Taliban Not Inviting Karzai, Abdullah to National Day Events

Sources in Kabul said the Taliban neither permits former President Hamid Karzai and former High Council for National Reconciliation head Abdullah Abdullah to hold ceremonies for national days nor invites them to such events.

Karzai and Abdullah are among the few figures from the previous government who remained in Kabul after the Taliban takeover in August 2021. According to the sources, the pair has never been invited to special day ceremonies since the Taliban's return to power. Both were part of the mujahideen during the fight against the Soviet invasion and previously participated in events marking occasions such as April 27, January 6 and February 15.

The sources added that over the past four years, Karzai and Abdullah have not been allowed to organize their own events for special occasions, describing this as part of restrictions imposed on them. They previously stated that the two cannot meet others or travel without prior Taliban permission.

Karzai reportedly requested several trips to his native Kandahar province in September this year, but the Taliban set special conditions for any travel.

On Sunday, February 15 -- marking the anniversary of the Soviet withdrawal -- Taliban Defense Minister Mohammad Yaqub Mujahid told other Taliban officials that Afghanistan's past should be forgotten and people should not be judged based on prior affiliations to groups or factions. Part of his remarks were published on the Pashto site of Radio Iran.