Hamid Karzai has offered the main responsibility for fighting Afghanistan's narcotics industry to a sacked former interior minister who was widely accused of corruption and incompetence during his time in government.
In a move which is likely to infuriate the British, who lobbied hard for his dismissal from his former job running the country's police, Zarar Ahmed Moqbel has been named as one of 16 candidates for posts in Karzai's next cabinet.
International pressure to sack Moqbel grew at the end of 2008 when it was belatedly realised that rampant corruption in the police was helping to drive Afghans into the hands of the Taliban.
During his tenure the ministry became infamous for selling senior police positions. Provincial police chiefs would then make a return on their investments by extorting bribes from civilians and protecting narcotics and kidnap gangs.
Despite pressure from the US and the UK it took months for Karzai to dismiss Moqbel, who is supported by a powerful network in Parwan province. He was eventually forced out in favour of technocrat Hanif Atmar.
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