Afghanistan: 'UN alarmed as Afghans remobilise militias to fight Taliban.
The Afghan government is reported to be remobilising disbanded militia groups to fight the Taliban as it faces an increasingly bleak security situation in the south of the country.
The strategy has caused alarm among both UN and Western diplomats, who argue that it runs contrary to the doctrine of strengthening central government. They say it also conflicts with the continuing UN programme of disarming armed groups outside the official police and army, and risks re-empowering factional forces to pursue private, tribal or inter-ethnic agendas. ' (Independent)