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Kabul after Karzai

As the presidential poll campaign hots up in Afghanistan despite the sporadic violence, there are doubts and speculation on what the situation is going to be like after President Hamid Karzai steps down.

Looking at the list of contenders in the fray, it could also be concluded that Karzai, prevented from re-contesting only because the constitution bars a third consecutive term by the same individual, is planning to keep his hand in. The presidential aspirants include his elder brother Abdul Qayum Karzai, former foreign minister Zalmai Rassoul, who is very close to him, and Gul Agha Sherzai, a former warlord who was an important Karzai ally. Unless the votes go to either of the two men with whom Karzai is not likely to cut any ice — hardliner religious scholar Abdul Sayyaf and former ophthalmologist Dr Abdullah Abdullah, who had pitted himself against Karzai in 2009 — the outgoung president could retain a strong hold. His acts in the last few weeks of his incumbency do not project him as a batsman trying to wrap up the innings to the best of his ability and trying to bring the most glory to his country.

The Afghan leader developed cold feet on signing the much-awaited bilateral security agreement with the US and have kept the US-led Nato forces on tenterhooks over whether they would now be billeting in Afghanistan beyond the December 31 pullout deadline. The “indecision” was surprising, given the fact that the grand council of tribal leaders approved of an extension for the coalition forces. And now the release of over 70 prisoners, some of whom have been branded dangerous by the US authorities, indicates an aggression that is unexpected in a man bowing out. There are rumours that Karzai was angered by the memoir of former US defence secretary Robert Gates, who alleged President Barack Obama harboured a dislike of his Afghan counterpart. If personal animosity contributes even a fraction to Karzai’s latest actions, it would certainly show him up as a leader who lacked statesmanship.