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Taliban govt-run corporation takes over luxury Kabul Serena hotel | Nation
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, a Taliban government-run corporation has officially taken over the luxurious Kabul Serena Hotel. The iconic hotel, known for its opulent accommodations and top-notch service, is now under the control of the militant group.
The move comes as part of the Taliban’s efforts to assert control over key businesses and properties in Afghanistan following their takeover of the country. The Kabul Serena Hotel, once a symbol of Western influence and modernity in the capital city, is now under the management of the Taliban, raising concerns about the future of tourism and hospitality in the region.
Many are worried about the impact this takeover will have on the reputation and operations of the hotel, as well as the safety and security of guests and staff. The Taliban’s track record of human rights abuses and strict enforcement of their interpretation of Islamic law has raised fears about the treatment of employees and guests at the hotel.
As the Taliban continues to consolidate their power in Afghanistan, the takeover of the Kabul Serena Hotel serves as a stark reminder of the new reality facing the country. The once-glamorous hotel now stands as a symbol of the changing landscape in Afghanistan, with uncertain implications for its future.
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Taliban, Kabul Serena hotel, Afghanistan, luxury hotel, Taliban corporation, Kabul news, Kabul takeover, Nation news
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