How to Pronounce Hamid Karzai

Meaning and Context

Hamid Karzai, who served as the President of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan from December 2001 until September 2014, was a defining figure in the post-9/11 political landscape and the post-Taliban reconstruction of his nation. Following the U.S.-led invasion of Afghanistan in 2001, which ousted the Taliban regime, Karzai was appointed as Chairman of the Afghan Interim Administration and later became the country's first democratically elected head of state in the 2004 Afghan presidential election. His tenure, spanning the critical Afghan War years, was characterized by efforts to rebuild national institutions, navigate complex tribal politics, and manage a contentious relationship with international coalition forces. Karzai's presidency is often analyzed for its role in the Bonn Agreement process, its challenges with governance and corruption, and its ultimate conclusion with the NATO combat mission drawdown, setting the stage for the subsequent Taliban takeover in 2021.

Common Mistakes and Alternative Spellings

The name "Hamid Karzai" is generally consistent in its Romanized spelling, though minor variations can occur. The most common potential error is a misspelling of his surname, with "Karzai" sometimes incorrectly written as "Karzayi" or "Karzaei," reflecting attempts to phonetically capture the Persian/Dari pronunciation. Another occasional typo involves his first name, "Hamid," being misspelled as "Hamed" or "Hameed." It is also worth noting that in full formal contexts, his name may include his tribal designation, "Popalzai," as in Hamid Karzai Popalzai. Users searching for information should be aware that while "Karzai" is the standard, these alternate spellings might lead to relevant but less curated information.

Example Sentences

Following the fall of the Taliban in late 2001, Hamid Karzai was swiftly recognized as a unifying figure capable of leading the interim administration.

Historians often debate the legacy of Hamid Karzai's presidency, particularly his late-term criticisms of Western military tactics.

In his memoir, the former diplomat recounted several tense meetings with President Hamid Karzai regarding night raid operations.

Karzai's signature karakul hat became a symbol of Afghan tradition during his years in office.

The security transition orchestrated at the end of Hamid Karzai's term proved to be fragile, with Afghan national forces struggling to maintain stability.

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