Northern Afghan Warlord Comments on Regional Violence

Northern Afghanistan in recent weeks has been the scene of rising violence. International relief organizations have expressed concern about the safety of aid workers in the face of banditry by armed bandit groups. On June 26, one international aid official – James Morris, head of the World Food Program – called for the deployment of UN security forces in the region to help ensure that emergency food deliveries can be completed.

A major element of the security dilemma in Northern Afghanistan, as well as in most areas outside of Kabul, is that warlordism remains prevalent. The central government has yet to exert effective control over Afghanistan's regions, leaving warlords, backed by their own militias, to govern territory under their control like a fiefdom.

The region's most prominent warlord – Abdul Rashid Dostum, an ethnic Uzbek – spoke to EurasiaNet contributor Camelia Entekhabi-Far about security conditions in northern areas, and other issues relating to rebuilding Afghanistan's shattered political and economic infrastructure. In an earlier interview, Dostum, who served as a deputy defense minister in the former Afghan interim administration, said he would welcome the presence of international peacekeeping forces in the region to help curb lawlessness. Dostum told EurasiaNet: "I am tired" of conflict. The full text of his comments follows:

EurasiaNet: There have been several instances of violence committed against foreigners in recent weeks, can you comment on these incidents?
Dostum: There were two cases. One was at Tash Khorghan. There, one French citizen and American lady were attacked by some local bandits. The other case was money robbed from the UN emergency fund. I am really upset about these cases. I had meetings with [President Hamid] Karzai and [Defense Minister Mohammed] Fahim.