Expelled EU, UN envoys 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.

Brown in hot seat over 'Taliban contacts'

LONDON (AFP) - Claims that top officials talked to the Taliban in Afghanistan threatened fresh embarrassment Thursday for Prime Minister Gordon Brown, who had previously ruled out negotiations with the militia.
Two senior officials — the second most senior European Union official in the country and a top UN political advisor — have been expelled by the Afghan govt amid claims they had contacts with the Taliban.
In addition, Wednesday’s Daily Telegraph newspaper said that agents from Britain’s Secret Intelligence Service MI6 repeatedly met Taliban representatives earlier this year.
Talking to the Taliban would be in contradiction to Brown’s stated policy of not talking to a militia that is currently fighting 7,000 British troops as part of an international force in Afghanistan, critics said.
“We will not enter into any negotiations with these people,” Brown told lawmakers earlier this month.
He added, though, that he supported Afghan President Hamid Karzai’s efforts at reconciliation, adding that there was a place in society for former insurgents if they were prepared to renounce violence.