HUNT FOR OSAMA DESTABILIZING? The HUNT FOR OSAMA
DESTABILIZING? The Telegraph reports Britain's plans to help build a professional Afghan army:

The Ministry of Defence confirmed that it would be helping the Afghans to set up an army to provide a counter-balance to the warlords who control large areas of Afghanistan. The West fears that, otherwise, Russia and Iran will take the lead in training a new army to gain influence in Kabul. They are thought to have offered already. [...] The western coalition would prefer a truly national army of 25,000 to 50,000 that would represent all factions. This would enable the government to bring the warlords under control and would not put too much strain on Kabul's resources. How much attention Gen Fahim [the Afghan Defense Minister] will take of British suggestions is open to question. His relationship with British commanders was difficult during last month's negotiations over the establishment of the international force. [...] Western diplomats are worried by the lack of American assistance to the new government in extending its authority and Washington's continuing funding of warlords in the hunt for Osama bin Laden. The warlords are now defying the government and on occasion even the Americans, further destabilising the country. "If America does not take the lead, Britain should," a western diplomat said. "Britain heads the ISAF and is ideally placed to help the Afghans realise the new realities about military strength. "There is also deep concern about other countries stepping forward if the coalition does not act quickly." It would be anathema to the coalition if Iran or Russia trained a new Afghan army. [...]

Posted by Moira Breen at January 21, 2002 05:30 PM