Karzai Chooses Warlord as Running Mate

Afghan President Hamid Karzai has chosen Mohammad Qasim Fahim, a top commander in the militant group Jamiat-e-Islami during Afghanistan's civil war, as one of his vice presidential running mates. (Under Afghan law, there are two vice presidents.)

A 2005 Human Rights Watch report, "Blood-Stained Hands," found "credible and consistent evidence of widespread and systematic human rights abuses and violations of international humanitarian law" were committed by Jamiat commanders, including Fahim.

Karzai was "insulting the country" with the choice, the New York-based group said Monday.

"To see Fahim back in the heart of government would be a terrible step backwards for Afghanistan," said Brad Adams, the group's Asia director. "He is widely believed by many Afghans to be still involved in many illegal activities, including running armed militias, as well as giving cover to criminal gangs and drug traffickers."

The 2005 HRW report is available here.

Ahmad Shah Massoud is implicated in many of the abuses documented in this report,
both those committed by Jamiat forces, and those committed by other militia forces
under his command. He was assassinated on September 9, 2001. It is nonetheless
important that his role and that of his commanders be fully investigated.
Further investigation is needed into the responsibility of Massoud’s sub-commanders.

Most of Massoud’s commanders and advisors in 1992-1993 are still alive as of mid-2005, including Mohammad Qasim Fahim[...]