Kar ‧ zai, Ham ‧ id /kɑːˈzaɪ $ ˈkɑːr-, ˈhæmɪd $ ˈhɑː-/ BrE AmE
(1957–) an Afghan politician who became ↑ interim (=temporary) president of Afghanistan in 2001 when its political leaders chose him to govern the country after the Taliban had left. In 2004 he was elected president.