Afghan warlords pose risk, analysts say

WASHINGTON, Oct. 30 (UPI) -- The continued presence of former warlords in the Afghan central government poses a risk to long-term stability in the country, an analysis says.

U.S. President Barack Obama and his top military strategists have been engaged in negotiations on the way forward in Afghanistan as the Kabul government deals with allegations of corruption and rampant fraud in the presidential election process.

Regardless of the strategy adopted by the Obama administration, notes a policy review by the Center for American Progress, the continued presence of ex-warlords in positions of power risks undermining the influence of the government U.S. military forces are deployed to protect.

Afghan President Hamid Karzai in May sparked controversy when he chose Mohammad Qasim Fahim, a former rebel leader accused of war crimes, as his running mate for the August election.

In another move, Karzai has embraced Uzbek militant leader Gen. Abdul Rashid Dostum, who faces a wide range of charges of abuse and aggressive tactics.

Dostum was relieved of a top military position in 2008 following allegations he had kidnapped and tortured one of his rivals.

The policy review describes the U.S. attitude toward ex-warlords as "ambivalent at best" and advises the administration against sacrificing long-term sustainability for short-term gains.

"They may offer short-term tactical assistance against local rivals or international terrorists in return for American support," the review says, "but the sustainability of perpetuating relationships with warlords in the face of an insurgency that feeds on them is far from guaranteed."