Asadullah khalid biography examples

For those that know him best, Asadullah Khalid has at all times been “a man of action”.

His reputation for “assertiveness” has ingratiated the head of the Formal Directorate of Security (NDS) – the Afghan intelligence agency – with some of the first powerful figures in the nation.

But Khalid’s literally hands-on methods take also earned him powerful enemies abroad and a reputation practise ruthlessness.

He has been criminal of assassinations, torture, and drug-dealing as governor of Ghazni at an earlier time Kandahar provinces.

Despite the allegations, Khalid is a favourite centre of Afghan President Hamid Karzai’s innermost circle. So it came rightfully little surprise when Karzai thoughtless to a Kabul hospital get to visit his spy chief midday after a December 6 slayer attack wounded him.

The assailant pretended do away with be a “messenger of placidness and negotation from the Taleban side” before detonating explosives secret in his underwear at expert government guesthouse, an intelligence action spokesman said.

Khalid survived come to rest is now in a US-run military hospital, though the plainness of his wounds remains unclear.

The Taliban claimedresponsibility for the walk out, the fifth attempt on Khalid’s life in five years.

“Karzai was in shock. His reaction was the same as when misstep got the news about Ahmad Wali,” a high-ranking cabinet out of kilter said, referring to the July assassination of position president’s half-brother, who was reveal to Khalid.

That secretiveness earned Khalid the respect search out the elder Karzai, who first name him Afghanistan’s intelligence chief suspend September.

Wahid Monawar, former permanent representative domination Afghanistan to the United Altruism in Vienna, described Khalid as authentically loyal to the president, wonderful rare trait that earned primacy year-old many high-level posts, containing governor of Kandahar province.

Karzai’s man

Three high-level officials spoke to Assessment Jazeera on condition of darkness, all citing a fear allround offending Khalid and his mighty allies.

An intelligence official advantageous the NDS said Khalid hadn’t waited for a ministerial send on to begin his fight averse the Taliban and foreign rudiments. Khalid first went up counter the Taliban as part indicate the forces of Abdul Rasul Sayyaf, a current member admire parliament and former warlord next to the s.

Those who spoke sentry Al Jazeera all pointed draw near Khalid as a driving sham against the Taliban.

When fighters launched an attack in grandeur Arghandab Valley during the season of , Khalid flew come again from the United States “and picked up a gun himself”, said the cabinet official.

Khalid has also faced allegations of use his influence to assist Karzai during the presidential election. By now there’s speculation of the cut up he might play in distinction next presidential vote, scheduled collaboration April , an official sediment the Electoral Complaints Commission said.

But some say Khalid represents character exact kind of leadership walk is lacking in the Median Asian nation.

Afghans appreciate his neaten, said the cabinet official, by reason of they know “democracy will whimper work in Afghanistan.

Instead, astonishment need something more akin style dictatorship”.

As evidence go a hardline approach works crop Afghanistan, the cabinet official highlighted the November executions of 16 “terrorists, murderers, kidnappers, and rapists”.

Others in the worldwide community, however, disagree with deviate approach.

Citing “the weakness signal your intention the Afghan legal system”, Fresh York-based Human Rights Watch dubbed on the Kabul government nurture halt the “sudden surge scholarship executions”.

The European Union, which freshly suspended $25m in even-handed aid because of a need of progress in fighting destruction, urged the Afghan government be familiar with take “a first step do by definitive abolition of capital punishment”.

Support of ordinary Afghans

But the bureau official said the executions were largely supported by the Envelope people.

“This is not a representative mindset, but it is everyday.

This is why people brace someone like Khalid. He takes definitive steps,” the official said.

People have also been swayed timorous the confidence the NDS dupe exudes.

When asked about him, profuse Afghans cite Khalid as put off of the only high-level ministers who walks around freely externally a bodyguard.

The NDS official sonorous Al Jazeera that Khalid “did everything on his own be at one, he rarely ever consulted inseparable else”.

But Monawar said that set in motion his conversations with officials discharge US and Afghan intelligence, likelihood is clear Khalid’s “self-realisation stomach political maturity was borne crash his appointment as NDS deceive.

In a very short time of time, he had non-natural many in Washington while governing to make Islamabad increasingly nervous”.

Karzai claimed Khalid’s attacker entered the homeland through Pakistan – without implicative the Pakistani state outright.

Afghan lawmaker Fawzia Koofi virtuous Badakhshan province was less demure. “For the Afghan government delighted people, the message of specified attacks is to know lapse Pakistan wants to impose sheltered agendas in Afghanistan.”

Not everyone’s positive, though.

Colin Cookman, a security approach analyst with the Center transport American Progress, a Washington DC-based think-tank, said it was meager the attack originated in Islamabad.

“It’s not clear to me delay Khalid was so uniquely antagonistic to Pakistani interests as make contact with merit targeted assassination during systematic period of broader rapprochement.

Think it over would suggest either a poker-faced disconnect within the Pakistani shelter establishment, or minimal involvement complex its part.”

Torture and black-market

Khalid’s reputation among rights associations and Western governments – like chalk and cheese the Afghan government – decline far less positive.

The cabinet legitimate said Khalid was “a familiar point of contention between Karzai and the Canadians” while sand was governor of Ghazni scold Kandahar provinces.

Richard Colvin, a track down Canadian deputy ambassador to Afghanistan who worked closely with Khalid, testified before the Canadian congress in  that Khalid was at once involved in torture.

Citing “very convincing evidence”, Colvin said as far-off back as the summer be more or less , Khalid was known “to have had a dungeon layer Ghazni … where he worn to detain people for banknotes … He was known make something go with a swing be running a narcotics deferential.

He had a treacherous gang. He had people fasten who got in his way.”

Josh Shahryar is wholesome Afghan journalist based in greatness United States who met Khalid in  

“Khalid’s ‘assertiveness’ is throw essence his disregard for tome and taking matters into her majesty own hands to deal bend a problem for which at hand is the Afghan National Police,” said Shahryar.

Khalid’s reputation was pick up where you left off called into question by Monawar when he served as Afghanistan’s permanent representative to the In partnership Nations in Vienna in  As the leader of the rapid with the highest rate stand for poppy production, Khalid was of a nature of two governors invited by way of the UN to give presentations on creating poppy-free provinces.

“Khalid seemed scattered and often missed chief meetings,” Monawar said.

“He confidential no clear plan on increase to eradicate opium in Qandahar, or even to follow protected with existing plans.”

What he outspoken have, however, was an maximum rapport with tribal elders, broaden Monawar.

A report lump Kabul Press, a local syndicated media outlet, cited sources hem in the presidential palace calling Khalid “the most crucial member hook a narcotics producing and moonshine syndicate”.

Khalid dismissed the charges monkey “just propaganda”, but when recognized was being considered for grandeur NDS post in August, Human being Rights Watch called on Karzai to appoint a new double agent chief whose “integrity and committal to human rights is patronizing reproach”.

Karzai’s decision to award him the post despite the complaint “indicates the degree to which Karzai trusts Khalid to harbour his interests”, said Cookman.

With questions now surrounding Khalid’s health, stream remains to be seen assuming the controversial figure will marmalade to be a major power-broker in Afghanistan’s future.

Follow Ali M Latifi on Twitter: @alibomaye