Afghan warlord on the warpath

[dArKeR]

Associated Press

Kabul — A powerful Afghan warlord launched a broad assault against two rivals in northern Afghanistan, the Defence Ministry said Wednesday, as the fighting threatened to further destabilize the fragile country.


Forces loyal to Abdul Rashid Dostum moved into Faryab province late Tuesday and were advancing toward the provincial capital along three fronts, Deputy Defence Minister Rahim Wardak told The Associated Press.


Details were sketchy from the remote province, about 400 kilometres northwest of Kabul, but Mr. Wardak said: “For sure, there are casualties, but I can't confirm how many.”


The intelligence chief in Faryab's government, Omayoun Haini, said 2,000-3,000 of Mr. Dostum's men armed with light weapons moved in from neighbouring provinces on some 200 vehicles and 400 horses.

http://theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20040407.waffy0407/BNStory/International/

[NMDemDist2]

1. more on afganistan here

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x1367769

[aquart]

2. Well, it'll just have to wait.

We're America. We can rule the world anytime we want. We just don't want to do much about it right this minute.

[Aussie_Hillbilly]

3. <snicker>

Abdul Rashid Dostum changes coats more often than I change my boots. His army is more like the mafia than anything else. I understand their nickname among their own people (uzbegs) is "Jaznjuni" or the "carpet-snatchers". Google him.

I believe he changed sides from the Soviets to Mujihedin a total of 17 times during the war with the USSR. The media was reporting his militia was being disarmed a few months back. I doubted it then, sadly I seem to have been proved right. Why the US made him part of Karzai's government I'll never understand.

Afganistan's warlords are no more likely to obey the US occupation than they did the USSR. The current stability is based solely on the principle that the warlords promise to do whatever they're asked on the condition the US promises not to ask anything. Aid money and the CIA permitting a huge increase in heroin production (relative to Taliban times) also keep them friendly (at god knows what cost to the West).
http://www.csmonitor.com/2003/0724/p06s01-wosc.html
http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=37552&SelectRegion=Central_Asia&SelectCountry=AFGHANISTAN

I have no idea what should be done to fix that country.

[Matilda]

7. Dostum had the ability to threaten the stability of the Karzai Government

if he wasn't included.

http://www.uzland.uz/2001/december/26/02.htm

He is truly appalling, one of the most violent and bloodthirsty of
the Afghan warlords.

[DeepModem Mom]

4. Afghanistan has been forgotten, once again --

[walmartsucks]

5. As opposed to

all of those warlords who are on the peace path

[dArKeR]

6. Fighting continues in remote Afghan areas - TT

NY TIMES NEWS SERVICE , KABUL, AFGHANISTAN
Friday, Apr 09, 2004,Page 5

"Fighting is still going on in two areas. Government soldiers and supporters have fled in disarray."

Homayoun Aini, intelligence chief

For the second time in two weeks, President Hamid Karzai of Afghanistan is sending newly trained Afghan National Army troops from the capital to quell fighting in outlying regions, this time in northern Afghanistan, government officials said.

Heavy fighting broke out on Wednesday as an Uzbek warlord's militia advanced on Maimana, the capital of the northern province of Fariab, forcing the local governor to appeal for support from the central government.

The government ordered a battalion of 750 men to prepare to fly yesterday to Maimana, said General Mir Jan, a spokesman for the Defense Ministry. A senior government delegation, led by the deputy chief of staff and a presidential adviser, left for the region on Wednesday, he said.

http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/world/archives/2004/04/09/2003135950