Expelled EU, UN diplomats leave Afghanistan
KABUL (AFP) — The second most senior European Union official in Afghanistan and a top UN political advisor left the country Thursday after being expelled by the government for posing a threat to national security.
The governor of the southern province of Helmand insisted meanwhile that the EU official, a deputy head of mission, had made contact with the Taliban during a recent visit.
The claim was dismissed by the United Nations and by the insurgents themselves who accused Kabul of creating "a drama" and trying to show it was independent of its international backers.
The men -- Irish national Michael Semple with the EU and Briton Mervyn Patterson -- flew out of Kabul early Thursday after being declared persona non grata on Tuesday and given 48 hours to leave.
An unknown number of their Afghan colleagues were being questioned by authorities, Afghan officials said, refusing to give details.
The United Nations said the affair was a "misunderstanding" that arose after the men visited the Helmand town of Musa Qala to finds ways to bring stability after it was taken back from Taliban occupiers this month.
"Our discussions and negotiations are ongoing with the government of Afghanistan so we can see the return of these vital members of staff," spokesman Aleem Siddique told AFP.
President Hamid Karzai's office has not expanded on its issue with the men -- who are considered authorities on the country and speak local languages -- only that they "posed threats to the national security of Afghanistan."
But Helmand governor Asadullah Wafa said Semple had been in contact with the Taliban during regular visits to his province that were conducted without proper authorisation.
"He was inviting Taliban and was talking to them," the governor told AFP, adding, "He should have consulted with me."
Helmand is the epicentre of Afghanistan's opium production, which makes up 93 percent of world supply, and a stronghold for insurgents from the extremist Taliban movement that was in government between 1996 and 2001.
Britain is the lead nation in the province of a NATO-led force working on security and reconstruction and has thousands of troops there.
Wafa, said to be trusted by Karzai, added an Afghan general who had been travelling with Semple had been found to be carrying 19,000 dollars and a flash-disk with a list of high-ranking officials.
The governor did not elaborate, adding though he had no suspicions about the UN official.
The Taliban said meanwhile it had "never met with such people".
"This is a drama by Karzai's administration trying to show off they are independent," spokesman Zabihullah Mujahed told AFP by telephone from an undisclosed location.
The UN's Siddique said the expelled diplomats had been in Musa Qala to meet "disaffected" locals and find ways to help them reconnect with the government.
"It is somewhat surprising to us that these efforts seem to have been misconstrued and that is what we are working to rectify," Siddique said.
He said there had been no talks with the Taliban and that "we don't pay terrorists money."
There has been new emphasis this year on reconciliation with Taliban willing to accept this government and on ramping up development to improve the lives of locals and persuade them to support government and not the rebels.
The US ambassador in Afghanistan, William Wood, also said the matter appeared to have been a misunderstanding.
"I am absolutely confident they were acting with the best intention," he told reporters.
