Afghan envoy departs, leaving few in doubt of U.S. stance on Karzai

As Richard Holbrooke left Kabul on Sunday evening, one could almost hear the last nail being driven into President Hamed Karzai’s political coffin.

Not only did he spend almost two full days in the Afghan capital before meeting the president, he gave a 30-minute interview with the immensely popular Tolo TV, in stark contrast to the stiff and awkward photo oppertunity held with Karzai on Sunday afternoon.

Holbrooke, the U.S. Special Envoy to Afghanistan and Pakistan, arrived Thursday, just one day after insurgents attacked three government offices, killing dozens and injuring many more. On Friday he met with the ministers of interior, defense and national security; Saturday was reserved for the president and his deputies. Details have been scarce on subject matter, but observers speculate that Holbrooke came to deliver a very strong message to the Afghan president.

“In fact, it appears that Holbrooke’s main mission was to try and discourage Karzai from running again for president,” said political analyst Wahid Muzhda. “I do not know how successful he was.”

On Sunday afternoon, journalists were called to a hastily arranged “press briefing.” But just minutes before the briefing was scheduled to begin, the podiums were dismantled, and a table and chairs brought out. The two men sat side by side, showing little warmth towards each other. Questions were not allowed.

Karzai expressed his gratitude that the administration of President Barack Obama had agreed to an Afghan delegation being part of a strategic policy review on Afghanistan, and Holbrooke reiterated the United States’ commitment to Afghanistan.

But the surface calm could not hide the deep fissures in the relationship between the United States and Afghanistan. Hand-picked for the presidency in 2001 by the United States, Karzai has gradually lost international support over the past seven years.

Sunday evening both men appeared in televised interviews; Holbrooke on Afghanistan’s Tolo, Karzai on CNN.

Karzai was in combative mode, telling interviewer Fareed Zakaria that he had lost favor with the United States for standing up for his countrymen. Every time he tried to protest civilian casualties, aerial spraying of poppies, and mistreatment of prisoners at Bagram military base, Washington would leak information alleging that his brother, Ahmad Wali Karzai, was heavily involved in the drugs trade.

“My conclusion is that (these rumors are) part of a political pressure tactic, unfortunately,” he said. He also hinted that the New York Times was part of the conspiracy, printing information in response to Washington’s prodding.

In his interview with Tolo, Holbrooke was genial but toed the party line. When asked about previous statements calling Karzai weak and ineffectual, he laughed.

“That was someone else calling himself Richard Holbrooke,” he joked. He also reiterated the U.S. position that civilian casualties, while regrettable, were the fault of the Taliban, who used civilians as shields.

In response to questions about Afghanistan’s upcoming presidential elections, he said that the United States would not endorse any candidate, and would support the process. His assurances, however, failed to convince many in the Afghan capital.

The ballot is scheduled for August 20. But before the country can go to the polls, it must weather a political storm that has been brewing for months.

According to the Afghan Constitution, the president’s term expires on May 22. Despite general agreement that the elections cannot be moved forward for logistical reasons, the parliament is refusing to recognize Karzai after his mandate expires.

Karzai’s own First Vice President, Ahmad Zia Massoud, called for him to leave at the end of his designated term of office.

Addressing a gathering in the Panjshir valley on Sunday, Massoud said that Afghanistan “needed a serious change in government,” and called for Karzai to step down. “If the administration does not resign at the appointed time, it will lead to a big political crisis,” said Massoud, brother of the late Ahmad Shah Massoud, mujaheddin commander and national hero.

Massoud called for an interim government to take the country through the campaign and elections, a demand that is being heard more and more frequently.

One possible candidate to head the interim administration would be Senate Chairman Sibghatullah Mojadeddi, who has been dropping hints at government meetings and with influential foreigners that he would not be averse to taking on the task.

Mojadeddi’s main qualification is that, at 83, he would not be a serious candidate for president himself. Also, he has had experience in short-term presidencies. In 1992 he headed the government for two months, before handing the reins, as agreed, to Burhanuddin Rabbani.

Regardless of Holbroke’s assurances that the United States would not interfere in the elections, many observers are convinced that his message to Karzai echoed that of the Afghans.

“The general consensus is that Karzai should leave in May, without making trouble,” said Muzhda. “The picture that emerges from Holbrooke’s visit is that America wants this, as well.”
 

http://www.globalpost.com/notebook/afghanistan/090216/afghan-envoy-departs-leaving-few-doubt-us-stance-karzai