KABUL, 9 January 2008 — A former senior Taleban commander has been appointed government district chief of the region he once controlled as an insurgent leader.
Mullah Salaam, a high-ranking governor during the Taleban’s rule and a diehard insurgent after they were toppled by a US-led force in the aftermath of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on the United States, is the new head of Musa Qala in turbulent Helmand province.
His appointment is a coup of sorts for the government as it desperately tries to woo “untainted” Taleban insurgents to its side. Thousands of people, mostly civilians, were killed last year in the worst violence since the Taleban were ousted.
“It is consistent with the Afghan government policies,” said Humayun Hamidzada, a spokesman for Afghan President Hamid Karzai. “The president has said before that all those former Taleban who come and accept the constitution and who want to participate in the political process through non-violent means ... they are welcome.”
While the government insists it does not negotiate with the Taleban, it is an open secret that unofficial emissaries regularly try to persuade insurgents to cross lines in exchange for amnesty.
Hamidzada said Mullah Salaam had played a key role in recapturing Musa Qala from the Taleban late last year and had helped bring unity to the local community. He said Mullah Salaam had provided invaluable intelligence to government forces.
“He is now at the service of his people and he enjoys the support of the government as well as the support of the people,” Hamidzada said.
The fate of Musa Qala has been a sore point between the government, NATO-led forces and US troops in Afghanistan. British troops leading the fight against the Taleban in Helmand controversially abandoned the district after striking an agreement with local elders for them to police themselves.
The move apparently angered US and Afghan officials — especially after Taleban forces swiftly took control of the district.
Mullah Salaam was the governor of Uruzgan province until 2001, when the Taleban were toppled and scattered throughout Afghanistan’s south and east. He was captured and jailed for six months, but after being released as part of a plan to win over ex-fighters, he returned immediately to the insurgency and became the top Taleban commander for Musa Qala.
Married with four wives and 20 children, Mullah Salaam is said to be very influential among the Pashtun tribes — particularly in Musa Qala itself. He told reporters that the Taleban had been divided for a while in Musa Qala, but the majority were behind him.
“There are two groups of Taleban fighters in Musa Qala and I have the backing of the major one,” he said.
