Karzai Takes Ex-Warlords as Afghan Running Mates

Qasim Fahim held the post until 2004
By Nick McMaster,  Newser Staff
Posted May 4, 2009 2:21 PM CDT
Karzai Takes Ex-Warlords as Afghan Running Mates
Hamid Karzai, center, speaks to media as his first vice president Mohammad Qasim Fahim, left, and his second vice president Karim Khalili are seen with in Kabul, Afghanistan, today.   (AP Photo)

Afghan President Hamid Karzai tapped a former mujahedeen warlord as one of his two vice-presidential candidates today, the New York Times reports. Muhammad Qasim Fahim was Karzai’s vice president from the beginning of his administration through 2004, and still holds sway with political parties made up of former guerrillas. Karzai also tapped Muhammad Karim Khalili, a former mujahedeen commander, as his other VP candidate in the Aug. 20 balloting. (More Hamid Karzai stories.)

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