Afghan president’s new Cabinet picks include controversial figure

KABUL — Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai snubbed two prominent warlord figures in a new Cabinet lineup unveiled
Saturday but unexpectedly offered a ministerial spot to the leader of a
party linked to a Pakistan-based insurgent commander.

The list of 16 Cabinet nominees also includes three
women, one of them a prominent activist chosen as minister of women’s
affairs. Karzai had been sharply criticized when his previous lineup
had only one woman.

The Afghan parliament on Jan. 2 rejected 17 of the 23 prospective ministers that Karzai had put forth initially, including former militia commander Ismail Khan and three nominees associated with another former commander, Rashid Dostum.

Before the replacement list was presented to
lawmakers, presidential aides had suggested Karzai might offer up some
of the rejected candidates again, but for different posts. But Karzai,
weakened by a bruising election battle tarnished by massive
vote-rigging, apparently decided against stirring up a fresh
confrontation with parliament.

The president ordered lawmakers to put off their winter recess for a vote on the new list, which may be held by week’s end.

The Afghan leader, who was sworn in to a second term
in office in November, has been under pressure to assemble a government
before a major aid and security conference in London at the end of the month. If his Cabinet is not confirmed by then, countries supplying troops and aid to Afghanistan
would have to make financial commitments without knowing who would be
overseeing the disbursement of some funds — a difficult proposition in
light of corruption concerns.

Of the new nominees, the most eye-catching is
probably Abdul Hadi Arghandiawal, the chairman of a party that is an
offshoot of the Hezb-i-Islami movement. Karzai tapped him as economics
minister.

Arghandiawal has denied direct links with insurgent
leader Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, the movement’s founder. Hekmatyar has
sometimes allied with the Taliban and al-Qaida, and most analysts
believe he and Arghandiawal are in contact.

But the choice of Arghandiawal would be in line with
Karzai’s stated desire to reach out to insurgents who are willing to
lay down their arms, and re-integrate into the political system.
Hekmatyar, who once served as Afghanistan’s prime minister, is thought to harbor wishes to regain a position of political influence.

With seven ministers approved in the original vote
and 16 nominees now on tap, Karzai told lawmakers the final slate would
comprise 25 ministers. That leaves two posts yet to be filled, which
could still be given to controversial supporters.

In his new lineup, Karzai also named a candidate for
the job of foreign minister, which he had previously left vacant. He
nominated Zalmay Rassoul, previously head of the national security council.

Lawmakers and analysts said the new list consisted
of a mixture of qualified candidates and those with little relevant
experience. One new pick likely to please the West is Arsala Jamal, an
English-speaking technocrat who is the former governor of restive
Khowst province, which borders Pakistan and is a hotbed of insurgent activity. Karzai nominated him as the new minister of tribal and border affairs.

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