Afghanistan govt denies it has no control
Afghanistan’s Defence Ministry denied an assertion by the top US intelligence official that only 30% of the country is under the control of President Hamid Karzai’s government.
Mike McConnell, the US National Intelligence Director, told a senate committee in Washington on Wednesday that Afghanistan’s central government controls just 30% of the country. The Taliban controls about 10% and local tribes the rest, he said.
“This is far from the facts and we completely deny it,” the Afghan Defence Ministry said.
“All Afghan people know that in the 34 provinces of Afghanistan and in more than 360 districts ... the government has control.”
The Defence Ministry has previously said that several districts in the southern province of Helmand are not controlled by the government. Afghanistan has about 365 districts.
In diplomatic circles, Mr Karzai is sometimes referred to as the “Mayor of Kabul”, a reference to his control of the capital but weak authority in remote areas of the country.
Afghanistan’s hundreds of tribes tend to provide their own security through militias.
They also administer justice and solve problems using traditional methods, such as large council gatherings known as shuras.
“For a long time we know that tribal leaders were effective in ensuring security in their areas, and because of that we will give them opportunities and encourage them to provide security in their areas,” said Asif Nang, a spokesman for the minister of state for parliamentary affairs.
“But this does not mean that the government is not present.”
