U.S.-Supported Afghan Chief Served Prison Time in Germany http://www.allgov.com/US_and_the_World/ViewNews/US_Supported_Afghan_Chief_Served_Prison_Time_in_Germany_100309

After U.S. forces pushed the Taliban out of the southern Afghanistan town of Marja, Afghan officials installed Abdul Zahir Aryan to serve as the local representative of the government. Zahir’s job is to demonstrate to locals that siding with Kabul is better than helping the Taliban, but that task has become complicated by Zahir’s criminal history.  

Before retuning to Afghanistan, Zahir lived in Germany for more than a decade, during which he served four years in prison for attempted murder after stabbing his stepson. Several American officials confirmed this fact off the record when asked about it by The Washington Post. Neither U.S. nor Afghan officials have been forthcoming about Zahir’s past.Afghan leaders have promised to look further into Zahir’s criminal record in Germany. -Noel Brinkerhoff