Cool reaction to major defence ministry reforms

Reaction has been cool following a recent government decision to appoint 22 new people at the Ministry of Defense. Although aimed at ensuring ethnic diversity and balance within the ministry, Afghan analysts have described the decision as a 'short term useful step,' warning, however, it would not have sustainable results. "It was a small step forward, however, appointing new people will not bring any solution as they will still be under a higher authority pressure," Wadir Safi, a professor of International Law and Politics at Kabul university, told IRIN in the Afghan capital. Safi explained that the whole system needed to be overhauled if effective and fundamental reforms were to be achieved. "Focusing on the ethnic balance of the ministry will not solve the problem in a sustainable long term period, the ministry should be more standardized than ethnically balanced," the ex-Afghan civil aviation minister maintained. On Friday, Afghan President Hamid Karzai announced the appointments at the Defence Ministry following repeated calls by the United Nations to reform the Tajik-dominated ministry. A multi-million dollar UN-backed disarmament, demobilization and reintegration programme of some 100,000 armed Afghans had been suspended pending the move. But some feel the move fell short of the sweeping changes that were needed. UN officials have responded cautiously to the reforms, saying reaction throughout the country would determine their ultimate success or failure, noting, however, that they hoped the disarmament plan would begin in the coming weeks. "It will be the reaction of Afghans throughout the country that will determine either the success or lack of with regard to this important reform initiative," David Singh, a spokesman for the United Nations Assistance Mission to Afghanistan (UNAMA) said. They would be monitoring public opinion closely, noting popular support for the reforms was a key ingredient of the disarmament, demobilization and reintegration effort. Karzai fired General Asif Dilawar, an ethnic Tajik, from the post of Army Chief of Staff, replacing him with General Bismillah Khan [a Tajik general from Northern Alliance who was reduced from Deputy Defense Minister to Chief of Staff in the new reform]. He also appointed a Pashtun to the post of first deputy, in an effort to make the ministry more ethnically diverse. Three other deputies representing the Hazara, Uzbek, and Pashtun ethnicities were also appointed. And while the newly appointed officers just occupied their posts on Tuesday, General Shir Mohammad Karimi, the chief of operations with the new structure of the defense ministry said the reforms were relatively acceptable as the new people represented different ethnicities, involving known and experienced military people. "Close to 80 percent of the reforms were well balanced ethnically and professionally. It will improve slowly over time," he told the Baltic Media radio programme 'Good Morning Afghanistan'. However, Karimi noted that the success of the moves depended on the level of authority given to the new officers. "I hope it is sustainable and the newly appointed people enjoy full authority according to their job descriptions," the Pastun general said, adding he would not continue to work if he was not given full authority to do his job. "I am optimistic because based on the new structure, every one will have their job description and own responsibility. It is not like the previous system where everything had to go through the defense minister," he claimed. But not everyone remained optimistic. Profesor Safi said that despite the diversity in the new appointments, people might still not be fully satisfied as some of the new appointees had links with certain groups within the country. "We have more professional and experienced people in every ethnic group that have no relations to any political circle but they have been ignored. Most of the new appointed people are in some case linked to certain recognised groups in Afghan society," Safi claimed. Meanwhile, Vikram Parekh, a senior analyst with the International Crisis Group (ICG) told IRIN the new appointments were significant, noting, however, that two of the three top posts within the ministry still belonged to the same faction [Northern Alliance]. According to the think tank group, it remained to be seen whether under the new structure, the new appointees would have any meaningful authority. Although Afghanistan's largest ethnic group, the Pashtuns, appear to have gained the largest representation in the ministry following Friday's reshuffle, control remained clearly in the hands of powerful Tajik Defence Minister Mohammed Qasim Fahim. Following the overthrow of the mainly Pashtun Taliban in late 2001, the Pashtuns, among others, have long complained of under-representation in the security hierarchy, a fact many analysts believe has contributed to continued instability in the beleaguered nation.