Afghanistan’s interim leader said Monday that he would send government soldiers to Gardez to end deadly fighting between rival warlords. Such military intervention would be the first by interim Prime Minister Hamid Karzai, who is struggling to maintain his grip on the fractious nation.
Karzai’s move comes as U.S. troops reportedly are massing along the Afghan-Pakistani border east of Gardez. Afghan officials say the U.S. forces are preparing for attacks on Al Qaeda and Taliban remnants that had escaped into Pakistan.
A high-ranking Gardez official who asked not to be named said late Monday that officials with the interim administration in Kabul told him that 600 Afghan soldiers would be dispatched within a day or two.
Over the weekend, supporters of Bacha Khan Zardran, who has been fighting to regain the governorship of Paktia province that he lost in February, bombarded the city, killing at least 25 people. He appeared to have been targeting tribal elders who support the new Paktia governor, Taj Mohammed Wardak.
On Monday, six people were killed in an attack on the outskirts of the city. Most shops on the town’s main street were closed for fear of more bombardment.
Aides say Karzai is furious with Zardran because of the killing of innocents in the recent attacks on Gardez and wants to make an example out of him, even though Zardran was a major figure in expelling the Taliban from his region.
Well-connected warlord
A supporter of former King Mohammed Zahir Shah, Zardran is well-connected: his brother is an interim Cabinet minister, and Karzai had chosen Zardran to lead Paktia province. But in bloody battles with rivals in January, Zardran lost. Karzai then turned to the outsider, Wardak, to replace him.
“The chairman has issued a stern warning that Zardran must be captured and arrested,” said Yusuf Nuristani, spokesman for the interim government.
Asked as he emerged from a meeting whether he would send troops against Zardran, Karzai said, “Oh sure, that will take place.”
Rebuffed governor skeptical
Wardak and others in Gardez expressed skepticism, however. After being attacked by rockets Saturday, they asked for ground and air support from Kabul, but administration officials said much of their weaponry was tied up in a ceremony commemorating the end of communist rule.
As recently as 10 days ago, Wardak said he asked Karzai for troops to help fight Zardran and was promised them a week later. They never turned up.
“Mr. Karzai is a very kind man,” Wardak said, “but he is always delaying plans to get rid of [Zardran]. He doesn’t want anyone to kill him, but in my opinion, we should not delay any longer.
“It is the responsibility of the government, including me, to take some sort of action.”
Wardak said he has announced on Gardez radio that anyone responsible for the rocket attacks should turn themselves in or the government will come after them. He also has given Zardran 10 days to negotiate a settlement. If he does not comply, regional government forces would try to arrest Zardran, Wardak said.
Gardez officials said U.S. Special Forces commandos posted in the city have refused to intervene, saying that is not their mission.
Zardran, who until a few days ago reportedly was in Kabul, is said to be hiding in the mountains around Gardez or nearby Khost, where his relatives are involved in another feud, local authorities said.
Meanwhile, Wardak said he had been told by regional residents that U.S. troops were near Khost. Up to 1,200 American and British soldiers reportedly were flown by helicopter in recent days to the eastern-border area. The Washington Post quoted an Afghan official as saying military action was expected within 10 to 15 days.
