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| Afghanistan/South Asia |
| US tells General Zahir to hang it up |
| 2004-03-29 |
| An Afghan government team arrived in Herat on Monday to investigate the killing of the son of the province's powerful governor, and a senior U.S. military officer called on the commander blamed for the death to surrender. Lieutenant-Colonel James Hand, head of the U.S. military's Provincial Reconstruction Team in Herat, said he understood the government intended to recall Nayebzada -- who is thought to be in his home province of Baghdis adjoining Herat. "I would encourage General Zahir and the central government to facilitate his return to Kabul as soon as possible," he told Reuters. Hand said he had met Khan as well as the commission sent by Kabul on Monday. He said failure to resolve the crisis would create mistrust for the Kabul government in Herat province. It could also confirm "the worst suspicions of those who are sceptical" of the Kabul government and embolden people like Osama bin Laden "who would like nothing better than to see the sons of Afghanistan battling each other". He said the crisis in Herat had tied up national army troops who could be helping hunt al Qaeda and Taliban leaders. The tensions in Herat have highlighted the difficulties Karzai faces in trying to exert his authority over regional power-brokers like Khan, who professes loyalty to Kabul but is accused by critics of running Herat like a personal fiefdom. Since Nayebzada fled, Khan's Herat Television has announced his replacement as commander of Herat's 17th military division. It said the appointments were approved by the defence ministry, but ministry officials said they had not been endorsed by Kabul. The head of the Kabul delegation, Taj Mohammad Wardak, said such decisions were for the central government. "There is only one government in Afghanistan and that is in Kabul," he told Reuters. |
| Posted by:Dan Darling |
| #2 I think Karai wants to clean up Khan in Herat. |
| Posted by: Liberalhawk 2004-03-29 4:21:44 PM |
| #1 It so damn simple: Karzi is the C-in-C,this pretty boy needs to take charge. Go into these trouble areas with the will to clean them-up. Use U.S.firepower where and when needed. Hunt down the Warlords,&lieutenants,throw the in prision/or kill. |
| Posted by: Raptor 2004-03-29 4:18:27 PM |