AFGHANISTAN: Afghan President Hamid Karzai sidelined leaders of powerful regional factions in his new cabinet line-up, announced yesterday, bringing in specialists needed to win the confidence of Western donors and investors.
Mr Karzai won Afghanistan's first democratic presidential election more than two months ago, and analysts regard his cabinet list as the real test of whether he can usher in a new era of stability after 25 years of conflict.
As expected, Mr Karzai dumped Defence Minister Mohammad Qasim Fahim. Mr Fahim, a commander of the Northern Alliance that helped drive the Taliban from power, fell out with Mr Karzai in the run-up to the presidential poll.
His replacement is Mr Rahim Wardak, an ethnic Pashtun and a former army general who received military training in the US.
Mr Karzai, who has survived two assassination attempts, also excluded Mr Yunus Qanuni, the runner-up in the presidential poll.
This provided the biggest shock after weeks of speculation that Mr Qanuni would be found a role.
"The mujahedeen (holy warriors) have not been represented the way they thought they would... This may result in a backlash," said Mr Hamidullah Tarzi, a former finance minister.
US, NATO and government forces continue to fight an insurgency inspired by Taliban militants and al-Qaeda remnants, and are still looking for al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden along the border with Pakistan.
The country is also suffering a boom in narcotics trading.
Mr Karzai brought in Ms Massouda Jalal, the lone woman among 17 rivals who ran against him last October, appointing her Minister for Women's Affairs. He gave another woman a cabinet seat, and a third will be appointed in a month's time, an official said.