Afghanistan’s Taliban government took over management of Kabul’s famed Serena hotel on Saturday, a hotel statement said, a luxury property targeted by Taliban attacks during their insurgency.
The Kabul Serena Hotel was run for nearly 20 years by the Aga Khan Fund for Economic Development in the Afghan capital and was popular with business travellers and foreign guests.
“Kabul Serena Hotel shall be closing its operations effective February 01, 2025,” a statement from Serena on Friday night said.
Hotel operations are now handled by the Hotel State Owned Corporation (HSOC), the statement added.
“Since opening in 2005, Kabul Serena Hotel has been an integral part of Kabul’s social fabric, an iconic presence in the city, and a symbol of our unwavering commitment to the people of Afghanistan,” the statement said.
Taliban government spokesmen did not immediately respond to requests for comment and AFP journalists were not allowed onto the property on Saturday morning.
On Saturday, the hotel’s website only showed the statement about the handover and Kabul has been removed from the Serena brand’s list of destinations.
The Switzerland-based organisation also did not respond to AFP requests for comment.
The Serena has been the target of multiple deadly attacks by the Taliban before they swept to power in 2021, ousting the foreign-backed government.
In 2014, just weeks before a presidential election, four teenage gunmen with pistols hidden in their socks managed to penetrate several layers of security, killing nine people, including an AFP journalist and members of his family.
In 2008, a suicide bombing left six dead, in an attack blamed on the current Taliban interior minister, Sirajuddin Haqqani.
In 2021, the United States and Britain warned their citizens to avoid hotels in Afghanistan, singling out the Serena, underlining the shaky security situation in the aftermath of the Taliban takeover.
In the years since their return to power, however, the Taliban authorities have worked to attract tourism to Afghanistan, touting a return to security.
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In a shocking turn of events, the Taliban government has taken over the luxurious Kabul Serena hotel, transforming it into a government-run corporation. This move has sparked outrage among residents and tourists alike, who have long viewed the Serena hotel as a symbol of luxury and hospitality in the war-torn capital.
The Taliban’s decision to seize control of the hotel comes as part of their efforts to assert control over key businesses and assets in Kabul. The move is seen as a clear indication of the group’s intention to establish a firm grip on power and impose their strict Islamic laws on the Afghan population.
Many are concerned about the impact this takeover will have on the hotel’s reputation and the livelihoods of its staff. The Serena hotel has long been a popular destination for foreign diplomats, journalists, and aid workers, who now face uncertainty and fear for their safety under the Taliban’s rule.
As the situation in Kabul continues to evolve, it remains to be seen how the Taliban’s takeover of the Serena hotel will affect the city’s hospitality industry and the overall economy. Stay tuned for more updates on this developing story.
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