Afghan minister issues warning over cable leaks

Afghanistan’s finance minister warned today that the release of leaked US diplomatic cables will damage US-Afghan relations, and denied a report that he called President Hamid Karzai an “extremely weak man”.

Omar Zakhilwal said it would no longer be “business as usual” between key Afghan ministers and US Ambassador Karl Eikenberry.

The rift could jeopardise Mr Eikenberry’s effectiveness as America’s top diplomat in Kabul at a time when US-Afghan relations are already strained.

Mr Zakhilwal said he never called Mr Karzai “an extremely weak man” as reported in a US Embassy cable dated February 26, 2010.

The report is “absolutely, categorically wrong and false”, he said. “This leaves no trust between me and the ambassador – extremely little trust.”

He accused Mr Eikenberry of misquoting him in the cable to further his own opinion of the president.

“The ambassador has used my name to support his views of the president,” Zakhilwal said.

Mr Eikenberry, a retired lieutenant general who once commanded troops in Afghanistan, warned last year against sending substantial numbers of troops because Mr Karzai was not a reliable partner.

Mr Eikenberry did not immediately comment on Mr Zakhilwal’s remarks.

Details from a vast tranche of cables released by the WikiLeaks website portray Afghanistan as rife with corruption to the highest levels of government.

The leaks could further erode support for the nine-year war and bolster the concerns of US politicians who have threatened to hold back aid until they are convinced the money will not end up lining the pockets of the political elite.

Mr Karzai’s spokesman, Waheed Omar, has said that the presidential office was reviewing the documents, but that he did not believe they would strain US-Afghan relations.