Hamid Karzai bans critical US congressman

“Hillary called and she told me that she thought that Karzai was so
animated about this that if I showed up there, it might precipitate some
kind of mini-crisis.”

His visit could jeopardise relations coming so soon after outcry over the
accidental burning of Korans and a massacre of civilians allegedly carried
out by a rogue American staff sergeant, she told him.

Mr Rohrabacher said: “She said having a crisis right now might get in the
way of some things she was trying to accomplish. So she asked me if I would
just let it go. I went ahead and told her I would honour her request.”

The US State Department had requested the Pentagon not carry him on the
military aircraft he believed. The rest of the delegation continued without
him and he instead met political leaders in Doha and Abu Dhabi.

Afghan officials said Mr Rohrabacher did not have a visa, while the rest did.

Tara Setmeyer, his spokesman, said: “He did not have a visa, nor was he
necessarily denied one. He was flying military which doesn’t require visa
for entry.”

Several leading figures within the Northern Alliance, which allied with
American forces to topple the Taliban, have advocated some decentralisation
of power from Kabul.

Previous meetings in Germany involving Mr Rohrabacher and the alliance have
been carefully monitored in Afghanistan, where officials have called them
unacceptable meddling in Afghan affairs, or even a plot to undermine
national unity.

The American embassy in Kabul quickly distanced itself from the visit.

A statement said the embassy had “neither arranged nor participated in”
the meetings with the Northern Alliance.

“The Members of Congress do not represent the State Department or any
other part of the Executive branch,” it added.

“Their presence and views at this privately arranged event do not reflect
the view of the President or the Administration.”

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