Karzai meeting targets Pashtun rivalries

GARDEZ, Afghanistan (CNN) -- The special envoy of Afghanistan's interim leader, Hamid Karzai, is holding meetings in eastern Afghanistan amid an uneasy calm between two rival Pashtun forces in the provincial capital of Gardez.

Aziz Karzai, the uncle of Hamid Karzai who is representing the leader as his special envoy, held a meeting Sunday at the Gardez residence of the military commander, Haji Ishaq.

Eyewitnesses said Aziz Karzai was accompanied by at least 10 U.S. military personnel.

Pashtun leader Syed Hamid Gailani, who is in the region in an attempt to establish peace between the rival Pashtun factions, was said to be at the meeting along with senior military commanders.

Afterwards, Aziz Karzai headed to Khowst to meet with Bacha Khan, who was appointed acting governor of Paktia province by the interim Afghan administration.

VIDEO Rival Afghan commanders fight for control of the strategically important town of Gardez in eastern Afghanistan. CNN's Tim Lister reports Play video (QuickTime, Real or Windows Media)    CNN.com Asia More news from our Asia edition

Karzai was accompanied by other members of his delegation and was expected to return to Gardez Sunday evening.

No official announcement was made regarding Karzai's visit, but the seriousness of the situation in Gardez was underscored by his presence.

Public challenge

Gardez was the scene of fighting last week between shura forces and a rival Pashtun militia headed by Bacha Khan.

The guns have been silent since Thursday afternoon, when Khan's forces retreated to the east, and Khan himself went to Khowst.

The shura, a council representing all the clans and tribes of Paktia, remained in control of Gardez.

Gailani has publicly challenged Khan's legitimacy by saying he does not have the support of the people in the province.

The fighting between shura forces and Khan's fighters erupted against a backdrop of Pashtun tribes trying to regroup throughout Afghanistan -- and the interim administration's attempts to foster civil stability to avoid the type of tribal infighting that led to the ousted Taliban's rise to power.

Pashtuns are the largest ethnic group in Afghanistan.

One of the most daunting tasks for the interim Afghan government is unifying a nation that has been traditionally ruled by warlord-led tribes.

Hamid Karzai asked the U.N. Security Council last week to extend the mandate for international security forces in Afghanistan.

Gailani and his "peace convoy" were expected to depart for Kabul Monday to continue consultations on the local conflict.