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Warlords Still Control Much of Afghanistan
Aired July 19, 2002 - 14:35 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.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: In Afghanistan, the U.S.-backed government is struggling to establish control. Warlords still control much of the country, and they're not inclined to give up power.
CNN's Nic Robertson has just returned from the Afghan countryside and has more on this story from its capital, Kabul.
Tell us -- Nic.
NIC ROBERTSON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Kyra, in Kabul, the capital of Afghanistan, the central government has a lot of power and influence. Once you get outside into the regions, though, that sort of evaporates. The northern cities of Mazar-e-Sharif, former warlord up there, Dostin (ph), there's been problems with him recently in the South. Kandahar, and other former warlord problems there.
But perhaps one of the most problematic areas has been in the east. We have just come back from meeting Thatcher Khan (ph), a warlord in town of Khost.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ROBERTSON (voice-over): At host city limits, warlord Thatcher Khan (ph) turns up to inspect one of his illegal check points. According to Afghanistan's interim government, he is a criminal. It is characterization with which Khan (ph) vigorously disagrees.
From Gardez to the border with Pakistan, he explains, I control all the roads.
Indeed, on that 100-mile stretch of highway, he admits making a living collecting custom duties and tools, what the central government calls extortion.
His biggest clash with Kabul, however, is that he has installed himself as governor of Khost Province and refuses to accept the central government's authority.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): No, they promised I would be the governor of the Paktia Province, and the people want me. So if they send someone else, the war will be intensified and the central government will be responsible.
ROBERTSON: A few blocks away, Hakim Tanewal (ph), the governor designated by the interim central government, works to gather support among tribal elders. But in place two months, he has so far been unable to oust Khan.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They make the security here very bad. Children were abducted. People were abducted.
ROBERTSON: For military support, Afghanistan interim government has given governor Tanewal (ph) 700 recruits to train, should Khan (ph) choose to fight. Still, Tanewal (ph) is optimistic.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: There is a few very few people left with him. But he is still dangerous. And we want to avoid fighting because when he is destroyed, we will be (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
ROBERTSON: On the streets, however, governor Tanewal's (ph) force project little authority. Within feet of one of warlord Thatcher Khan's (ph) security checkpoints, is Narula Salef's (ph) car sales.
But sales are bad because there is no security, Narula (ph) nervously explains. As we are about to leave, he volunteers more: Tell the Americans to back just one leader here, he says, if they want stability.
Twenty miles up the same road, U.S. Special Forces are out searching for al Qaeda, along with their Afghan allies the car dealer is referring to.
Of these U.S.-Allied-Afghan fighters, all operating under different commanders, Khan (ph) claims same 600 are loyal to him through his brother, a nephew, and two cousins, who are their commanders under U.S. leadership: I have helped the Americans a lot. I helped them get on their feet here. If I am here, then the Americans are here. If I am not here, then the Americans are not.
How much of what Khan (ph) says is bravado is hard to calculate. U.S. officials have vowed to stay out of Khost's troubled politics. However, in a curious twist typical of the complexities of Afghanistan, if Khan (ph) is correct, his U.S.-trained fighters could face off against Governor Tanewal's (ph) largely inexperienced national army, and army the United States has pledged to support and train.
In the meantime, on main street here, storekeepers have taken security into their own hands. They've fired local gunmen.
Government policeman Gomer Hamid Magid (ph) can do little these days but watch from the sidelines: Tell the Americans they must support the central government, he says.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
Now, the problems that Thatcher Khan (ph) poses are nothing new for Afghan officials, who are familiar with this disgruntled warlords. But for those coalition forces who have been operating around Khost for the last seven months, they're becoming a lot more familiar with the complexities of the political makeup there. The question really is, that a lot of people are asking in Khost, is just how long can this situation remain unresolved before things like the hunt for Osama bin Laden and the long-term stability of the area are really affected -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: Nic Robertson, live from Kabul. Thanks, Nic.
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