Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.A massive portrait of a middle-aged man towers over the Ferris wheel and giant mushrooms at an amusement park here in Afghanistan.
His admirers call him “Ustad,” or “Teacher”. His critics call him the King.
For more than a decade, Atta Mohammad Noor, Governor of Balkh province, has controlled this northern region with an iron hand, imbued with the authority of the freedom fighter he was and the ultra-rich man he has become.
To many war-weary Afghans, former warlords such as Noor have to be marginalised for the nation to move into a new era. To their supporters, they remain a bulwark against the Taliban, al-Qaeda and, possibly, Isis.
That struggle is becoming the definitive battle for the future of every aspect of the country’s affairs.
The ascent last year of President Ashraf Ghani, a US-educated former World Bank official, was widely seen as a key step in altering old notions of power. But Noor and other strongmen are challenging his efforts to strengthen the government’s authority.
Billboards looming over intersections show Noor with influential former mujahideen leaders from years past. The message is unmistakably clear: Noor is the heir to their legacy. © Washington Post
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments