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Afghan President Replaces Security Chiefs in Critical Phase of War To Curb Taliban, Afghan President Replaces Security Chiefs
(about 5 hours later)
KABUL, Afghanistan — At a critical stage of Afghanistan’s long war, President Ashraf Ghani on Sunday appointed two staunch anti-Taliban veterans to head the country’s army and police forces, a major shake-up of the security leadership.KABUL, Afghanistan — At a critical stage of Afghanistan’s long war, President Ashraf Ghani on Sunday appointed two staunch anti-Taliban veterans to head the country’s army and police forces, a major shake-up of the security leadership.
Mr. Ghani chose Assadullah Khalid as the minister of defense and Amrullah Saleh as the minister of interior. Both men, close allies of the United States military, are former spy chiefs who have been vocal critics of Mr. Ghani’s politics and what they have described as his government’s mismanagement of the war.Mr. Ghani chose Assadullah Khalid as the minister of defense and Amrullah Saleh as the minister of interior. Both men, close allies of the United States military, are former spy chiefs who have been vocal critics of Mr. Ghani’s politics and what they have described as his government’s mismanagement of the war.
The decision comes at a time when the Afghan army and police have been dying in record numbers in the face of a resurgent Taliban and as President Trump reportedly plans to cut in half the number of American troops advising and assisting the Afghan forces.The decision comes at a time when the Afghan army and police have been dying in record numbers in the face of a resurgent Taliban and as President Trump reportedly plans to cut in half the number of American troops advising and assisting the Afghan forces.
The United States is also urgently pushing for a negotiated peace with the Taliban, and the Afghan government — which has felt marginalized in the process — is eager to show that it can sustain military pressure, strengthening its hand in any talks.The United States is also urgently pushing for a negotiated peace with the Taliban, and the Afghan government — which has felt marginalized in the process — is eager to show that it can sustain military pressure, strengthening its hand in any talks.
It is a delicate moment politically as well as militarily.It is a delicate moment politically as well as militarily.
Mr. Ghani is running for re-election next spring and the maneuvering for that race is already in full swing.Mr. Ghani is running for re-election next spring and the maneuvering for that race is already in full swing.
Fatullah Qaisari, a member of the defense committee of the Afghan Parliament, said the expertise of the president’s two new appointees could be used to to ensure the Taliban do not further their gains ahead of any peace talks.Fatullah Qaisari, a member of the defense committee of the Afghan Parliament, said the expertise of the president’s two new appointees could be used to to ensure the Taliban do not further their gains ahead of any peace talks.
“The Taliban met the United States, Saudi Arabia, and Pakistan representatives, but they refused to meet the Afghan peace delegation,” Mr. Qaisari said. “It is the time that the Afghan president put pressure on the Taliban. Peace isn’t coming by begging. The Taliban must be targeted and these two persons can be effective in terms of security in the country.”“The Taliban met the United States, Saudi Arabia, and Pakistan representatives, but they refused to meet the Afghan peace delegation,” Mr. Qaisari said. “It is the time that the Afghan president put pressure on the Taliban. Peace isn’t coming by begging. The Taliban must be targeted and these two persons can be effective in terms of security in the country.”
Both Mr. Saleh, who led the Afghan intelligence service from 2004 to 2010, and Mr. Khalid, who led the same organization in 2012 before he was gravely wounded in an assassination attempt, remain popular with the country’s security forces.Both Mr. Saleh, who led the Afghan intelligence service from 2004 to 2010, and Mr. Khalid, who led the same organization in 2012 before he was gravely wounded in an assassination attempt, remain popular with the country’s security forces.
They remained vocally opposed to the Taliban even while they were serving in the cabinet of former president Hamid Karzai, who had turned to a policy of appeasing the insurgents in the hope of ending the war. They have also been outspoken critics of Pakistan, the neighboring country that harbors the Taliban leadership.They remained vocally opposed to the Taliban even while they were serving in the cabinet of former president Hamid Karzai, who had turned to a policy of appeasing the insurgents in the hope of ending the war. They have also been outspoken critics of Pakistan, the neighboring country that harbors the Taliban leadership.
Human rights organizations accused Afghan forces under both men of torture and abuse. Allegations of serious human rights violations under Mr. Khalid — which he has denied — also go back to the years he served as the governor of Ghazni and Kandahar provinces.Human rights organizations accused Afghan forces under both men of torture and abuse. Allegations of serious human rights violations under Mr. Khalid — which he has denied — also go back to the years he served as the governor of Ghazni and Kandahar provinces.
Officials close to Mr. Ghani described the appointments as killing two birds with one stone.Officials close to Mr. Ghani described the appointments as killing two birds with one stone.
The two veteran security chiefs will bring some morale to the weary forces and direction to the Afghan defense. President Ghani recently said that more than 28,000 Afghan police and soldiers had died since 2015, a number that many say could be even higher.The two veteran security chiefs will bring some morale to the weary forces and direction to the Afghan defense. President Ghani recently said that more than 28,000 Afghan police and soldiers had died since 2015, a number that many say could be even higher.
The appointments also ensure that two politically influential critics of Mr. Ghani’s past strategy do not join hands with opposition candidates in the spring elections.The appointments also ensure that two politically influential critics of Mr. Ghani’s past strategy do not join hands with opposition candidates in the spring elections.
Western diplomats, worried about losses to the Taliban, had pushed for the appointment of a new defense minister, said Vanda Felbab-Brown, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution who has extensively studied Afghan security dynamics. Over the past year, as the Taliban overran Ghazni, a city just south of the capital, Kabul, it became clear that the Afghan army had been slow in systematically implementing lessons from the 2015 Taliban takeover of another city, Kunduz.Western diplomats, worried about losses to the Taliban, had pushed for the appointment of a new defense minister, said Vanda Felbab-Brown, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution who has extensively studied Afghan security dynamics. Over the past year, as the Taliban overran Ghazni, a city just south of the capital, Kabul, it became clear that the Afghan army had been slow in systematically implementing lessons from the 2015 Taliban takeover of another city, Kunduz.
“President Ghani is using the appointments to conduct multiple damage limitation,” Ms. Felbab-Brown said. She said they are intended to reinvigorate the security forces and signal to the Taliban that even as there is a push for peace talks, the government still has the will to fight.“President Ghani is using the appointments to conduct multiple damage limitation,” Ms. Felbab-Brown said. She said they are intended to reinvigorate the security forces and signal to the Taliban that even as there is a push for peace talks, the government still has the will to fight.
The news last week of plans for a United States troop withdrawal shocked Afghan officials and Western diplomats in Kabul. Since then, there has been no official statement on the issue from President Trump or the American government.The news last week of plans for a United States troop withdrawal shocked Afghan officials and Western diplomats in Kabul. Since then, there has been no official statement on the issue from President Trump or the American government.
Gen. Austin S. Miller, the commander of American and NATO forces in Afghanistan, tried to assure his Afghan allies of continued support during a trip to eastern Nangarhar province on Sunday.Gen. Austin S. Miller, the commander of American and NATO forces in Afghanistan, tried to assure his Afghan allies of continued support during a trip to eastern Nangarhar province on Sunday.
“You have seen the same rumors I have, from the newspapers, but all I would assure you is first of all I have no orders, so nothing changed,” General Miller said to Afghan officials.“You have seen the same rumors I have, from the newspapers, but all I would assure you is first of all I have no orders, so nothing changed,” General Miller said to Afghan officials.
“But if I do get orders, I think it is important for you to know that we are still with the security forces. Even if I have to get a little bit smaller, we will be okay. We have thought about this before, and we will be able to do things you require in terms of support.”“But if I do get orders, I think it is important for you to know that we are still with the security forces. Even if I have to get a little bit smaller, we will be okay. We have thought about this before, and we will be able to do things you require in terms of support.”