Qayum Karzai

Abdul Qayyum Karzai
قيوم کرزی
Born1947 (1947)
Kandahar, Afghanistan
Died (aged 77)
Columbia, Maryland, U.S.

Abdul Qayum Karzai (Pashto: قيوم کرزی;[1] 1947 – 29 May 2024) was an Afghan politician and businessman. He was the elder brother of former President Hamid Karzai. His brothers also include Mahmoud Karzai and the assassinated Ahmed Wali Karzai. Abdul Qayum was a businessman in the United States before entering into Afghan politics. He served as a member of the Wolesi Jirga, the lower house of the National Assembly of Afghanistan.[2] He retired for health reasons and had "reportedly been involved in backchannel peace diplomacy with the Taliban through Saudi Arabia."[3]

It was reported in June 2012 that he planned to run in the 2014 Afghan presidential election.[4] His brother, Mahmoud Karzai was promoting Qayum Karzai for President as Hamid Karzai prepared his departure from office in 2014.[5][6]

Under pressure from his brother Hamid Karzai, Qayum decided to quit the race in March 2014 and endorse Zalmai Rassoul.[7]

  1. ^ "برادر رئیس جمهور کرزی از اشرف غنی حمایت کرد". BBC News فارسی (in Persian). 8 June 2014. Retrieved 30 May 2024.
  2. ^ "Profile: Kandahar Profile" (PDF). Navy Postgraduate School. January 2009. Archived (PDF) from the original on 6 June 2011.
  3. ^ "Karzai's Brother May Run For Afghan Presidency". Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL). 15 June 2012. Retrieved 15 June 2012.
  4. ^ "Karzai's Brother May Run For Afghan Presidency". Outlook Afghanistan. 12 June 2012. Retrieved 15 June 2012.
  5. ^ Markon, Andrew Higgins and Jerry (15 October 2010). "U.S. may indict Karzai's brother for tax evasion". ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 10 February 2023.
  6. ^ Risen, James (6 October 2010). "Karzai's Kin Use Ties to Gain Power in Afghanistan". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 10 February 2023.
  7. ^ "Qayyum Karzai quits Afghan presidential race". Asharq Al-Awsat. 5 March 2014. Retrieved 25 March 2014.