Afghan provincial authorities criticised plans to develop a national army and rein in warlords. As the first unit of the army held its second day of formal training under the eye of European officers, provincial officials complained the force was being organised without consultation or adequate planning. They also showed little understanding of why the army is seen as crucial to national stability, arguing that it should be gathered and trained at the provincial level where local warlords still hold sway. 'By ordering us to send 20 men to build up a national army they are just trying to waste time,' said Khalid Pashtoon, the spokesman for Kandahar provincial Governor Gul Agha. 'We do not like the set-up of the army in the way they have chosen.'
If they don't kill it in its cradle, it's gonna grow up to bite them. Gul Agha and his backers know that. Expect attacks on the recruits and their bases by person or persons unknown. |