Hamid Karzai, former President of Afghanistan, has chosen to stay on in Kabul, even after the Taliban takeover. He hopes his presence and his discussions with the Taliban leadership, particularly Mullah Baradar, who is from the same Popalzai tribe as he is, will lead to no bloodshed.
Karzai, who was president of Afghanistan from 2001 for nearly 13 years, had the opportunity to leave. But he has said: “These are my people. A peaceful transfer has to be done. I am not going to run away.”
This decision is, of course, different from that of President Ashraf Ghani, who has fled to a central Asian country. Karzai has told people close to him that the Afghans will get over this tragedy. “We’re destroyed now, but Afghanistan will rise again, perhaps not in my lifetime.”
Karzai pointedly refused to accept any offer from Western countries. When he was offered scholarships for his children, he refused, saying his children will not study abroad, He said his children– his young son and daughters– will go to school in Kabul. It is being seen in India as a very courageous move.
Karzai and Abdullah Abdullah, former chief executive officer of Afghanistan, are the only top leaders of the previous government in Kabul. And only Karzai and Abdullah have the ability to avoid bloodshed and work towards a peaceful settlement.
