Karzai: Afghans Weary of War, Seek Peace and Representative Government

DID Press: Hamid Karzai, former president of Afghanistan, said in an interview with the German magazine Der Spiegel that the absence of a large-scale public resistance against the Taliban reflects the deep exhaustion of the Afghan population after four decades of conflict.

Karzai emphasized that Afghans do not want the country to slide back into chaos and violence, noting that years of war have shaped public priorities around maintaining stability and preventing renewed crises.

He also pointed to the country’s difficult economic conditions, saying that widespread poverty has further reduced the appetite for new conflicts among the population.

However, the former president stressed that citizens continue to hold clear expectations. He said Afghans are “thirsty for peace and stability” while also seeking the establishment of a government based on the will of the people.

According to Karzai, access to education—particularly for girls—protection of women’s rights, and the formation of an inclusive political system remain among the core demands of Afghan society.

He concluded that fulfilling these demands could lay the foundation for a stable and sustainable future for Afghanistan.