Afghan lawmakers reject Cabinet picks

KABUL (AP) — Afghanistan’s parliament Saturday rejected more than half of President Hamid Karzai’s second list of Cabinet nominees — including two of three women — dealing him a fresh political blow as his government struggles to face the growing Taliban threat.

The move complicates U.S.-backed efforts to build a government capable of combating corruption and pursuing reforms considered key to defeating the Taliban and its allies as the U.S. and its international partners send 37,000 reinforcements to intensify the war.

Washington and its allies have been pressing Karzai to get his second-term administration in place ahead of a Jan. 28 international conference on Afghanistan to take place in London. The conference is aimed at streamlining efforts to bolster the Afghan government.

But the 224 lawmakers present Saturday approved only seven of 17 nominees, including Karzai’s longtime national security adviser Zalmay Rasoul as foreign minister. The lawmakers also confirmed a new justice minister and a woman as minister of Work and Social Affairs/Martyred and Disabled.

Two weeks ago, parliament rejected 70 percent of Karzai’s first Cabinet picks, forcing him to present a second list. The rejections leave Karzai without confirmed leaders for 11 of the 25 Cabinet posts.

Continued political turmoil has distracted Karzai, even as the insurgency grows more virulent. A NATO service member was killed by a roadside bomb Saturday in southern Afghanistan, according to the international force. It did not provide more details.

The international community had hoped last year’s August presidential election would usher in a strong government to help keep disenchanted Afghans from siding with Taliban insurgents.

Instead, the fraud-marred election took more than two months to resolve, with Karzai declared the winner only after his last remaining challenger dropped out of a scheduled Nov. 7 runoff.

Lawmakers complained that some of the Cabinet nominees lacked the credentials to serve. Others claimed that some nominees are too closely aligned with warlords and were chosen to pay back political supporters who helped get the president re-elected.

Two women nominated to the ministries of women’s affairs and public health were rejected, along with Karzai’s choices for the portfolios of higher education, commerce, transportation, public works, refugee and border and tribal affairs.

“The rejection of the majority of the list shows that the people of Afghanistan are not happy with the work of the government,” said Deputy Speaker Mirwais Yasiny. “It will disrupt the work of the government and is not good for the future and the fate of the country.”

However, lawmaker Mohammad Ali Sitigh said the two women nominees who were rejected were well-qualified.

“Unfortunately we have some lawmakers who, even if they see a woman who is very active, talented and well-educated, still can’t vote for a woman,” Sitigh said.

Among those approved Saturday was Zarar Ahmad Moqbel, a former Interior Ministry official who takes over the counternarcotics post.

After the first round confirmation vote Jan. 2, Karzai ordered parliament to suspend its 45-day winter recess until a new Cabinet could be approved. Yasiny said lawmakers would meet again today to decide how to fill the remaining posts.