Hamid Karzai

Secret Cash To Afghan Leader: Corruption Or Just Foreign Aid?

Sean Carberry — Wed, 01 May 2013 19:16:00 +0000

After a report in The New York Times this week, Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai has acknowledged that the CIA has been secretly delivering bags of money to his office since the beginning of the war more than a decade ago.

The money is allegedly used to buy loyalty — that of Karzai and the people he doles the cash out

Afghan President Says CIA Cash Payments Were Small And Legit

Scott Neuman — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 19:40:00 +0000

Afghan President Hamid Karzai acknowledged on Monday that for the past decade or more, his office has been receiving secret cash payments from the CIA, but that it's only small amounts used for "operational" purposes.

The Associated Press reports that during a news conference, Karzai, on an official visit to Helsinki, Finland, said the monthly payments were not a "big amount" and were used to give assistance to the sick and wounded, pay rent for housing and for other "operational

Kerry Stops In Afghanistan On Diplomatic Mission

David Greene — Mon, 25 Mar 2013 12:08:00 +0000

Secretary of State John Kerry made an unannounced visit to Afghanistan Monday. He's trying to smooth over the latest disputes with President Hamid Karzai.

Afghan President Karzai Claims Taliban, U.S. Colluding

Melisa Goh — Sun, 10 Mar 2013 15:46:57 +0000

Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai claims the U.S. is holding talks outside Afghanistan with the Afghan Taliban.

The allegations come as Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel continues his first visit to the nation as Pentagon Chief – and after a deadly explosion in Kabul on Saturday that the Taliban called a message to the new defense secretary.

Karzai made his claims in a nationally broadcast address just hours before he was to meet with Hagel, reports NPR's David Welna, who is traveling with Hagel.

"Karzai claimed the U.S. has been meeting daily elsewhere with the Taliban," Welna reports.

Karzai Asks U.S. Forces To Leave Key Afghan Province

Krishnadev Calamur — Sun, 24 Feb 2013 16:10:00 +0000

We're getting word that Afghan President Hamid Karzai has ordered U.S. special forces to leave Wardak Province within two weeks amid allegation of torture and disappearances centering on Afghans who are part of the U.S. forces.

Update at 1:07 p.m. ET. Order Came After Report

NPR's Sean Carberry is reporting on the move for our Newscast unit. Here's what he says:

"The order came after the governor of Wardak presented a report to the Afghan National Security Council today.