President Harmid Karzai says he wants control of all Afghanistan troops — even those linked to the United States — in order to root out charges of abuse in the units.
Mr. Karzai has ordered a special delegation to identify all the armed units that have worked independent of the government, and with allied forces, The Associated Press reports. Mr. Karzai has set a deadline of three months for them to be handed over to his control, AP said.
The order exempts Afghan Local Police that are already under the charge of the Interior Ministry, AP said. A spokesman for his presidential office says the order applies to “parallel structures” created by U.S. special operation forces, and the CIA, according to AP.
The order comes amid a slew of complaints from Wardak province villagers who say members of these special units have engaged in torture and illegal detentions, AP said.
• Cheryl K. Chumley can be reached at cchumley@washingtontimes.com.
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