KABUL — Afghanistan’s parliament has 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 new justice minister and a woman as minister of Work and Social Affairs/Martyred and Disabled.
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.
Continued 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 and the Canadian was killed by a roadside bomb in the Panjwaii district, about nine miles southwest of Kandahar City, they said.
The international community had hoped last year’s August presidential election would usher in a strong government to help keep disenchanted Afghans from siding with Taliban insurgents.
Instead, the fraud-marred election took more than two months to resolve, with Karzai declared the winner only after his last remaining challenger dropped out of a scheduled Nov. 7 runoff.
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