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[ 27 May 2005 ]
Afghan Leader Calls For Regional Noninterference Pact
President Hamid Karzai on 25 May in Washington called for an agreement to reinforce noninterference among Afghanistan's regional states, AFP reported. "We already have a collegial declaration...some sort of understanding that neighbors [in the region] will not interfere with each other," Karzai told an audience at the Johns Hopkins University's School of Advanced International Studies. Karzai elaborated that beyond the current understanding, his country is "thinking of evolving regional cooperation" in the region "in terms of linking infrastructure, increasing trade, and also developing mechanisms that will foster that cooperative environment." Karzai did not elaborate on the countries that would be included in such an agreement or a timeframe for its execution. Afghan Foreign Minister Abdullah Abdullah, speaking on 26 May at the Washington-based World Affairs Council, said that his government is not proposing a new regional pact, but rather enhancing and expanding the membership or mandate of existing regional groupings, RFE/RL reported. AT
Afghanistan And U.S. To Establish Joint Military Commission
As part of the "strategic partnership" signed on 23 May between Afghan President Karzai and U.S. President George W. Bush in Washington, the two countries will establish a joint military commission to share intelligence and coordinate special operations, U.S. Ambassador to Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad told RFE/RL's Radio Free Afghanistan in an exclusive interview on 26 May (see "RFE/RL Newsline," 24 and 25 May 2005). "Afghan forces will participate with U.S. troops in house searches and other operations to rout out remnants of Al-Qaeda," Khalilzad added. The partnership agreement will promote peace and security in Afghanistan and neighboring countries and "advance the interests of the entire region," Khalilzad told RFE/RL. Afghans have protested against the searches of private homes by U.S. troops and have demanded the inclusion of local forces in such operations. AT
Afghan Authorities Appeal To Kidnappers Of Aid Worker Through Religious Leaders
According to a statement released on 26 May by the Afghan Interior Ministry in Kabul, Afghan authorities are appealing to the kidnappers of Clementina Cantoni through "religious and tribal leaders." Cantoni, an Italian aid worker, was kidnapped in Kabul on 16 May and her kidnappers have since changed their demands and extended their deadlines for killing her (see "RFE/RL Newsline," 17, 18, and 19 May 2005). The statement added that communication with the kidnappers continued up to 25 May and the authorities "remain optimistic." Meanwhile, around 500 Afghan women, who either knew Cantoni or have benefited from her activities, held a demonstration on 26 May demanding her release. AT
Fourth Former Taliban Official Registers For Afghan Elections
Hajji Qalamuddin, a former deputy in the Prevention of Vice and Promotion of Virtue Department (religious police) under the Taliban regime, registered himself in Logar Province for the parliamentary elections scheduled for September, Kabul daily "Arman-e Melli" reported on 24 May. In an interview with the daily, Qalamuddin said that he has registered as an independent candidate "to serve the people and promote national peace and solidarity." He said that the ulema in Logar wants him to represent them in parliament. Wakil Ahmad Mutawakkil, the former Taliban regime foreign minister, and Abdul Samad Khaksar, who formerly headed the Taliban regime's intelligence department, have already registered themselves as independent candidates in the southern Kandahar Province, while Mawlawi Jalaluddin Shinwari, former deputy justice minister under the Taliban, has registered in the eastern Nangarhar Province (see "RFE/RL Newsline," 20, 24, and 26 May 2005). AT
Neo-Taliban Says Its Focus Is Afghanistan
In an extensive interview on 25 May with the Moscow-based "Kommersant-Daily," neo-Taliban spokesman Latifullah Hakimi said that his organization is only focused on Afghanistan. "We restrict our activities" to Afghanistan, Hakimi said, adding that the "claims that we want to export our ideas to other countries are hostile propaganda." Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has accused the neo-Taliban of taking part in the recent violence in Uzbekistan (see "RFE/RL Newsline," 18 May 2005). AT
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