AFGHAN GOVERNORS URGED TO JOIN GOVERNMENT CAMPAIGNS ON GUNS, DRUGS

KABUL, Aug 24 (AFP) - Afghanistan's regional governors gathered in
Kabul Saturday as the government attempted to garner their support at
a conference on issues ranging from disarmament and the war against
drugs.

But the meeting, which was seen as an opportunity for the central
government to build up its influence in the regions, lost much of its
focus when President Hamid Karzai failed to turn up to deliver a
speech and the most powerful governors did not attend.

Vice President Nematullah Shahrani was despatched instead to the
meeting at the Interior Ministry where he appealed to the governors to
recognise that they are "directly in service of the nation".

"The president, deputies, ministers and governors are merely the
caretakers of affairs for the people," said Shahrani.

Karzai's government has struggled to exert its influence beyond the
capital Kabul and has had only limited success in persuading regional
powerbrokers to pay their taxes and customs duties.

Ismail Khan, the governor of the key western province of Herat,
southern Kandahar governor Gul Agha and eastern Nangahar governor Haji
Din Mohammed all failed to attend the first day of the conference.

Shahrani urged those who did attend that their role was crucial in the
fight against drug production and smuggling as a controversial
government programme to eradicate opium production appears to be struggling.

"One of the jobs that you have been given in the present situation is
to lead the fight against drugs and drug-smuggling -- a problem which
is a threat to all humanity," he said.

Information and Culture Minister Makhdoom Raheen urged the governors,
many of whom were accompanied by their local commanders, to help
engender a respect for the rule of law ad back an ongoing disarmament
programme.

"If there is no rule of law then everything is done for the benefit
and interest of individuals and that is a recipe for disaster," he
said.

"One of your main responsibilities is to wipe the tears from the eyes
of the innocent people who have suffered so much over the last 23
years of conflict.

"Guns and weapons have played an important role in gaining our
independence, but now we must set them aside. We have peace. We do not
need weapons, we need shovels and pens."

Said Mohammad, governor of eastern Kunar province, told AFP that the
governors welcomed the opportunity to show their support for the
Karzai government.

"We will give the government our complete cooperation against drug
smuggling," Mohammad added. Kunar has traditionally been one of the
conduits for smugglers heading into neighbouring Pakistan.

Other topics on the agenda over the next four days include the
progress in the campaign against al-Qaeda and national unity.

Paktia governor Raz Mohammad Dalili, who was recently appointed to his
post by Karzai, said the governors were all keen to show their support
for the central government.

"The governors have come here to improve their links with the
government and share their ideas," he told AFP.