Hamid Karzai is back in the thick of Afghan politics but a long way from power.

Their freedom of movement has also been constrained. For 12 days, starting the night the Taliban descended on Kabul, Karzai lived at Abdullah’s residence, with Taliban guards posted outside, according to Abdullah, the former chief executive of the Afghan government under Ghani. Karzai has since returned home. Abdullah said he has not left his own house since Aug. 15, the day Kabul fell. Amid the tension and uncertainty, the two men are in touch several times a day.