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| Afghanistan |
| Tajik warlord rejects peace plan |
| 2003-07-30 |
| Afghan Tajik warlord General Atta Mohammad has rejected a plan by his rival, ethnic Uzbek Deputy Defence Minister Abdul Rashid Dostam, to bring peace and security to troubled northern Afghanistan. Following a recent meeting with US Major General John Vines, commander of the US-led coalition in Afghanistan, Dostam presented his plan to President Hamid Karzai calling for the removal from Mazar-i-Sharif of troops loyal to both warlords. Former communist General Dostam, head of the Uzbek Jumbesh militia, and Mohammad, chief of the Tajik Jamiat force, have been vying with a third ethnic Hazara militia Hezb-i Wahdat for control of the main northern city, the capital of Balkh province. Three way gang war. Dostam also suggested replacing the governor of Balkh with a neutral person chosen by Kabul without links to any of the three groups whose clashes in recent months have left an estimated 66 dead in the region since April, according to the United Nations. That couldn’t work, it makes too much sense "I am the commander of the 7th corps and I will take care of security in Mazar," Mohammad said on local television late Tuesday. "The 7th corps will stay in Mazar. I am head of Balkh province. Without me, no one can change the governor of Balkh." "I’m in charge here, so butt out!" Meanwhile a Jamiat commander was killed and two of his bodyguards wounded in a clash with Jumbesh forces Tuesday evening in Dar-i-Suf district of neighbouring Samangan province, 50 kilometres (31 miles) south of Mazar, said Ahmad Khan, commander of Samangan army 19th corps. Somebody will be calling for Dire Revenge(tm). Earlier this month the central government said it would clear armed factions from Mazar. Britain has just opened a provincial reconstruction team (PRT) with some 70 troops in Mazar that is intended to help improve security. The US-led PRT concept is a civil-military programme aimed to improve security, help with reconstruction and extend the reach of President Karzai’s government beyond Kabul. Good luck, you’ll need it. |
| Posted by:Steve |
| #2 You every time one of these guys opens his mouth he should be slapped down hard. |
| Posted by: raptor 2003-7-31 11:00:00 AM |
| #1 This is what happens when you let barbarians run a country. |
| Posted by: SPQR 2755 2003-7-30 4:10:05 PM |