Karzai: Kandahar and Rabab are the heritage of Afghanistan, not Pakistan

Kabul Times News 04-21-2026

Former Afghan President Hamid Karzai, in response to Asif Ali Zardari's recent statements about Kandahar, emphasized that the civilizations of northern India and modern-day Pakistan are a continuation of the ancient Afghan civilization.

These statements came after the Pakistani President considered Kandahar - known in historical sources as the "Kandahara civilization" - part of Pakistan's civilizational identity. He also listed the story of "Adam Khan and Darkhani" and the Rabab instrument as intangible cultural heritage of Pakistan.

In contrast, Karzai, posting a message on the social network X, wrote that Kandahar belongs to the "ancient Aryana" area; a historical region that spanned from Bamyan to the Indus River basin. According to him, based on sources such as the book "Mali Handara", the story of "Adam Khan and Darkhani" and the rabab instrument are rooted in Afghan culture.

The former Afghan president also noted that the rabab, especially the "Kabuli rabab", is one of the main instruments of traditional music in the country and was registered by UNESCO as a cultural heritage of Afghanistan in 2024.