The cable went on to quote Zakhilwal as saying that Karzai “did not listen to facts but was instead easily swayed by anyone who came to him to report even the most bizarre stories of plots against him.’’
Zakhilwal delivered his blistering remarks against the top US diplomat in Kabul just hours after President Obama’s trip to Afghanistan to bolster troop morale.
The report is “absolutely, categorically wrong and false,’’ Zakhilwal said at a news conference at the finance ministry. The finance minister said he offered to resign, but that Karzai asked him to stay, saying he didn’t believe that he could have said such a thing.
Zakhilwal said the cable, one of thousands released by the WikiLeaks website, has not only hurt Eikenberry’s relationship with him, but with other key ministers in the government.
The rift sparked by the WikiLeaks release comes less than two weeks before Obama is to address Americans about a new review of the US strategy to defeat the Taliban and strengthen the Afghan government so American troops can begin leaving next year.
Eikenberry, a longtime critic of Karzai who once commanded troops in Afghanistan, operates quietly behind the scenes in Afghanistan, yet he is the front-line diplomat dealing with Karzai and the dispute could make it harder for him to push his agenda with Afghan officials.
“It certainly will not be business as usual between some ministers and the ambassador,’’ Zakhilwal said.
Caitlin Hayden, a spokeswoman for the US Embassy in Kabul, said the Americans were working in private to overcome any issues. “We are determined not to allow the reckless actions of WikiLeaks to harm the strong and strategic relationships we have built over many years with many members of the government of Afghanistan,’’ she said.
Hayden did not address Zakhilwal’s allegation that Eikenberry misquoted him in the cable to further the ambassador’s own opinion that Karzai is not a reliable partner.
In a different cable leaked in November 2009, Eikenberry warned against sending substantial numbers of additional troops because Karzai was “not an adequate strategic partner.’’ That raised speculation that the ambassador might be replaced, but Obama stuck with him.
Karzai questioned the validity of the leaked cables yesterday.
“I can assure you that Zakhilwal, our finance minister, has not said such things to Americans,’’ he said at a joint news conference at the palace with Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani of Pakistan.
