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| Afghan Leader Picks Ex-Resistance Figure as Deputy | |
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| KABUL, Afghanistan — Moving to preserve the political and ethnic balance at the top of his government, President Hamid Karzai on Tuesday nominated a prominent former Northern Alliance figure to fill the vice-presidential post left vacant by the death of Muhammad Qasim Fahim last week. | KABUL, Afghanistan — Moving to preserve the political and ethnic balance at the top of his government, President Hamid Karzai on Tuesday nominated a prominent former Northern Alliance figure to fill the vice-presidential post left vacant by the death of Muhammad Qasim Fahim last week. |
| The nominee, Yunus Qanooni, is — like his predecessor — an ethnic Tajik who rose to prominence through the old Northern Alliance that resisted the Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan in the 1990s. Mr. Qanooni served as interior minister after the ouster of the Taliban government in 2001, and was widely seen as a political rival of Mr. Karzai. | The nominee, Yunus Qanooni, is — like his predecessor — an ethnic Tajik who rose to prominence through the old Northern Alliance that resisted the Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan in the 1990s. Mr. Qanooni served as interior minister after the ouster of the Taliban government in 2001, and was widely seen as a political rival of Mr. Karzai. |
| But there was little expectation that Mr. Qanooni could fill the void left by Mr. Fahim, who was among the country’s most powerful and influential figures before he died of a heart attack on March 9. Mr. Karzai and American and European officials had been counting on Mr. Fahim to help avert a political crisis if, as many here expect, a candidate from Afghanistan’s largest ethnic group, the Pashtuns, wins next month’s presidential elections. | But there was little expectation that Mr. Qanooni could fill the void left by Mr. Fahim, who was among the country’s most powerful and influential figures before he died of a heart attack on March 9. Mr. Karzai and American and European officials had been counting on Mr. Fahim to help avert a political crisis if, as many here expect, a candidate from Afghanistan’s largest ethnic group, the Pashtuns, wins next month’s presidential elections. |
| That role — rounding up northern acceptance of the central government — would now in theory fall to Mr. Qanooni. But he also lacks some of the stature commanded by the late vice president among Afghan Tajiks. | That role — rounding up northern acceptance of the central government — would now in theory fall to Mr. Qanooni. But he also lacks some of the stature commanded by the late vice president among Afghan Tajiks. |
| Mr. Qanooni was less senior than Mr. Fahim, who took command of the Northern Alliance after its founder, Ahmad Shah Masood, was slain by assassins from Al Qaeda two days before the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. | Mr. Qanooni was less senior than Mr. Fahim, who took command of the Northern Alliance after its founder, Ahmad Shah Masood, was slain by assassins from Al Qaeda two days before the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. |
| In the years that followed, Mr. Fahim’s fearsome reputation — and the fact that it had been forged in battle against the Taliban — allowed him to muster support for the government among even the most recalcitrant Tajiks, many of who have resented playing what they consider a secondary role to Pashtuns. | In the years that followed, Mr. Fahim’s fearsome reputation — and the fact that it had been forged in battle against the Taliban — allowed him to muster support for the government among even the most recalcitrant Tajiks, many of who have resented playing what they consider a secondary role to Pashtuns. |
| Mr. Fahim also commanded loyalty from elements in the army and intelligence service, and he was not afraid to use them when mere persuasion failed, according to Afghan officials. Mr. Qanooni has few similar connections. | Mr. Fahim also commanded loyalty from elements in the army and intelligence service, and he was not afraid to use them when mere persuasion failed, according to Afghan officials. Mr. Qanooni has few similar connections. |
| Though many in Afghanistan’s elite often go out of their way to publicly play down the role of ethnicity in Afghan politics, Mr. Karzai, who is Pashtun, has intentionally sought to keep divisions in check by nominating Tajiks for the No. 2 spot in his government, said Aimal Faizi, the president’s spokesman. | Though many in Afghanistan’s elite often go out of their way to publicly play down the role of ethnicity in Afghan politics, Mr. Karzai, who is Pashtun, has intentionally sought to keep divisions in check by nominating Tajiks for the No. 2 spot in his government, said Aimal Faizi, the president’s spokesman. |
| “He’s aware that the government needs to be a representative government of all of Afghanistan,” Mr. Faizi said in an interview this week. | “He’s aware that the government needs to be a representative government of all of Afghanistan,” Mr. Faizi said in an interview this week. |
| Mr. Karzai decided to nominate Mr. Qanooni after consulting with politicians from northern Afghanistan, where Tajiks dominate, and other parts of the country, Mr. Faizi said. He also sought advice from “jihadi leaders,” a term used in Afghanistan to describe the old guard of mujahedeen warlords and commanders who led the fight against the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan in the 1980s. | Mr. Karzai decided to nominate Mr. Qanooni after consulting with politicians from northern Afghanistan, where Tajiks dominate, and other parts of the country, Mr. Faizi said. He also sought advice from “jihadi leaders,” a term used in Afghanistan to describe the old guard of mujahedeen warlords and commanders who led the fight against the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan in the 1980s. |
| Mr. Qanooni’s nomination is subject to approval by Parliament. He had no immediate comment on his nomination. | Mr. Qanooni’s nomination is subject to approval by Parliament. He had no immediate comment on his nomination. |
| The other serious contender for the short-term vacancy was Bismillah Khan Mohammadi, the current defense minister, Mr. Faizi said. Mr. Mohammadi is also a northern Tajik and he had commanded Northern Alliance troops against the Taliban. | The other serious contender for the short-term vacancy was Bismillah Khan Mohammadi, the current defense minister, Mr. Faizi said. Mr. Mohammadi is also a northern Tajik and he had commanded Northern Alliance troops against the Taliban. |
| Mr. Karzai is legally barred from running for a third term. Of the three leading contenders for the presidency, two are Pashtuns, one whose primary running mate is a Tajik and another whose running mate is an ethnic Uzbek. The third, Abdullah Abdullah, the country’s main opposition politician, is half Tajik and is closely associated with the Northern Alliance. His chief running mate is a Pashtun. | Mr. Karzai is legally barred from running for a third term. Of the three leading contenders for the presidency, two are Pashtuns, one whose primary running mate is a Tajik and another whose running mate is an ethnic Uzbek. The third, Abdullah Abdullah, the country’s main opposition politician, is half Tajik and is closely associated with the Northern Alliance. His chief running mate is a Pashtun. |
| The Taliban have made clear that they intend to violently disrupt the presidential election, scheduled for April 5. On Tuesday morning, a suicide bombing in northern Afghanistan that killed 16 people reinforced fears that more attacks were on the way. | The Taliban have made clear that they intend to violently disrupt the presidential election, scheduled for April 5. On Tuesday morning, a suicide bombing in northern Afghanistan that killed 16 people reinforced fears that more attacks were on the way. |
| Though the Taliban did not immediately take credit for the attack in Faryab Province, on Afghanistan’s northwest border with Turkmenistan, officials there said suggested that the bombing had been meant to sow fear before the election. | Though the Taliban did not immediately take credit for the attack in Faryab Province, on Afghanistan’s northwest border with Turkmenistan, officials there said suggested that the bombing had been meant to sow fear before the election. |
| The bomb was packed into a rickshaw, and it was set off in a crowded bazaar in Maimana, the provincial capital. | The bomb was packed into a rickshaw, and it was set off in a crowded bazaar in Maimana, the provincial capital. |
| “We believe today’s bombing was part of efforts to scare people,” said Naqibullah Fayeq, a member of Parliament from Faryab. | “We believe today’s bombing was part of efforts to scare people,” said Naqibullah Fayeq, a member of Parliament from Faryab. |
| But Toryali Abdeyali, Faryab’s police chief, said there were indications that the intended target had been a nearby provincial headquarters for the police, who are frequently targeted by insurgents. | But Toryali Abdeyali, Faryab’s police chief, said there were indications that the intended target had been a nearby provincial headquarters for the police, who are frequently targeted by insurgents. |
| He said that a passport and a letter asking for an extension to the document’s validity had been found in the attacker’s pocket. “The letter was addressed to police authorities,” he added. | He said that a passport and a letter asking for an extension to the document’s validity had been found in the attacker’s pocket. “The letter was addressed to police authorities,” he added. |