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No Strife With Karzai, Says Afghanistan Defense Chief
Sunday, August 18, 2002
The Washington Post

KABUL, Afghanistan
Afghanistan's powerful defense minister, Mohammed Fahim, on Saturday strongly denied recent news reports of tensions between himself and President Hamid Karzai, saying "we are a team" and "we have joined hands" to fight terrorism and build a secure, unified nation.

"There is no risk to our national unity," Fahim told journalists at a rare news conference, saying he "felt the need to clear the air" on the issue. "I assure you my aim and my hope are for a united Afghanistan," he added. "Nothing can hurt our friendly relations."

Fahim, who commands thousands of troops as leader of the Northern Alliance militia that helped defeat the Taliban in November, was reportedly angered last month when Karzai replaced Defense Ministry guards at his palace with U.S. Special Forces after the assassination in Kabul of Vice President Abdul Qadir.

But on Saturday Fahim said there was "no misunderstanding whatsoever" between the two officials on the issue.
(The Salt Lake Tribune News Source)
2002 © The Washington Post.

Dan