KABUL, Dec 24: Afghanistan’s leader Hamid Karzai said on Monday he has appointed Uzbek warlord Abdul Rashid Dostum as the deputy defence minister in his interim government.

Mr Karzai was speaking after meeting Mr Dostum and Defence Minister Mohammad Qasim Fahim at the presidential palace.

“The agreement (on the appointment) has been signed between me, the defence minister and Gen Dostum,” he told reporters.—AFP