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Turmoil in the Afghan Government’s Security Team Raises Worries About Stability

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08.28.2018 at 04:29am

Turmoil in the Afghan Government’s Security Team Raises Worries About Stability by Pamela Constable – Washington Post

The abrupt resignation of President Ashraf Ghani’s national security adviser and reports of turmoil involving three other top officials have exposed deep conflict and confusion in the U.S.-backed government over how to protect the country and deal with an insurgency that might be seeking to end the 17-year conflict.

The shake-up this past weekend deepened concern about the government’s solidity and Ghani’s increasing isolation. It comes as a new U.S. military commander is preparing to take up his post in Kabul, and U.S. scrutiny of Afghan policy is expected to intensify.

On Monday, Ghani’s office announced that the Russian government had agreed to postpone a Sept. 4 meeting in Moscow on the Afghan conflict, to “ensure Afghanistan’s participation.” Russia confirmed the postponement of the session, which was to include China, Pakistan, Iran and India.

Taliban leaders had agreed to attend the meeting — after ignoring a truce offer by Ghani — but Afghan and U.S. officials had refused to participate, on the grounds that it would undermine efforts for reconciliation inside Afghanistan.

A statement from the Russian foreign ministry said Ghani had asked to reschedule the meeting to “work out a consolidated Afghan position . . . given the ongoing reshuffling in the leadership of Afghan defense agencies.”…

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