Afghanistan Needs a Parliament - Western Leader

Most of Afghan transitional president Hamid Karzai's new cabinet was sworn in June 24, amid concerns that the warlordism that has plagued the country for decades will continue to pose a threat to the new government's stability. Fiercely independent from the central government in Kabul, many regional leaders - often called warlords - look set to remain an important part of the country's political landscape. Among these leaders is Ismail Khan, who controls a large swath of western Afghanistan from his power base in Herat. EurasiaNet contributor Camelia Enkhetabi-Fard spoke with Khan after the close of the Loya Jirga about his dissatisfaction with the new government and his relationship with Iran. The full text of the interview follows.

EurasiaNet: The Loya Jirga has just ended. What do you think about its results, both positive and negative?
Khan: First of all, we have had a major accomplishment in Kabul: we were able to choose a new head of the state without a protracted and damaging conflict. This is a welcome development. The next thing that was done was to choose a cabinet. Finally it was the issue of a parliament or a council. Mr. Karzai preferred another body, a consultative council. But the large majority of the delegates at the Loya Jirga preferred to have a Parliament instead. Personally, I like the idea of a Parliament better. Parliament could check against the power of government and also be like a partner with it. It's true that a Parliament didn't come to be formed during the Loya Jirga but we continue to make it happen.

EurasiaNet: What is your plan for creating the Parliament?
Khan: Out of 10 people, one could be chosen to go to the Parliament. I'm talking about the people who were present at the Loya Jirga.

EurasiaNet: You had a major military maneuver in Herat, only a couple of days before the convocation of the Loya Jirga. Was the timing just a coincidence?
Khan: Actually, everything that we try to do in Herat nowadays, we try to have a rational plan for. For example this maneuver you mentioned had a practical reason for it.

Education, for both boys and girls, is very important for us. Alongside regular school, there is also a military school. Military school has two stages. Three months studying regular lessons and three months military lessons. After finishing those six months they have to show what they have learnt in maneuvers. We were at the end of the semester and had no choice but to continue with our scheduled maneuvers. You must realize that these maneuvers are very important for Afghanistan today.

EurasiaNet: Some people interpreted the maneuvers, which included heavy armors and airpower, as a show of force before the Loya Jirga.
Khan: There is no basis for this conclusion. We invited Mr. Karzai, [US envoy to Afghanistan Zalmay] Khalilzad and also [Transitional Defense Minister] Marshal [Mohammed] Fahim, but only Marshal Fahim showed up. They all knew this was part of our military school program and there were no other motives for them.

We also asked Marshal Fahim to bring with him some foreign journalists, but unfortunately he just brought a few local journalists from Kabul Radio and TV.

EurasiaNet: General Khan, as you know there is a lot of rumor that you are working for Iran, especially the hardliners - that you are Iran's man in Afghanistan. I am not repeating the question again, I'm just asking why you are accused of this kind of relationship?
Khan: I have to say very unambiguously that for the last 23 years of civil and foreign war in Afghanistan, it was only Iran and China that were consistent in their support of us.

Now, about relations between us and Iran, there are a lot of malicious lies and distortion. Yes, it is true that we have a lot of respect for Iran. First, we have no alternative - we are neighbors and we have a long border with them. Second, during the jihad and resistance years, Iran gave us critical support. They never wavered in this. You must know something, we Afghans never forget it when a stranger offers us help. Third, we have an important business relationship through Islam Ghalleh and Dougharoun [between Mashhad and Herat]. Fourth, Iran hosted more than 3 million Afghan refugees and they were taken care of reasonably well.

We are rebuilding the country and we need friends. We need Iran's friendship. That doesn't mean we lose our independence or they have undue influence on us. I'm sure the Iranians have no plan to attack our country or anything like that - and if they did it would be a mistake. Unfortunately, these journalists who come to Herat and cannot find any interesting subject write these lies.

EurasiaNet Why do they need to lie?
Khan: Because everywhere these journalists go there is chaos in Afghanistan and when they come to Herat and they see the level of organization and discipline we have and the high value we place on education and our culture, they don't look to see why that is so. They just say it could only be possible due to a foreign power, which is a lie. And they point their finger at Iran.

This is actually very insulting, because it shows a very condescending and contemptuous attitude toward Afghans, as if we can't be prosperous and hard-working.

Actually this developed culture and society in Herat is not my initiative. As many people are aware, the people of Herat have had a long history of refinement in culture and civilization. So if those misrepresentations are not lies, they speak of a deep ignorance of history.

EurasiaNet: The Iranian Radio has claimed that the US Army is planning to build a military base in Islam Ghalleh. Is there any credence to this report?
Khan: We don't need any security assistance to have a base in the western part of Afghanistan. America hasn't come here to have a base. As they are saying, they are here to fight against terrorists. Meanwhile al Qaeda is breathing its last breaths. I think at a place like Herat we have sufficient security and we don't need a peacekeeping military presence. If we have peace and security, there is no not need to have a base. Islam Ghalleh is the zero point between Iran and Afghanistan. We had never had any kind of conversation or offer by America on this issue.

EurasiaNet: Could I ask you how much income you have from tax?
Khan: I cannot give you such figure. This tax is just enough to get by, not enough for rebuilding the province or repairing the roads or building new schools. We need the government assistance, definitely. We are hopeful that a big push from international agencies could start soon for rebuilding areas that were completely destroyed during the war with Russia and the Taliban.

EurasiaNet: How many soldiers do you have?
Khan: This is a secret. Nobody can talk about that kind of military information. Let's say about three brigades.