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Karzai reinstates Afghan warlord accused of atrocities
He is among Afghanistan's most notorious warlords, accused of widespread abuses including the massacre of thousands of Taliban prisoners. Now he's back, reinstated by President Hamid Karzai in a top army post despite Western demands for sweeping reform.
Karzai this month restored Gen. Abdul Rashid Dostum as chief of staff to the commander in chief of the Afghan army - a job he lost in 2008 after failing to co-operate in an investigation into the shooting of a rival.
Although the job has little real power, Western officials and Afghan human rights groups see the appointment as a sign that Karzai remains unable to shake off his ties to warlords and regional powerbrokers despite heavy international pressure for a new beginning as the U.S. and NATO ramp up the war against the Taliban.
British Foreign Secretary David Miliband said Monday he would press Karzai to rescind the appointment when he meets with the Afghan leader during this week's international conference in London aimed at building support for the weak Afghan government.