Masuda Sultan

Karzai’s Look at yesterday, today and a vision of tomorrow in Afghanistan  An interview review and critique  by Omar SAMAD August 21, 2026 At a moment when many Afghanistan observers are preoccupied with the three historic phases surrounding the fifth anniversary of Kabul’s dramatic regime change on August 15: the protracted pre-collapse war; the mechanics and political triggers of the collapse itself; and the aftermath marked by the return of an ideologically driven insurgency that capitalized on systemic weaknesses, moral exhaustion, and strategic adaptability, Bloomberg’s Mishal Husain conducts an insightful and substantive podcast interview with former Afghan President Hamid Karzai, who offers a timely look at the country’s past, present, and future prospects. Here are key exerts from the interview on The Mishal Husain Show / Bloomberg, August 2026, followed by commentary and analysis: - He refuses to leave Afghanistan and will not send his daughters overseas for education, even though girls over 12 (including his eldest) are banned from school.
“No, I will not leave. This is our home, this country. You don’t leave your home when things get difficult; you stay on and get it corrected.”
“If I take my daughter abroad, it will mean that we have given up on this right. I will never give up on this right.” - He continues private dialogue with some Taliban leaders, repeatedly stressing the importance of girls’ education and women returning to work. He says many agree with him, though meaningful change has not yet occurred.
“I do talk, whenever the opportunity comes, to some of their leadership… telling them of the importance of education for Afghanistan, of half the society getting back to work.” - Excluding the Taliban from the 2001 Bonn conference was a mistake; they should have been invited from the beginning.
“It became clear in the very early stages that was a mistake; they should have been invited. Absolutely.” - The U.S. presence had two sides: valuable assistance in reconstruction and education (for which he remains grateful), and harmful military conduct.
“There are two sides to the US presence in Afghanistan. One is assistance, support, reconstruction and betterment, and we are grateful for that. There is also this other, very sad side: bombardment of our villages, barging into our homes, which I strongly disagreed with.” - Pakistan’s long-standing policy toward Afghanistan is fundamentally flawed.
“This proves that Pakistan can’t live with any Afghan government… There is something wrong in Pakistan’s policy towards Afghanistan, and I hope it will be corrected.” - International recognition of the Taliban should be conditional on concrete steps such as restoring girls’ education and allowing women to work. He has no interest in returning to any government role.
“I don’t need to be in the government. I’ve done my time.” - The recent U.S.–Iran conflict was a “terrible mistake.” Both countries should choose diplomacy over fighting.
“It was a terrible mistake and not right… I would ask both Iran and the US to choose diplomacy and talks over fighting.” - On the chaotic fall of Kabul in August 2021, he did not believe collapse was imminent until the final hours, refused earlier offers of evacuation planes, and released the video with his daughters calling for calm while instructing remaining forces to protect people and institutions. - He frames all Afghans — including the Taliban and those opposed to them — as “brothers.” The country belongs to everyone and conflict can only end through cooperation.
“How do we build a good country? By divisions and conflict? Or by cooperation; understanding each other’s point of view, creating a middle ground… This country belongs to all of us and we must work it together.” N/1