Karzai Family’s Wealth ‘Fuelling Insurgency’
August 10th, 2009Via: Telegraph:
Persistent allegations of corruption aimed at Hamid Karzai’s family are undermining Western efforts in Afghanistan and feeding the Taliban-led insurgency, Washington policy-makers have warned.
The president’s brothers, Mahmoud and Ahmed Wali, are accused of having amassed millions of pounds since Mr Karzai took office even as most of Afghanistan remains poverty stricken. The development has fuelled a popular disillusionment and anger with the leadership that the Taliban has exploited.
Ahmed Wali Karzai has been dogged by allegations, which he denies, of involvement in the country’s $3 billion opium trade, while Mahmoud Karzai has been accused of using his brother’s influence to build a business empire that has made him one of the country’s wealthiest men.
