“The Afghan government has tapped a notorious former warlord to lead a mission to retake a remote northwestern district captured by the Taliban during the weekend, officials said Tuesday. First Vice President Abdul Rashid Dostum has no formal position in the military, but he has a ‘‘bodyguard’’ of 640 men. He and other former warlords are assuming a larger role in the battle against the Taliban as troops have struggled to take on the insurgents without the aid of US and NATO combat troops.”
Source: Afghanistan looks to former warlord to drive out Taliban – The Boston Globe
