Karzai offers new Cabinet lineup

Reporting from Kabul, Afghanistan — President Hamid Karzai snubbed two prominent warlord figures in a new Cabinet lineup unveiled today but unexpectedly offered a ministerial spot to the leader of a political party founded by a key Pakistan-based insurgent commander.

The list of Cabinet nominees also included three female ministers, including a prominent women’s-rights activist chosen as minister of women’s affairs. Karazai had been sharply criticized when a previous lineup, most of whom were rejected by lawmakers last week, included only one woman.

The 16 ministerial candidates still face a confirmation by Parliament, which on Jan. 2 voted down 17 of the 23 prospective ministers that Karzai had put forth. 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 in November to a second term in office, 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 will have to make financial commitments without knowing who will be overseeing the disbursement of some aid funds in the country.

Of the new nominees, the most eye-catching is probably Abdul Hadi Argandiawab, chairman of the Hezb-i-Islami party, whom Karzai tapped as minister of economics.

Argandiawab has denied direct links with insurgent leader Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, the party’s founder. Hekmatyar has sometime alliances with both the Taliban and Al Qaeda, and most analysts believe he and Argandiawab are in contact.

However, the choice of Argandiawab 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 them 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.

Before the new list was presented to lawmakers today, Karzai aides had suggested he might put forth some of the rejected candidates again, proposing them for different jobs. But Karzai, weakened by a bruising election battle complicated by massive vote-rigging, apparently decided against stirring up a fresh confrontation with Parliament by trying to do that.

He left two Cabinet positions vacant, which could still be doled out to political supporters, including those with links to warlord figures who helped him get elected.

The previous lineup had included one-time militia commander Ismail Khan, and three other ministerial picks who were allied with another well-known ex-warlord, Rashid Dostum.

With his new lineup, Karzai also chose a candidate for the job of foreign minister, which he had previously left vacant. He nominated Zalmai Rasool, previously head of the national security council.

Lawmakers and analysts said the new list included 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 Khost province, which borders Pakistan and is a hotbed of insurgent activity. Karzai nominated him as the new minister of tribal and border affairs.