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| Karzai Is Seen as Poised to Overhaul Afghan Leadership | Karzai Is Seen as Poised to Overhaul Afghan Leadership |
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| KABUL, Afghanistan — President Hamid Karzai of Afghanistan appears poised to announce a major cabinet and national-security shake-up, Western officials said on Wednesday, in a move that could shift a long-serving professional police officer, Ghulam Mujtaba Patang, to head the Interior Ministry while possibly placing a powerful Karzai loyalist who has faced accusations of corruption and human rights abuses, Asadullah Khalid, in charge of the country’s main spy agency. | KABUL, Afghanistan — President Hamid Karzai of Afghanistan appears poised to announce a major cabinet and national-security shake-up, Western officials said on Wednesday, in a move that could shift a long-serving professional police officer, Ghulam Mujtaba Patang, to head the Interior Ministry while possibly placing a powerful Karzai loyalist who has faced accusations of corruption and human rights abuses, Asadullah Khalid, in charge of the country’s main spy agency. |
| According to two Western officials, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the situation, top advisers at Mr. Karzai’s presidential palace have also been informing Western officials that Mr. Karzai intends to nominate a politically influential Tajik commander, Bismillah Khan Mohammedi, to take over the Defense Ministry — a move that may provoke members of the Afghan Parliament who voted just three weeks ago to dismiss Mr. Mohammedi, who had been serving as interior minister. | According to two Western officials, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the situation, top advisers at Mr. Karzai’s presidential palace have also been informing Western officials that Mr. Karzai intends to nominate a politically influential Tajik commander, Bismillah Khan Mohammedi, to take over the Defense Ministry — a move that may provoke members of the Afghan Parliament who voted just three weeks ago to dismiss Mr. Mohammedi, who had been serving as interior minister. |
| The two Western officials also said Karzai aides had disclosed in recent days that Mr. Patang and Mr. Khalid would be appointed to the two other security posts. | The two Western officials also said Karzai aides had disclosed in recent days that Mr. Patang and Mr. Khalid would be appointed to the two other security posts. |
| One Western official, however, cautioned that there was still some chance that the names could be a trial balloon designed to elicit a reaction from American and NATO officials who still are in charge of providing most of the country’s security, or from Afghan lawmakers who must ratify the choices. | One Western official, however, cautioned that there was still some chance that the names could be a trial balloon designed to elicit a reaction from American and NATO officials who still are in charge of providing most of the country’s security, or from Afghan lawmakers who must ratify the choices. |
| Nothing is set in stone until Mr. Karzai makes a formal announcement, and the president may yet change his mind, although a decision might come as soon as Saturday, the official said. There were also signs on Wednesday that Mr. Mohammedi could face a tough vote in Parliament. | Nothing is set in stone until Mr. Karzai makes a formal announcement, and the president may yet change his mind, although a decision might come as soon as Saturday, the official said. There were also signs on Wednesday that Mr. Mohammedi could face a tough vote in Parliament. |
| But some Afghan analysts said the appointments, if formally made, would appear to show an effort by Mr. Karzai to consolidate his power ahead of the 2014 elections. Mr. Karzai won a second five-year term in 2009 under disputed circumstances and evidence of wholesale voting fraud, but he cannot run again in two years because of term limits. | But some Afghan analysts said the appointments, if formally made, would appear to show an effort by Mr. Karzai to consolidate his power ahead of the 2014 elections. Mr. Karzai won a second five-year term in 2009 under disputed circumstances and evidence of wholesale voting fraud, but he cannot run again in two years because of term limits. |
| The prospect of Mr. Karzai’s choosing Mr. Patang, Mr. Mohammedi and Mr. Khalid for the country’s three most important security jobs suggests that Mr. Karzai may already be maneuvering before the election or even to find ways to retain a long-term hold on power once he has left office, said Jawid Kohistani, a security analyst based in Kabul. | The prospect of Mr. Karzai’s choosing Mr. Patang, Mr. Mohammedi and Mr. Khalid for the country’s three most important security jobs suggests that Mr. Karzai may already be maneuvering before the election or even to find ways to retain a long-term hold on power once he has left office, said Jawid Kohistani, a security analyst based in Kabul. |
| “With this cabinet reshuffling, President Karzai is trying to consolidate his grip on power,” Mr. Kohistani said. “He is not thinking only about his remaining two years in office. He has long-term plans, and this reshuffling is just the first step. Indeed, he wants to have full control over all government apparatuses to make sure that whoever from his team runs for president in the upcoming elections wins.” | “With this cabinet reshuffling, President Karzai is trying to consolidate his grip on power,” Mr. Kohistani said. “He is not thinking only about his remaining two years in office. He has long-term plans, and this reshuffling is just the first step. Indeed, he wants to have full control over all government apparatuses to make sure that whoever from his team runs for president in the upcoming elections wins.” |
| Mr. Patang, who does not have the sort of deep political or ethnic power base that ministers often possess, is seen as a competent, long-serving police official and someone whom Mr. Karzai can control. | Mr. Patang, who does not have the sort of deep political or ethnic power base that ministers often possess, is seen as a competent, long-serving police official and someone whom Mr. Karzai can control. |
| In an interview on Wednesday, Mr. Patang seemed certain he had been nominated for the post of interior minister. “I am almost sure that I am proposed by the president,” he said. “It will be done in a week.” | In an interview on Wednesday, Mr. Patang seemed certain he had been nominated for the post of interior minister. “I am almost sure that I am proposed by the president,” he said. “It will be done in a week.” |
| Currently, he is a deputy minister in charge of the Afghan Public Protection Force, a government agency that took over most private security jobs from private companies earlier this year under a decree by Mr. Karzai. | Currently, he is a deputy minister in charge of the Afghan Public Protection Force, a government agency that took over most private security jobs from private companies earlier this year under a decree by Mr. Karzai. |
| He said that he had not spoken to Mr. Karzai directly but had learned about the decision from the media and the minister of parliamentary affairs. | He said that he had not spoken to Mr. Karzai directly but had learned about the decision from the media and the minister of parliamentary affairs. |
| “I have not spoken to him about this,” Mr. Patang said of Mr. Karzai, adding that “I hope that others will support this.” | “I have not spoken to him about this,” Mr. Patang said of Mr. Karzai, adding that “I hope that others will support this.” |
| “If this decision has been made by the president,” he said, “this will be the first time a professional police officer has been appointed at the ministry of interior for 30 years.” | “If this decision has been made by the president,” he said, “this will be the first time a professional police officer has been appointed at the ministry of interior for 30 years.” |
| Mr. Khalid, who according to the two Western officials is the person the presidential palace has said will be nominated to lead the National Directorate of Security, the national spy agency, said in an interview that he did not know anything about his possible nomination aside from rumors floated since last week. | Mr. Khalid, who according to the two Western officials is the person the presidential palace has said will be nominated to lead the National Directorate of Security, the national spy agency, said in an interview that he did not know anything about his possible nomination aside from rumors floated since last week. |
| “Nobody from the palace, including the president himself, has talked to me about it,” Mr. Khalid said. “I think in the next few days we will find out whether these rumors are true or not.” | “Nobody from the palace, including the president himself, has talked to me about it,” Mr. Khalid said. “I think in the next few days we will find out whether these rumors are true or not.” |
| His appointment could prove controversial in some quarters, especially with human rights groups: While seen as a committed enemy of the Taliban, Mr. Khalid was also removed from his job as governor of Kandahar Province in 2008 amid accusations of human-rights abuses and corruption. | His appointment could prove controversial in some quarters, especially with human rights groups: While seen as a committed enemy of the Taliban, Mr. Khalid was also removed from his job as governor of Kandahar Province in 2008 amid accusations of human-rights abuses and corruption. |
| Mr. Khalid is an influential confidant of Mr. Karzai, who delegated to him significant power over security in southern Afghanistan after Ahmed Wali Karzai, the president’s brother, was assassinated last year. Lately Mr. Khalid, who also serves as minister of tribal and border affairs, has been leading the government’s efforts to support uprisings in Ghazni Province against the Taliban. | Mr. Khalid is an influential confidant of Mr. Karzai, who delegated to him significant power over security in southern Afghanistan after Ahmed Wali Karzai, the president’s brother, was assassinated last year. Lately Mr. Khalid, who also serves as minister of tribal and border affairs, has been leading the government’s efforts to support uprisings in Ghazni Province against the Taliban. |
| Mr. Karzai’s aides confirmed on Wednesday that the current head of the spy agency, Rahmatullah Nabil, will leave that job and become an ambassador to a foreign country. But Karzai aides declined to speak about any new cabinet appointments. | Mr. Karzai’s aides confirmed on Wednesday that the current head of the spy agency, Rahmatullah Nabil, will leave that job and become an ambassador to a foreign country. But Karzai aides declined to speak about any new cabinet appointments. |
| Appointing Mr. Mohammedi as defense minister would seem a direct provocation of Parliament, but it may also be a way for Mr. Karzai to keep one of the country’s most powerful Tajik officials in his political camp. | Appointing Mr. Mohammedi as defense minister would seem a direct provocation of Parliament, but it may also be a way for Mr. Karzai to keep one of the country’s most powerful Tajik officials in his political camp. |
| Mr. Mohammedi, who has also served previously as chief of staff for the Afghan Army, angered many other politicians by aggressively filling key security posts with other Tajiks from Panshir, the province northeast of Kabul that was a stronghold of the Northern Alliance. An official in his office declined to comment on reports of his nomination on Wednesday, saying that “it is his personal business.” | |
| But it was clear to Mr. Kohistani, the Kabul security analyst, why Mr. Karzai might risk the wrath of Parliament by renominating Mr. Mohammedi, who is commonly known as Bismillah Khan, or just “B.K.” | But it was clear to Mr. Kohistani, the Kabul security analyst, why Mr. Karzai might risk the wrath of Parliament by renominating Mr. Mohammedi, who is commonly known as Bismillah Khan, or just “B.K.” |
| “President Karzai cannot let go of Bismillah Khan because he doesn’t want to add him to the ranks of his opponents,” Mr. Kohistani said. “He will do whatever it takes to keep him.” | “President Karzai cannot let go of Bismillah Khan because he doesn’t want to add him to the ranks of his opponents,” Mr. Kohistani said. “He will do whatever it takes to keep him.” |
| The immediate catalyst for the national-security reshuffle was the vote by Parliament earlier this month to dismiss the former defense minister, Abdul Rahim Wardak, as well as Mr. Mohammedi. | The immediate catalyst for the national-security reshuffle was the vote by Parliament earlier this month to dismiss the former defense minister, Abdul Rahim Wardak, as well as Mr. Mohammedi. |
| Members of Parliament complained of problems, including what they said was a failure to respond effectively to cross-border attacks from militants in Pakistan and corruption in contracting procedures. | Members of Parliament complained of problems, including what they said was a failure to respond effectively to cross-border attacks from militants in Pakistan and corruption in contracting procedures. |
| But Parliament may have also acted because members were frustrated that their recommendations for appointments had not been taken into account and that they had not received their fair share of contracts, some observers said. | But Parliament may have also acted because members were frustrated that their recommendations for appointments had not been taken into account and that they had not received their fair share of contracts, some observers said. |
| And it seemed clear on Wednesday that Mr. Mohammedi might again face stiff opposition from Afghan lawmakers. | And it seemed clear on Wednesday that Mr. Mohammedi might again face stiff opposition from Afghan lawmakers. |
| “He was already disqualified once by the Parliament, and I don’t think he will gain a vote of confidence again,” said Daud Kalakani, an influential lawmaker from Kabul. | “He was already disqualified once by the Parliament, and I don’t think he will gain a vote of confidence again,” said Daud Kalakani, an influential lawmaker from Kabul. |
| Mr. Kalakani said that Mr. Karzai’s minister of parliamentary affairs had confirmed to him and some other lawmakers that the president had decided to nominate Mr. Mohammedi and Mr. Patang for the country’s top two security jobs. He also said he believed that the nominations of Mr. Patang and Mr. Khalid might get ratified by the Parliament. | Mr. Kalakani said that Mr. Karzai’s minister of parliamentary affairs had confirmed to him and some other lawmakers that the president had decided to nominate Mr. Mohammedi and Mr. Patang for the country’s top two security jobs. He also said he believed that the nominations of Mr. Patang and Mr. Khalid might get ratified by the Parliament. |
| But still he criticized the choices, saying they would not help the country. | But still he criticized the choices, saying they would not help the country. |
| “They won’t improve the administration, and will not solve the existing problems,” Mr. Kalakani said. | “They won’t improve the administration, and will not solve the existing problems,” Mr. Kalakani said. |
Habib Zahori, Jawad Sukhanyar, Sangar Rahimi and an employee of The New York Times contributed reporting. | Habib Zahori, Jawad Sukhanyar, Sangar Rahimi and an employee of The New York Times contributed reporting. |