The United States has partially withdrawncrucial reconstruction aid to Afghanistan in an effort to forceregional warlords to end disputes which threaten the country'sstability, US officials said today.
US ambassador to Afghanistan Mr Robert Finn said aid programmesaround the principal northern city of Mazar-i-Sharif had beensuspended because of repeated outbreaks of violence in the area.
"We will not be able to institute any more programmes ofassistance in the Mazar-i-Sharif area because of the continuinginability of leaders in that area to provide a security situationthat we felt we could say to US citizens, 'Yes, you can go and workthere'," Mr Finn told reporters.
"Sadly that situation has not improved."
His comments came a day after Mr Finn and US special envoy toAfghanistan Mr Zalmay Khalilzad travelled to the city for talks withrival warlords Abdul Rashid Dostam and Atta Mohammad, who jointlycontrol the country's strategic northern zone.Although Dostam and Mohammad claim to enjoy cordial relations,troops under their command have continued to clash, straining theiruneasy alliance and taking the region to the brink of openconflict.
At least six people were killed in the latest bout of fightingjust 25 kilometres (15 miles) from Mazar, the stronghold ofMohammad.
Despite the uneasy security situation, Mr Khalilzad said bothregional leaders had pledged to crush the violence and throw theirweight behind the government of Afghan President Hamid Karzai.
AFP