Abdul Qayum Karzai, the elder brother of former Afghan President Hamid Karzai, passed away in the United States at the age of 67.
Qayum Karzai, who was a presidential candidate in Afghanistan’s 2014 election, had been residing in the state of Maryland for several years.
He is survived by two children.
A strong advocate for peace talks with the Taliban, Qayum Karzai hosted the first peace negotiations with the Taliban at his home in the Karz area of Kandahar.
Born in 1947 in Kandahar, Qayum Karzai moved to the United States at the age of 23 and spent much of his youth there. He graduated with a degree in political science.
Following the fall of the Taliban’s first regime, he played a significant role in negotiations with resistance forces, garnering support for Hamid Karzai’s presidency.
In 2004, Qayum Karzai was elected to Afghanistan’s parliament, but he resigned in 2008 amid criticism over his attendance record.
He ran for president in 2014 but withdrew from the race at the last moment.
