Hamid Karzai is an Afghan politician who served as the President of Afghanistan from 2004 to 2014. He was a key figure in the country's transition after the fall of the Taliban regime in 2001. Karzai was initially appointed as the head of the interim government and later elected as president in the first democratic elections in Afghanistan. During his presidency, Karzai focused on rebuilding the nation, improving infrastructure, and fostering international relations, particularly with the United States. His leadership faced challenges, including issues of corruption and security, especially with the ongoing conflict involving the Taliban and other insurgent groups.