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Afghan Ex-President Denounces Bombing and Says He Wants U.S. Out Afghan Ex-President Denounces Bombing and Says He Wants U.S. Out
(35 minutes later)
KABUL, Afghanistan — The United States’ bombing of Islamic State affiliates in Afghanistan has stirred up a political crisis for the local government, as former President Hamid Karzai on Saturday called his successor “a traitor” and declared he wanted the Americans gone. KABUL, Afghanistan — The United States’ bombing of an Islamic State cave complex in Afghanistan has stirred up a political crisis for the local government, as former President Hamid Karzai on Saturday called his successor “a traitor” and declared that he wanted the Americans gone from the country.
In an interview with The New York Times, hours after he said he intended to work toward “ousting the U.S.,” a fuming Mr. Karzai said there was no justification for the United States to drop its most powerful conventional bomb in Afghanistan. The GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast is referred to as the “mother of all bombs.” In an interview with The New York Times, hours after he said he intended to work toward “ousting the U.S.,” a fuming Mr. Karzai said there was no justification for the United States to drop its most powerful conventional bomb in Afghanistan. The weapon, the GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast, is referred to as the “mother of all bombs.”
He accused the American military of using and nurturing the ISIS affiliate as a tool to turn his country into a laboratory for use of its weapons. He accused the American military of using the presence of Islamic State militants to turn his country into a laboratory for testing its weapons.
Mr. Karzai said President Ashraf Ghani’s government had been an “accomplice” that allowed and welcomed the use of the bomb. Mr. Ghani’s government had said the bombing — which was said to have killed dozens of militants and destroyed three large caves in Nangarhar Province — had been coordinated. Mr. Karzai said President Ashraf Ghani’s government had been an “accomplice” that allowed and welcomed the use of the bomb. Mr. Ghani’s government had said the attack — which was said to have killed dozens of militants and destroyed three large caves in Nangarhar Province — was coordinated with the United States.
“Shame on him for saying that, shame, shame,” Mr. Karzai said. “No Afghan with self-respect would do that.” “Shame on him for saying that, shame, shame,” he said. “No Afghan with self-respect would do that.” Mr. Karzai added, “He is a traitor, a traitor.”
He added, ”He is a traitor, a traitor.”
A spokesman for President Ghani would not address Mr. Karzai’s harsh words directly. But Mr. Ghani’s office put out a brief post on Twitter, clearly aimed at Mr. Karzai: “Every Afghan has the right to speak their mind. This is a country of free speech.”A spokesman for President Ghani would not address Mr. Karzai’s harsh words directly. But Mr. Ghani’s office put out a brief post on Twitter, clearly aimed at Mr. Karzai: “Every Afghan has the right to speak their mind. This is a country of free speech.”
Long before the bombing, Mr. Karzai, who has grown staunchly anti-American in recent years despite coming to power with the help of the United States military, had been seen as a quiet opposition figure, albeit one intent on derailing Mr. Ghani’s government. Long before the bombing, Mr. Karzai, who has grown staunchly anti-American in recent years despite having come to power with the help of the United States military, had been seen as a quiet opposition figure, albeit one intent on derailing Mr. Ghani’s government.
Even when he was in power, he was against the American use of air power on Afghan villages, but analysts say they believe the latest American bombing is giving him another political pretext to mobilize against the government. Even when he was in power, he was against the American use of air power on Afghan villages, but analysts say they believe the latest American bombing has given him another political pretext to mobilize against the government.