It would decide the country’s future, including a representative government, a constitution, a national flag, he told AP.

There’s no indication the IEA will accept his formula, though he says they have not rejected it in discussions.

Karzai said the world has to engage with the IEA. Afghanistan needs to operate. Government servants have to be paid. Health care facilities need to function, he told AP.

“Right now, they need to cooperate with the government in any form they can,” said Karzai who also bemoaned the unchallenged and sometimes wrong international perceptions of the IEA.

He cited claims that women and girls are not allowed outside their homes or require a male companion. “That’s not true. There are girls on the streets — women by themselves.” The situation on the ground in Kabul bears this out.

Asked to describe the IEA, Karzai said: “I would describe them as Afghans, but Afghans who have gone through a very difficult period in their lives as all other Afghans have done for the past 40 years.”

We “have been through an extremely difficult period of our history in which we, the Afghans, have made mistakes on all sides, in which the international community and those who interacted with us have made tremendous mistakes,” Karzai said. “It’s time for all of us to realize that, and to look back at the mistakes that we have all made and to make it better.”

Up Next

U.S. Senate passes $770 billion defense bill, Biden’s signature next

Don't Miss

US should compensate families of victims killed in drone strike: IEA

Latest News

Afghan minister says ‘outsiders’ should not claim to support Afghanistan’s independence

The meeting was attended by governors of Sar-e-Pul and Samangan provinces, local officials, religious scholars, and a number of local residents.

Published

27 minutes ago

June 28, 2026

Ariana News

Minister of Borders, Ethnic Affairs and Tribes Noorullah Noori has said that those who interfered in Afghanistan over the past twenty years should now not claim to support a “free and independent Afghanistan.”

According to a statement, Noori made the remarks during a public gathering titled “Unity and Coordination with the People” held in the Kohistanat district of northern Sar-e-Pul province, during his official visit to the province.

The meeting was attended by governors of Sar-e-Pul and Samangan provinces, local officials, religious scholars, and a number of local residents.

Noori stated that under the Islamic system, the beliefs, history, freedom, and values of the Afghan people are protected and safeguarded. He added that those who, over the past twenty years, tested the Afghan people for their own “malicious objectives” should not now claim to support Afghanistan’s independence.

He further emphasized that the people of Afghanistan are not aligned with the Islamic Emirate out of compulsion, but rather support the Islamic system based on faith, ideology, culture, and political belief.

Participants of the gathering also stressed the importance of strengthening the Islamic system and enhancing national unity. They stated that the current system enjoys domestic legitimacy among the Afghan people and that those plotting against it are not accepted by society.

They further added that they will continue to defend the existing system through unity and solidarity and will not allow insecurity or external interference in Afghanistan’s internal affairs.

International Sports

FIFA World Cup group stage wraps up; moves into high-stakes knock out round

With the safety net of the group stage now gone, every match will produce either jubilation or heartbreak.

Published

1 hour ago

June 28, 2026

Ariana News

The group stage of the FIFA World Cup 2026 has officially concluded, with the tournament now shifting into the high-stakes knockout round where every match becomes do-or-die.

The Round of 32 gets underway today, with one of the tournament’s biggest surprise stories taking centre stage as South Africa face co-hosts Canada at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles.

While traditional football powerhouses such as Argentina, Brazil, France, Germany, Spain, England and the Netherlands safely progressed to the knockout phase, this year’s expanded 48-team tournament has also produced one of African football’s greatest World Cup campaigns.

For the first time in tournament history, nine African nations have qualified for the knockout rounds, underlining the continent’s growing strength on football’s biggest stage.

Morocco once again demonstrated why they remain one of Africa’s elite sides, finishing second behind Brazil in Group C with seven points after an impressive campaign that included a draw against the five-time world champions.

Ghana also lived up to expectations by advancing from a difficult Group L, while Senegal secured qualification from Group I after another composed and disciplined tournament.

However, the biggest headlines belonged to Africa’s emerging football nations.

South Africa completed one of the stories of the tournament by reaching the knockout rounds for the first time after defeating South Korea 1-0 in a dramatic final group match. Bafana Bafana, who were given little chance of progressing before the competition began, have become one of the World Cup’s surprise packages.

Ivory Coast also reached the last 32 for the first time after recovering from defeat to Germany with convincing victories over Ecuador and Curaçao.

Egypt booked their place after earning a crucial draw against Iran, while Algeria secured qualification following an entertaining 3-3 draw with Austria.

Cape Verde has perhaps captured the imagination of football fans more than any other African nation. The island nation remained unbeaten through the group stage, earning draws against Spain, Uruguay and Saudi Arabia to advance in their World Cup debut knockout appearance. Veteran goalkeeper Vozinha produced a series of memorable performances, including a standout display against Spain.

The Democratic Republic of Congo also made history, recording their first-ever World Cup victory with a 3-1 win over Uzbekistan to secure a place in the knockout rounds.

Africa’s representatives now face a daunting but exciting set of Round of 32 fixtures. South Africa meet Canada in the opening knockout match on Sunday, Morocco take on the Netherlands, Ghana face Colombia, Ivory Coast battle Norway, DR Congo play England, Senegal meet Belgium, Algeria face Switzerland, Egypt take on Australia, and Cape Verde will test themselves against defending champions Argentina.

The knockout stage also features an impressive mix of football’s traditional heavyweights and emerging nations. Hosts Canada, Mexico and the United States all advanced, alongside Argentina, Brazil, France, Germany, Spain, England, Belgium, Portugal, Colombia, Japan, Australia, Switzerland, Sweden, Norway, Paraguay, Ecuador, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Morocco.

With the safety net of the group stage now gone, every match will produce either jubilation or heartbreak. For Africa, however, the tournament has already become one to remember. Nine nations remain in contention, carrying not only their own ambitions but the hopes of an entire continent into the World Cup’s decisive rounds.

Fans across Afghanistan can tune in to Ariana Radio and Television Network (ATN) daily to watch this exciting event unfold as ATN has the exclusive rights to broadcast the event across the country live.

Football fans are encouraged to follow Ariana Television and Ariana News’ social media pages for updates, latest stats and match schedules so as not to miss out on the action.

Latest News

Afghanistan remains central to SCO–UN talks in New York Consultations

According to the SCO Secretariat, the meeting was held on June 26 at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, where both sides exchanged views on a wide range of issues related to mutual cooperation.

Published

2 hours ago

June 28, 2026

Ariana News

The Secretariat of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) says that Afghanistan and efforts to ensure stability in the country were among the key topics discussed during the fourth round of consultations with the United Nations Secretariat.

The United Nations delegation provided updates on its work under the “Climate, Peace and Security” agenda, ongoing efforts to stabilize Afghanistan, and support for Central Asian countries in maintaining sustainable peace and stability in the region.

Meanwhile, the SCO Secretariat briefed the UN side on preparations for the upcoming Bishkek Summit, the outcomes of ministerial meetings held under Kyrgyzstan’s chairmanship, and progress on institutional reforms within the organization.

The SCO Secretariat added that the consultations were conducted in a constructive atmosphere.