With a tainted image, Karzai takes oath

Chris Sands, Foreign Correspondent

• Last Updated: November 20. 2009 12:14AM UAE / November 19. 2009 8:14PM GMT

Mr Karzai was only declared the winner of August’s election after a period of political turmoil and the decision of his rival, Abdullah Abdullah, to drop out of a second round of voting. Anja Niedringhaus / AP

KABUL // Hamid Karzai was sworn in as president of Afghanistan yesterday amid growing concern over the violence and corruption plaguing his country.

Three months after an election dominated by widespread fraud, scores of foreign dignitaries, including the US secretary of state, Hillary Clinton, were at the inauguration ceremony in Kabul.

In a sign of how vulnerable the government feels, the city was again turned into a ghost town by roadblocks and checkpoints and people were urged to stay off the streets.

During his speech, Mr Karzai sought to address issues that have long been a worry for ordinary Afghans, but now also have the world’s attention, as the war here becomes impossible to ignore.

The president vowed to “learn from our mistakes and shortcomings” and said he would ensure ministers were “professional and in service to the nation”. He also tried to dampen fears that there is no end in sight to the occupation.

“Afghanistan wants to lead operations in non-secure areas in the next three years,” he said, adding that it should be able to take control of security within five.

Mr Karzai was only declared the winner of August’s election after a period of political turmoil and the decision of his rival, Abdullah Abdullah, to drop out of a second round of voting.

Having once been a favourite of the international community, he has recently found himself on the receiving end of strong criticism from close allies such as the US president, Barack Obama, and the British prime minister, Gordon Brown.

This is the deadliest year yet for foreign troops, with more than 470 killed at the time of writing. Two US soldiers were added to the list following a car bombing yesterday.

Afghans are also dying in record numbers. A Nato air strike in the western province of Badghis this month left a number of civilians dead. Meanwhile, an insurgent rocket attack in Kapisa this week killed an estimated 12 innocent people.

In his speech, Mr Karzai said he would reach out to political rivals and convene a traditional grand assembly or loya jirga of religious and tribal leaders. Members of the Taliban “not directly linked to international terrorism” were invited “to return to their homeland”.

But for many here, the promises will mean little until and unless there are concrete improvements to their lives.

On the eve of the inauguration ceremony, much of Kabul appeared tired and angry with the lack of progress since 2001.

“The Taliban make problems for the government and the government makes problems for civilians,” said Saif Rahman, 25, from Logar.

Elsewhere in the city, a shopkeeper spoke of why he had boycotted the election. “If someone voted for any of those candidates it was shameful for the Afghan people,” said Mohammed Sharif.

These first few weeks of Mr Karzai’s second term could be vital in determining the future direction of a war that has been spiralling out of control since 2005.

The White House is due to announce a new strategy for the conflict soon and all the indications are that it will agree to deploy tens of thousands of extra troops in an effort to turn the tide.

Gen Stanley McChrystal, the commander of Nato and US forces here, has asked for another 40,000 soldiers, but the Obama administration is believed to be torn over exactly what steps it should take. Karl Eikenberry, the US Ambassdor in Kabul, has warned against expanding the occupation.

At the same time as all this, neighbouring Pakistan – whose president, Asif Ali Zardari, also attended the inauguration – finds itself embroiled in a vicious civil war with rebels allied to the Afghan insurgency.

A key indication of Mr Karzai’s intentions will come when he names his new cabinet. Among those jockeying for roles or at the very least political concessions are Mujahiddeen commanders accused of committing human rights abuses in the 1990s. Two such men, Mohammed Qasim Fahim and Abdul Karim Khalili, have already been chosen as his deputies.

Mohammed Tahir, a pharmacist, said he supported Mr Karzai and was now “praying for him to be strong and truthful to his promises”.

“First, he should choose a good cabinet and not give positions to those who have had a hand in the killing of the people and the bloodshed of the past,” he said.

csands@thenational.ae