‘Warlordism’ undermining democratic rule in Afghanistan

Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) Afghanistan broadcaster Jan Alekozai spent the past month in Kabul speaking with local students, officials, and tribesmen who expressed concern that corruption and lack of security was weakening the central government, while empowering regional warlords. RFE/RL spoke with Alekozai about his findings on Sunday.

“I participated, for example in a meeting [in Jalalabad]… When the meeting was over, hundreds of people approached me – students from high school and from university. They were asking, “Do the Westerners and the Americans know our problems – that aid money is coming from the Westerners but it goes into the pockets of [corrupt] people in the government offices,” Alekozai said.

He added, “People think now that [troops from] 37 countries or more are there in Afghanistan the security should be much, much better. They should terminate the warlordism and the private militias. [Instead], those people have connections with the government officials and they still have protection from the government. And that brings insecurity.”

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