Afghan lawmakers today endorsed a controversial new intelligence chief, implicated in torture allegations, who will likely play a key role as Kabul takes on increasing powers as NATO troops withdraw over the next two years.
President Hamid Karzai had last month nominated Asadullah Khalid, the outgoing borders and tribal affairs
minister and twice a former provincial governor, to head the National Directorate of Security (NDS) despite strong
criticism from Western human rights groups.
The nomination was part of a cabinet reshuffle, which has been interpreted as Karzai’s effort to secure his
powerbase before anointing a successor to stand for election in 2014.
Khalid secured a relatively comfortable majority among the 241 lawmakers present, winning 143 votes — well clear of the minimum threshold of 121.
Asadullah Khalid, with 143 votes, is approved for the NDS. I congratulate him and I hope he serves well in this
position,” parliament speaker Abdul Rahoof Ibrahimi said.
Amnesty International had previously urged parliament to delay the vote, asking lawmakers to investigate “claims of
his involvement in numerous alleged acts of torture and other grave human rights violations”.
————————–(AFP)