GARDEZ, March 7: Sitting in an old fort on a hill above Gardez, an Afghan commander said on Thursday tribal rivals were misleading the United States and using the US-led war as a way to further private agendas and feuds.

Commander Ziauddin’s comments highlight the complexity of tribal dynamics in an area where the United States is leading a ground offensive with Afghan fighters against Taliban and al Qaeda forces holed up in rugged, snow-capped mountains.

The fight involves a mix of Afghans, Pakistani, Chechen and Arab Taliban and Al Qaeda men against the United States.

Ziauddin said villagers in the area supported the former ruling Taliban and had voiced opposition to the American campaign.

“We could have stopped this fighting, but unfortunately there were some people misleading the Americans,” said Ziauddin.

“Even now if Americans stop their war we are able to establish contacts with them and resolve the issue peacefully.”

The commander, sporting a long beard and Afghan cap, says he has the largest local Afghan force in the area with about 2,500 fighters.—Reuters