Mullah Salaam, Musa Qala District Chief

Now he is also lecturing the Taliban leadership on the true meaning of the Koran and Islam.

Salaam defected from the Taliban in December and was appointed as the Afghan government's district chief in Musa Qala after a NATO-led offensive recaptured the town from the Taliban.

In an exclusive interview with RFE/RL's Radio Free Afghanistan this week, Mullah Salaam said he decided to support the Kabul government after he became convinced that Taliban leader Mullah Mohammad Omar and his followers are violating the "orders of God" as revealed in the Koran:

"We must ask what is the goal of those who are fighting our government and the people of this country? What do they want? My brothers, these were the first five verses of the Koran that were revealed to The Prophet Mohammad at Mount Hira,” explains Mullah Salaam. 'Read! In the Name of your Lord, Who has created all, has created man from a blood clot. Read! And your Lord is the Most Generous, who has taught by the pen, has taught man that which he knew not.' Those verses ask who these [Taliban] people are that are taking pens from our children and taking away schools and education. If we take action based on the Koran and based on God's orders, God says to take up the pen. But if the Taliban does not allow us to take up the pen, then I must demand to know what they are inspired by."

Salaam says he knows from his days as a Taliban commander that Mullah Omar still sends orders to militants in the form of audio recordings from a cave where he hides.

But Salaam says he thinks legitimate Islamic scholars would reject Omar's claims of authority. He says that's because Mullah Omar relinquished his authority before he fled Kandahar in late 2001 -- passing his powers on to a commander named Naqibakhond who has since been killed by coalition forces in Afghanistan:

"When Mullah Omar was leaving Kandahar [in late 2001], he gave his authority to Mullah Naqibakhond. So Mullah Omar has resigned his authority as Emir. Islamic scholars know that an Emir who has given his authority away can no longer claim to be an Emir. And now, [Mullah Omar] is so weak that he is hiding in a cave. He gives his orders on an audio recording. And he orders the killing of teachers and students and the destruction of schools. This is not the Islamic way. And it is not the Islamic way for an Emir to resign and then claim that he still has authority as an Emir."

Afghan National Army parading up the street of Musa-Qala, 12Dec2007

Pulling a threatening Taliban letter from his pocket -- which was posted anonymously at night on the walls and doors of buildings in Musa Qala -- Salaam says he doesn't think last month's attack will be the last against him.

"I have a short night letter in my pocket and you will see that even in this letter, they humiliate the Koran of God. They posted this on people's homes and signed it at the end. The author doesn't know the Koran. At the beginning, he writes 'The Great God says in the Koran...' But although they talk about what the Koran says, they don't follow the Koran. I say they should stop deceiving themselves. They should not pervert the Koran like this. They should not sell Islam."

Salaam's administrative headquarters is a privately owned, three-story concrete building on top of a hill in the center of Musa Qala. From his perch, Salaam has a commanding view of the town. But what can be seen is practically a ghost town that has not yet felt the impact of reconstruction aid promised by NATO countries.

Indeed, thousands of residents were forced from their homes by December's battle to wrest control of the town from the Taliban.

Many of the displaced have told RFE/RL's Radio Free Afghanistan that they prefer living on the dusty, rural plain outside of the town for now. Fearing fresh battles between NATO and the Taliban in the months ahead, they say it is too early to start rebuilding what is left of their community.

When locals talk about Salaam's defection from the Taliban, they appear careful to avoid expressing personal opinions -- fearing possible retaliation from both the Taliban and government forces if they support one side or the other.

With Taliban fighters still positioned within two kilometers of Musa Qala, most residents say they hope their town eventually will be firmly behind only one side -- rather than being split by loyalties to both the Taliban and the Afghan government.

Meanwhile, they say they are still anxiously awaiting the arrival of reconstruction aid promised by NATO forces in Afghanistan.

With so many residents and shop owners still away from Musa Qala, the town's central bazaar stands almost empty.

It is a dramatic contrast to the bazaar's appearance under Taliban control last year when it was bustling with activity. And since December, the prices of basic foods already have doubled.

Still, most traders when the bazaar was under Taliban control had been selling weapons or openly selling large bags heroin and opium

Meanwhile, the government in Kabul already has complied with one of Salaam's initial requests -- to send hundreds of Afghan police and troops to Musa Qala. Those forces now comprise most of the security guard posted around Salaam's hilltop headquarters.

Of some 300 fighters form Salaam's own militia force, only the most trusted are allowed to carry weapons through the checkpoints and into the headquarters.

His 19-year-old son, who still wears the black turban of the Taliban, is Salaam's most trusted companion. He accompanies Salaam to all of his official meetings and even carries his father's mobile telephone.

For his part, the 45-year-old Salaam continues to wear the long, black beard and the turban that he donned during his days as the Taliban regime's governor of nearby Oruzgun Province.

That can help him maintain his credentials in Helmand Province as an Islamist and tribal leader. And with the Afghan government hoping that more moderate Taliban will support Kabul, it also gives Mullah Salaam the appearance of being what some Afghans now call "good Taliban" as opposed to "armed Taliban."

(By Ron Synovitz; RFE/RL's Radio Free Afghanistan correspondent Saleh Mohammad Saleh contributed to this report from Musa Qala in Afghanistan)