Kenya arrests former Afghan lawmaker wanted by the United States
Kenya arrests former Afghan lawmaker wanted by the United States
A court in Nairobi has allowed Kenyan police to detain Abdul Zahir Qadir, a former Afghan lawmaker and prominent political figure, following a formal extradition request from the United States.
Qadir, also known as Haji Abdul Zahir, was arrested at a hotel in Nairobi on April 15 by Kenya’s Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI).
According to court documents, he is wanted in the United States on multiple charges, including narcotics importation conspiracy and possession of machine guns.
The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) had filed a criminal complaint against Qadir with the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York on March 25, 2025.
The complaint led to an official diplomatic note submitted by the U.S. government, requesting Kenya to authorize Qadir’s extradition.
On Monday, Milimani Senior Principal Magistrate Benmark Ekhubi granted the application by Kenya’s Director of Public Prosecutions to hold Qadir in custody while extradition proceedings move forward.
The court emphasized that the available information and circumstances justified endorsing the U.S. arrest warrant and the suspect’s return to face charges.
The prosecution stated that Qadir entered Kenya from Kabul on April 14 aboard a Qatar Airways flight and has no fixed residence in the country.
Authorities expressed concern that releasing him could pose a significant flight risk and hinder efforts to locate other individuals potentially connected to the case.
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Abdul Zahir Qadir, born in 1973 in Nangarhar province, is the son of the late Abdul Qadir, a senior commander in the United Islamic Front and former Vice President of the Afghan Transitional Administration, who was assassinated in 2002. A former general in Afghanistan’s border forces and a member of the Wolesi Jirga, Qadir led the “Peace Karwan” movement and served as First Deputy Speaker of Parliament in 2012.
Qadir’s political career has been marked by his strong opposition to government policies during President Hamid Karzai’s administration. Over the years, he has faced multiple allegations, including accusations of drug trafficking and abuse of authority—claims he has repeatedly denied, describing them as politically motivated attempts to discredit him.
The court in Nairobi is expected to begin formal extradition proceedings in the coming days. Meanwhile, Qadir remains in police custody. Neither the Afghan Embassy in Kenya nor representatives of Qadir’s legal team have issued a public statement regarding the arrest.
This developing case is likely to attract significant attention both within Afghanistan and abroad, given Qadir’s political background and the seriousness of the charges brought against him by U.S. authorities.
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