KABUL — Afghanistan’s parliament Saturday rejected more than half of President Hamid Karzai’s second list of Cabinet nominees — including two of three women — dealing him a fresh political blow as his government struggles to face the growing Taliban threat.
The move complicates U.S.- backed efforts to build a government capable of combating corruption and pursuing reforms considered key to defeating the Taliban and its allies as the U.S. and its international partners send 37,000 reinforcements to intensify the war.
Washington and its allies have been pressing Karzai to get his second-term administration in place ahead of a Jan. 28 international conference on Afghanistan to be held in London. The conference is aimed at streamlining efforts to bolster the Afghan government.
But the 224 lawmakers present Saturday approved only seven of 17 nominees, including Karzai’s longtime national security adviser Zalmay Rasoul as foreign minister. The lawmakers also confirmed a justice minister and a woman as minister of Work and Social Affairs/Martyred and Disabled.
Lawmakers complained that some of the Cabinet nominees lacked the credentials to serve. Others claimed that some nominees are too closely aligned with warlords and were chosen to pay back political supporters who helped get the president re-elected.
Karzai’s office issued a brief statement saying he had chosen the nominees “based on their talents, expertise and national participation” and regretted the outcome.
Two weeks ago, parliament rejected 70 percent of Karzai’s first Cabinet picks, forcing him to present a second list. The rejections leave Karzai without confirmed leaders for 11 of the 25 Cabinet posts.
Political turmoil has distracted Karzai, even as the insurgency grows more virulent. An American and a Canadian service member were killed Saturday in separate attacks, officials said. The American died in a clash in eastern Afghanistan.
