KABUL: Western diplomats and disarmament experts have reacted with alarm to Afghan government plans to arm hundreds of southern villagers against resurgent Taliban fighters. “There is considerable disquiet,” said Peter Babbington, director of a national disarmament programme, about the initiative announced by President Hamid Karzai on Sunday. “There are serious implications in creating militias.”

Diplomats worry that the strategy could further destabilise the violent south, at best stalling the disarmament of the estimated 120,000 unofficial gunmen and at worst creating a lawless militia. Mr Karzai counters that the village force is needed to bolster the beleaguered Afghan police force, which has lost hundreds of officers during heavy fighting this year.

Mr Karzai’s spokesman, Karim Rahimi, termed the new force “community policemen”. But one analyst said: “You can call it what you wish, but this looks like a rearming of selected warlords.”

Sher Muhammad Akhunzada, who was sacked as Helmand governor in December for his links to drugs smuggling, claims to have already enlisted 500 men for the force at a monthly salary of $200 (£110). Another former governor, Jan Muhammad of Uruzgan, made a similar offer. They claim they are doing their duty to repel Taliban and Al Qaeda fighters. —Dawn/The Guardian News Service