Afghanistan President’s Brother Speaks About Accusations

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NASHVILLE, Tenn. - The brother of Afghan President Hamid Karzai is an accused drug lord, and the New York Times reports Ahmed Wali Karzai is on the CIA's payroll.

An attorney in Nashville is representing him, and NewsChannel 5 spoke with him exclusively.

"I'm sitting right here talking to you in my house. I have really big security around my house," said Wali. "It is not an easy thing to be the President's brother. This is one of the things that I can mention to you."

Many in the U.S. consider Wali a criminal. They said his close relationship to his brother hurts U.S. efforts at democracy in Afghanistan.

Wali spoke with NewsChannel 5 by phone along with his Nashville attorney Dan Alexander.

"I have told him[Nick Beres] that I've been trying for sometime to get to the bottom of false allegations against you[Wali]," said Alexander.

Recent stories in the New York Times allege Wali controls much of the Afghan heroin and opium trade.

"There are some who say you are one of the biggest drug lords in the world," said reporter Nick Beres.

"Always the allegations are baseless. There's no proof. They have no evidence," said Wali.

The New York Times also reported Wali is on the CIA payroll to recruit soldiers.

"Absolutely ridiculous, I never received anything," said Wali.

Wali scoffs at anyone who links him to the Taliban saying they want him dead.

"Only in the last two years, there was nine suicide attacks against me. This is something that I cannot make up," said Wali.

Wali said he's a political target for those who want U.S. efforts in Afghanistan to fail. Thousands of troops at Ft. Campbell and elsewhere are ready to deploy. He doesn't want the U.S. to hesitate because of questions about him.

"Do you want to see the Unite States send 40,000 more troops to Afghanistan?" asked Beres.

"Absolutely, the troops we have right now - they are very stressed out. They are very limited. So they need more troops to support each other," said Wali.

Wali said he wants to see American efforts succeed. There are those who say his alleged links to the CIA raise questions about U.S. strategy in Afghanistan. He and his Nashville attorney said they may sue the New York Times.

Alexander connected with Wali after he represented some Afgan immigrants in Middle Tennessee with links to Wali. They then recommended Alexander to Wali.

Wali lived in the United States in the late 80s, and opened one of the first Afghan restaurant in Chicago. He moved back to Afghanistan in 1992.