Pence advises Afghan president

KABUL, Afghanistan –Vice President Mike Pence weighed in on one of the thorniest issues in Afghanistan’s complex politics on Wednesday by urging the peaceful resolution of a struggle between the president and the deposed governor of a northern province.

According to a statement from the vice president’s office, Pence emphasized to Afghan President Ashraf Ghani by telephone “his support for the Afghan government to engage with Balkh Governor Atta and conduct a peacefully negotiated transition of leadership.”

In December, Ghani announced Atta Mohammad Noor, one of the last remaining Afghan regional strongmen, had resigned as governor of Balkh province and a successor had been appointed, although it appeared to be more of dismissal after months of public wrangling between the two.

Atta, however, has refused to step down.

It was noted with surprise in Afghan government circles Pence referred to Atta as the governor. The call was seen here as an attempt to forestall military action by Kabul to permanently remove him and install his appointed replacement.

Bashir Bezhen, an Afghan security analyst, said after Pence’s call, there was little chance of military action, which would have pitted the army against Atta’s thousands of heavily armed supporters.

“There was fear before the phone call that the government will resort to a military move to oust Atta, and his supporters would respond with force,” he said. “Now that fear is gone.” He added referring to Atta as governor was a blow to the government from a legitimacy point of view.

Atta served as governor for more than 13 years in Balkh, a province that is a gateway to Central Asia. He grew immensely rich in his position and is said to have run the province as his personal kingdom.