Engineer Mohammad Daoud
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Engineer Mohammad Daoud was the governor of Helmand province in Afghanistan.[1] Daoud was appointed in December 2005, and replaced in December 2006.
[edit] Appointment as Governor of Helmand
The The Times of London reported that the British government requested Daoud's appointment.[1] 4,000 British troops were posted to Helmand, following Daoud's appointment.[2] Daoud had requested additional British troops.[1]
The Times report described Daoud as one of the few Governors of Afghanistan who observers were confident was honest.[1]
Radio Free Europe quoted critical comments from journalist Ahmed Rashid, about extraordinary support the Hamid Karzai Presidency was providing Daoud's predecessor[2]:
“Sher Mohammad Akhonzada, the former governor of Helmand, has already hired 500 fighters. Mr. Akhonzada was thrown out from the governorship of Helmand on the demand of the British government before [British troops] went down into Helmand because of his involvement with the drugs, because of his involvement with the Taliban, and [because of] his very unsavory reputation, Now if a man like that is going to [remain] armed, it is going to lead to a very negative reaction by NATO, by the European Union, by the United Nations, by everyone trying to carry out a reform agenda. This is a repudiation of the whole reform agenda.”
In November 2006 a British Foreign Office official expressed frustration that Afghanistan's President Hamid Karzai had appointed Daoud's predecessor Sher Mohammed Akhundzada to Afghanistan's Upper House; continued to meet with him, and appointed his brother, Amir Muhammad Akhundzada, as Daoud's deputy.[1]
“The president is undermining his own governor, It doesn’t help what we’re trying to do.”
During a telephone interview with The Times, following his firing, Daoud said[1]:
“I think in Afghanistan, particularly Helmand province, the opium business has a strong role in everything — security, administration, corruption, terrorist activities. The mafia or drug smugglers are against eradication, law enforcement, peace and stability and against me. That’s the real struggle in our area.”
The Times reported that Daoud's deputy, Amir Muhammad Akhundzada, had also been replaced.[1] They also reported that Daoud declined an appointment to be Governor of Farah Province.
| Preceded by Sher Mohammed Akhundzada |
Governor of Helmand Province, Afghanistan December 2005–December 10, 2006 |
Succeeded by Assadullah Wafa |
[edit] References
- ^ a b c d e f g Christina Lamb and Michael Smith. "Sacked Afghan leader blames opium mafia", Times Online, 2006-12-10. Retrieved on 2007-7-4.
- ^ a b Ron Synovitz. "Plan To Recruit Militia As Police Sparks Concern", Radio Free Europe, Friday, June 16, 2006. Retrieved on 2007-7-4.
