US ends contact with Mohib

Addressing reporters in Washington last Thursday, Mohib had publicly criticized Khalilzad accusing him of selling out Afghanistan in talks with the Taliban, which have excluded Kabul.

Mohib said that Khalilzad might have personal ambitions.

“The perception in Afghanistan, people in the government think that perhaps, perhaps all this talk is to create a caretaker government of which he will then become the viceroy,” Mohib said.

Following the remarks, US State Department summoned Mohib to a meeting with US Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs David Hale, who reminded him that “attacks on Ambassador Khalilzad are attacks on the Department and only serve to hinder the bilateral relationship and the peace process.”

Citing sources, Reuters reported that Hale also told Ghani by phone that Mohib would no longer be received in Washington and US civilian and military officials would not do business with him.

The report quoted a former Afghan official as saying that he saw the move as an effort to compel Ghani to oust Mohib.