June 1, 2003	Sunday	Rabi-ul-Awwal 29, 1424

SINGAPORE, May 31: One of the Pentagon’s top officials said here on Saturday that Afghanistan was still posing a threat to the international fight against terrorism, with powerbrokers in the provinces a major problem.

“Afghanistan remains an ongoing threat to the war on terror. Although there has been progress, challenges still remain,” US Deputy Defence Secretary Paul Wolfowitz told the Asian Security Conference.

Mr Wolfowitz highlighted those who filled the power vacuum following the US-led military campaign that deposed the Taliban regime in October, 2001, as one of the biggest causes for concern.

“The war ended with many local power brokers in control of provincial and local governments,” Wolfowitz said.

“Few of them have risen to the challenge of serving their people rather than their own interests.”

A US-led coalition force of 11,500 troops is still in the southern and eastern provinces of Afghanistan bordering Pakistan, hunting down Taliban and Al Qaeda fighters.

In addition, the International Security Assistance Force, which operates under a United Nations mandate and comprises 4,700 troops from 28 countries, has patrolled Kabul and its environs since its creation in December 2001.

One of the most difficult tasks for Afghan President Hamid Karzai has been to assert control over the provincial rulers and he this week launched a campaign to force them to hand over customs revenue.

Mr Karzai threatened to quit if provincial governors did not hand over their revenue to the cash-strapped central government.—AFP