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CNN Live At Daybreak

In Afghanistan, Rival Factions Causing Problems for Fragile Kabul Government

Aired February 06, 2002 - 05:30   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: In Afghanistan, rival factions are causing problems for the fragile government in Kabul. One particular hot spot is Gardez.

As our Michael Holmes reports, the fighting in Gardez could be a foretaste of what might happen in other Afghan cities.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MICHAEL HOLMES, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): To those in Gardez, the battle between local commanders over who would lead this town make more death, more insecurity, more of the same. After earlier fighting elsewhere in the country, Afghanistan's interim leader played down such skirmishes.

HAMID KARZAI, CHAIRMAN, INTERIM AFGHAN GOVT.: Afghanistan will have skirmishes for a long time to come. It's like a sick man getting out of the operation (UNINTELLIGIBLE). We are still in the ICU. Allow us to go to the recovery room and then walk like normal, healthy people. So we will have these incidents taking place in Afghanistan in the coming days. That does not have any political significance at all.

HOLMES: But stability here is a relative term. The various factions, which joined to fight the Taliban and al Qaeda, aren't necessarily united anymore. The factions, tribes, warlords and bickering never went away. The fighting in Gardez is over a man the interim administration appointed governor that the local people have accused of committing atrocities.

Local analysts say the administration needs to be careful when making those appointments -- very careful.

GHULAM MOHAIUDDIN DERIZ, POLITICAL ANALYST: If the government appoints anyone to the job and people oppose him, I think this will bring the country to a new war.

HOLMES (on camera): The fear, of course, is that there will be more Gardezes, worse ones. In the west, Herat, in the south, Kandahar, in the north, Konduz and Mazar-e-Sharif, where there has already been fighting this week. They are all run by or wanted by warlords. (voice-over): Then there is the Karzai factor. The west puts much hope in him to be a unifier, but his international profile outstrips his local profile. Many Afghans, if they know of him, see him as a westernized, compromised rather than a leader of political strength or military muscle.

In the capital, Kabul, crime is up, but no one on a day-to-day basis fears outright fighting. That's largely because of ISAF, the British-led International Security Force based here with a six-month mandate. The problem, say Afghans, is that Kabul is the only place ISAF operates.

MAJ. GEN. JOHN MCCOLL, COMMANDER ISAF: If it expands -- if the mission expanded, there would certainly be the requirement for additional resources. No question.

HOLMES: Hamid Karzai and his interim administration want the force to expand from 4,000 to perhaps 20,000 based in four or five cities. He also wants that six-month mandate extended. So far, little international enthusiasm for that request. The United States isn't part of ISAF and fearing mission creep, doesn't want to be.

DERIZ: If the international force leaves Afghanistan, I am sure that fighting will begin.

HOLMES: Since the retreat of the Taliban and al Qaeda, the fear has always been that some minor skirmish could lead to something much, much bigger. Gardez merely reinforces that fear.

Michael Holmes, CNN, Kabul.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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