Ahmed Wali Karzai, the powerful half-brother of Afghan President Hamid Karzai, was shot dead in Kandahar this morning, reportedly by a long-trusted member of his security detail. Karzai was the provincial chairman of Kandahar, making him the most powerful man in southern Afghanistan. For some time, American military officials believed Karzai to be involved in the Afghan drug trade and government corruption. In 2009, it was revealed that the C.I.A. had been paying Karzai for services including recruiting a paramilitary force for the previous eight years. Bilal Sawary, correspondent for the BBC, has the latest from Kabul.
The World is an independent newsroom. We’re not funded by billionaires; instead, we rely on readers and listeners like you. As a listener, you’re a crucial part of our team and our global community. Your support is vital to running our nonprofit newsroom, and we can’t do this work without you. Will you support The World with a gift today? Donations made between now and Dec. 31 will be matched 1:1. Thanks for investing in our work!