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| Karzai Is Overhauling Top Cabinet Posts, Western Officials Say | Karzai Is Overhauling Top Cabinet Posts, Western Officials Say |
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| KABUL, Afghanistan — President Hamid Karzai of Afghanistan has deepened a cabinet shake-up in the most important security and intelligence ministries, firing the country’s spy chief on Wednesday and, according to Western officials, lining up replacements for that post and the vacant Defense and Interior ministries, at least one of which seemed likely to heighten tensions between the Parliament and the presidential palace. | |
| According to two Western officials, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the situation, top aides to Mr. Karzai recently told 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 is likely to provoke members of the Afghan Parliament who voted just three weeks ago to dismiss Mr. Mohammedi from his post as interior minister. | According to two Western officials, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the situation, top aides to Mr. Karzai recently told 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 is likely to provoke members of the Afghan Parliament who voted just three weeks ago to dismiss Mr. Mohammedi from his post as interior minister. |
| The officials said Karzai aides had informed Western officials that a powerful Karzai loyalist who has faced accusations of corruption and human rights abuses, Asadullah Khalid, was in line to take over the country’s main intelligence agency, and that a long-serving police official, Ghulam Mujtaba Patang, would lead the Interior Ministry. | The officials said Karzai aides had informed Western officials that a powerful Karzai loyalist who has faced accusations of corruption and human rights abuses, Asadullah Khalid, was in line to take over the country’s main intelligence agency, and that a long-serving police official, Ghulam Mujtaba Patang, would lead the Interior Ministry. |
| 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, which could come as soon as Saturday, the official said. There were also signs on Wednesday that Mr. Mohammedi could face a tough vote in Parliament. | 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, which could come as soon as Saturday, the official said. There were also signs on Wednesday that Mr. Mohammedi could face a tough vote in Parliament. |
| The changes would complete a sweep of the country’s most powerful security posts, in what many officials saw as an effort by Mr. Karzai maximize his influence ahead of the planned 2014 elections. Because of term limits, Mr. Karzai cannot legally run again. | |
| “With this cabinet reshuffling, President Karzai is trying to consolidate his grip on power,” said Jawid Kohistani, a security analyst based in Kabul. “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,” said Jawid Kohistani, a security analyst based in Kabul. “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. 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. |
| The men identified as the likely appointments were not likely to raise objections from the government’s Western supporters, some officials said. But at least two of the choices come along with some controversy. | The men identified as the likely appointments were not likely to raise objections from the government’s Western supporters, some officials said. But at least two of the choices come along with some controversy. |
| Mr. Khalid, the likely new spy chief, 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 against the Taliban in Ghazni Province, where the head of the provincial council, Qazi Sahim Shah, was fatally shot on Wednesday evening in what local officials said may have been retribution by insurgents for supporting the uprisings.. | Mr. Khalid, the likely new spy chief, 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 against the Taliban in Ghazni Province, where the head of the provincial council, Qazi Sahim Shah, was fatally shot on Wednesday evening in what local officials said may have been retribution by insurgents for supporting the uprisings.. |
| His appointment to lead the National Directorate of Security 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. He has denied those accusations, and his allies called them politically motivated. | |
| Reached for comment, Mr. Khalid insisted that, despite rumors circulating through the capital all week that he had been chosen, he had not been officially contacted yet. | Reached for comment, Mr. Khalid insisted that, despite rumors circulating through the capital all week that he had been chosen, he had not been officially contacted yet. |
| 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 Panjshir, the province northeast of Kabul that was a stronghold of the Northern Alliance against the Taliban. An official in his office declined to comment on reports of his nomination on Wednesday, saying that “it is his personal business.” | 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 Panjshir, the province northeast of Kabul that was a stronghold of the Northern Alliance against the Taliban. 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. “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.” | But it was clear to Mr. Kohistani, the Kabul security analyst, why Mr. Karzai might risk the wrath of Parliament by renominating Mr. Mohammedi. “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. |
| Mr. Mohammedi “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 who said that he and other Parliament members had been informed of the nominee choices by Mr. Karzai’s minister of parliamentary affairs. | Mr. Mohammedi “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 who said that he and other Parliament members had been informed of the nominee choices by Mr. Karzai’s minister of parliamentary affairs. |
| 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. His new job would be key in ensuring fair elections in restive provinces. | 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. His new job would be key in ensuring fair elections in restive provinces. |
| In an interview on Wednesday, Mr. Patang said he had not spoken to Mr. Karzai directly but had learned about the decision from the media and the minister of parliamentary affairs. “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.” | |
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. |