Written by Abdullah Qazi on April 24, 2010
Abdul Qayyum Katawazi is the Deputy Chief of the National Directorate of Security (NDS), he took over for Abdullah Laghmani. Laghmani was killed in a suicide attack in September 2009 in Mehtarlam, capital of eastern Laghman province. Before that, he served as the governor of Paktika province until April 20, 2010. He was appointed governor by President Hamid Karzai in 2009. Paktika is in south-eastern Afghanistan and it borders Pakistan’s North and South Waziristan – a place well known for Taliban activity. Katawazi has been very vocal in his criticism of Pakistan’s efforts in fighting against the Taliban. He’s told numerous reporters that “Pakistan does not want to fight militants who are against the Afghan government and coalition forces.” Instead, Katawazi says Pakistan only focuses on fighting militants that are against their own government. Before being appointed as governor, Katawazi was Kandahar province’s Intelligence Chief