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| Afghanistan Bars Elite U.S. Troops From a Key Province | Afghanistan Bars Elite U.S. Troops From a Key Province |
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| KABUL, Afghanistan — The Afghan government barred elite American forces from operating in a strategic province adjoining Kabul on Sunday, citing complaints that Afghans working for American Special Operations forces had tortured and killed villagers in the area. | KABUL, Afghanistan — The Afghan government barred elite American forces from operating in a strategic province adjoining Kabul on Sunday, citing complaints that Afghans working for American Special Operations forces had tortured and killed villagers in the area. |
| The ban was scheduled to take effect in two weeks in the province, Maidan Wardak, which is seen as a crucial area in defending the capital against the Taliban. If enforced, it would effectively exclude the American military’s main source of offensive firepower from the area, which lies southwest of Kabul and is used by the Taliban as a staging ground for attacks on the city. | The ban was scheduled to take effect in two weeks in the province, Maidan Wardak, which is seen as a crucial area in defending the capital against the Taliban. If enforced, it would effectively exclude the American military’s main source of offensive firepower from the area, which lies southwest of Kabul and is used by the Taliban as a staging ground for attacks on the city. |
| By announcing the ban, the government signaled its willingness to take a far harder line against abuses linked to foreign troops than it has in the past. The action also reflected a deep distrust of international forces that is now widespread in Afghanistan, and the view held by many Afghans, President Hamid Karzai among them, that the coalition shares responsibility with the Taliban for the violence that continues to afflict the country. | By announcing the ban, the government signaled its willingness to take a far harder line against abuses linked to foreign troops than it has in the past. The action also reflected a deep distrust of international forces that is now widespread in Afghanistan, and the view held by many Afghans, President Hamid Karzai among them, that the coalition shares responsibility with the Taliban for the violence that continues to afflict the country. |
| Coalition officials said they were talking to their Afghan counterparts to clarify the ban and the allegations that prompted it. They declined to comment further. | Coalition officials said they were talking to their Afghan counterparts to clarify the ban and the allegations that prompted it. They declined to comment further. |
| Afghan officials said the measure was taken as a last resort. They said they had tried for weeks to get the coalition to cooperate with an investigation into claims that civilians had been killed, abducted or tortured by Afghans working for American Special Operations forces in Maidan Wardak. But the coalition was not responsive, the officials said. | |
| The officials said that without information from the coalition, they could provide few specifics about who was accused or which units they were working with. | The officials said that without information from the coalition, they could provide few specifics about who was accused or which units they were working with. |
| A statement from the presidential palace suggested that abuses might have been committed by American Special Operations troops, and not just by Afghans working alongside them. But in interviews after the announcement, Afghan officials indicated that the Afghans were the main suspects, and that the Americans were seen as enabling the abuses rather than perpetrating them. | |
| Throughout the war, the United States military and the C.I.A. have organized and trained clandestine militias. A number still operate, and remain beyond the knowledge or control of the Afghan government. Aimal Faizi, the spokesman for Mr. Karzai, said it was time for foreign forces to hand over control of the “parallel structures,” as he called them, to the government. | Throughout the war, the United States military and the C.I.A. have organized and trained clandestine militias. A number still operate, and remain beyond the knowledge or control of the Afghan government. Aimal Faizi, the spokesman for Mr. Karzai, said it was time for foreign forces to hand over control of the “parallel structures,” as he called them, to the government. |
| Much of the work done by American Special Operations forces in Afghanistan or anywhere else is highly classified, and information about it is closely guarded. A senior American military officer, for instance, said he did not know whether such forces were based in Maidan Wardak or were based elsewhere and were flown in periodically for missions. | Much of the work done by American Special Operations forces in Afghanistan or anywhere else is highly classified, and information about it is closely guarded. A senior American military officer, for instance, said he did not know whether such forces were based in Maidan Wardak or were based elsewhere and were flown in periodically for missions. |
| Afghan officials are, for the most part, told even less, and many in the Karzai administration no longer wish to allow Americans to continue “running roughshod all around our country,” said a person who is close to Mr. Karzai. | Afghan officials are, for the most part, told even less, and many in the Karzai administration no longer wish to allow Americans to continue “running roughshod all around our country,” said a person who is close to Mr. Karzai. |
| As additional evidence of that sentiment, the person close to Mr. Karzai, who asked not to be identified because he was discussing internal deliberations, cited an order issued earlier this month by Mr. Karzai sharply curtailing the circumstances in which Afghan forces could call in coalition airstrikes. | As additional evidence of that sentiment, the person close to Mr. Karzai, who asked not to be identified because he was discussing internal deliberations, cited an order issued earlier this month by Mr. Karzai sharply curtailing the circumstances in which Afghan forces could call in coalition airstrikes. |
| That order, however, simply brought Afghan forces into line with the rules that coalition troops have followed since last year. Neither Afghan nor foreign military commanders believe its impact will be far-reaching. | That order, however, simply brought Afghan forces into line with the rules that coalition troops have followed since last year. Neither Afghan nor foreign military commanders believe its impact will be far-reaching. |
| It will probably be harder to assess the effects of the ban decreed on Sunday, and the competing views on the matter illustrate just how far apart Afghan and coalition officials are when it comes to charting a course for the war. | It will probably be harder to assess the effects of the ban decreed on Sunday, and the competing views on the matter illustrate just how far apart Afghan and coalition officials are when it comes to charting a course for the war. |
| With the withdrawal of American forces picking up pace, most of the coalition’s conventional forces in eastern Afghanistan, including in Maidan Wardak, have shifted into advisory roles. Among coalition troops, offensive operations are increasingly becoming the sole purview of the Special Operations forces. | With the withdrawal of American forces picking up pace, most of the coalition’s conventional forces in eastern Afghanistan, including in Maidan Wardak, have shifted into advisory roles. Among coalition troops, offensive operations are increasingly becoming the sole purview of the Special Operations forces. |
| United States officials, in fact, are planning to rely heavily on the elite troops to continue hunting members of Al Qaeda and other international militants in Afghanistan after the NATO mission here ends in 2014. | United States officials, in fact, are planning to rely heavily on the elite troops to continue hunting members of Al Qaeda and other international militants in Afghanistan after the NATO mission here ends in 2014. |
| Afghans have expressed far less enthusiasm about foreign forces, either conventional or Special Operations troops, continuing to operate in Afghanistan for years to come. “The international forces, they are also factors in insecurity and instability — it’s not only the insurgency,” said Mr. Faizi, the presidential spokesman. | Afghans have expressed far less enthusiasm about foreign forces, either conventional or Special Operations troops, continuing to operate in Afghanistan for years to come. “The international forces, they are also factors in insecurity and instability — it’s not only the insurgency,” said Mr. Faizi, the presidential spokesman. |
| As for concerns that the new ban could reduce pressure on the Taliban, Mr. Faizi said that the Afghan Army and the police would “certainly be able to handle this work.” | As for concerns that the new ban could reduce pressure on the Taliban, Mr. Faizi said that the Afghan Army and the police would “certainly be able to handle this work.” |
| He said the security situation in Maidan Wardak had not improved in years, even after the Special Operations forces stepped up their activity there, mostly focused on killing or capturing Taliban field commanders and other high-ranking insurgents. Those operations have failed to reduce the violence, Mr. Faizi said, and now “local people are blaming the U.S. Special Forces for every incident that is taking place there.” | He said the security situation in Maidan Wardak had not improved in years, even after the Special Operations forces stepped up their activity there, mostly focused on killing or capturing Taliban field commanders and other high-ranking insurgents. Those operations have failed to reduce the violence, Mr. Faizi said, and now “local people are blaming the U.S. Special Forces for every incident that is taking place there.” |
| “It is better to make the Special Forces withdraw from the province, and let the local people understand that they are facing only Afghan forces,” he continued. “That will bring clarity to the situation.” | “It is better to make the Special Forces withdraw from the province, and let the local people understand that they are facing only Afghan forces,” he continued. “That will bring clarity to the situation.” |
| The provincial government in Maidan Wardak expressed support for the ban. “There have been lots of complaints from the local people about misconduct, mistreatment, beating, taking away, torturing and killing of civilians by Special Forces and their Afghan associates,” said Attaullah Khogyani, a spokesman for the provincial government. | The provincial government in Maidan Wardak expressed support for the ban. “There have been lots of complaints from the local people about misconduct, mistreatment, beating, taking away, torturing and killing of civilians by Special Forces and their Afghan associates,” said Attaullah Khogyani, a spokesman for the provincial government. |
| He cited a raid on a village on Feb. 13, when American troops and Afghans working with them detained a veterinary student. “His dead body was found three days later in the area under a bridge,” Mr. Khogyani said, prompting protests against foreigners. | He cited a raid on a village on Feb. 13, when American troops and Afghans working with them detained a veterinary student. “His dead body was found three days later in the area under a bridge,” Mr. Khogyani said, prompting protests against foreigners. |
| Mr. Faizi said that villagers in Maidan Wardak had reported a number of similar episodes in recent months, including the disappearance of nine men in a single raid. “People from the province, elders from villages, have come to Kabul so many times, and they have brought photographs and videos of their family members who have been tortured,” he said. | Mr. Faizi said that villagers in Maidan Wardak had reported a number of similar episodes in recent months, including the disappearance of nine men in a single raid. “People from the province, elders from villages, have come to Kabul so many times, and they have brought photographs and videos of their family members who have been tortured,” he said. |
| Afghan officials have provided the coalition with pictures and videos of the men believed to be responsible for the abuses, he said. They appeared to be Afghan, but could be Afghan-American. | Afghan officials have provided the coalition with pictures and videos of the men believed to be responsible for the abuses, he said. They appeared to be Afghan, but could be Afghan-American. |
| Mr. Faizi said that when the government first approached the coalition about the allegations, coalition officers seemed ready to cooperate, but their position soon shifted. Coalition officers said the men in question had disappeared or had never worked with American forces. The officers questioned whether there had been any killings or torture, and if there were, whether anyone tied to the Americans was responsible. | Mr. Faizi said that when the government first approached the coalition about the allegations, coalition officers seemed ready to cooperate, but their position soon shifted. Coalition officers said the men in question had disappeared or had never worked with American forces. The officers questioned whether there had been any killings or torture, and if there were, whether anyone tied to the Americans was responsible. |
| Mr. Faizi said the Afghan government simply wanted to investigate, and was open to the possibility that the perpetrators had no connection to the coalition. But that would raise another question: “Let’s imagine that the U.S. Special Forces are not involved,” Mr. Faizi said. “Then how come they have not once heard about this? How come they do not know who is doing this?” | Mr. Faizi said the Afghan government simply wanted to investigate, and was open to the possibility that the perpetrators had no connection to the coalition. But that would raise another question: “Let’s imagine that the U.S. Special Forces are not involved,” Mr. Faizi said. “Then how come they have not once heard about this? How come they do not know who is doing this?” |
| Violence continued in the country on Sunday, with three Taliban car bombers striking in separate attacks, including two in Logar Province just east of Maidan Wardak. Two security guards and a police officer were killed as well as the three bombers. Five other people were wounded. | Violence continued in the country on Sunday, with three Taliban car bombers striking in separate attacks, including two in Logar Province just east of Maidan Wardak. Two security guards and a police officer were killed as well as the three bombers. Five other people were wounded. |
| A fourth bombing was foiled on Sunday when Afghan intelligence agents in Kabul shot a man in a sport utility vehicle packed with explosives at a checkpoint in a neighborhood of narrow streets lined with foreign embassies, said Gen. Mohammed Ayoub Salangi, Kabul’s police chief. | A fourth bombing was foiled on Sunday when Afghan intelligence agents in Kabul shot a man in a sport utility vehicle packed with explosives at a checkpoint in a neighborhood of narrow streets lined with foreign embassies, said Gen. Mohammed Ayoub Salangi, Kabul’s police chief. |
Habib Zahori and Sangar Rahimi contributed reporting. | Habib Zahori and Sangar Rahimi contributed reporting. |