AFGHANISTAN gained its first parliament in more than 30 years yesterday, and the diverse collection of former warlords, erstwhile communists, Taleban defectors and activist women were all dedicated — nominally, at least — to national reconciliation.

Afghanistan is “again standing on its feet after decades of war and occupation”, President Karzai declared in a tearful speech at the inauguration of the assembly.

Zahir Shah, the 91-year-old former King of Afghanistan, said: “I thank God that I am participating in a ceremony that is a step towards rebuilding Afghanistan.”

Dick Cheney, the US Vice-President, who arrived by helicopter for the two-hour ceremony, said: “It’s a privilege to be present on this historic day.”

But the make-up of the 249-member Lower House, the Wolesi Jirga, and the intense security ringing the new parliament building would have given even the most optimistic observers pause for thought.

The New York-based Human Rights Watch estimated that, although nearly a third of the deputies were women, more than half were warlords or their proxies, who are suspected of bullying or bribing their way into the parliament. Their presence bodes ill for efforts to crack down on the opium trade that sustains the fragile Afghan economy.

Sam Zia-Zarifi, of Human Rights Watch, said: “The international community will try to portray the opening of parliament as a triumph. But many Afghans are worried about a parliament dominated by human-rights abusers.”

Roads around the building were closed, and snipers patrolled the rooftops. US-trained Afghan special forces stood guard, and helicopters from the International Security Assistance Force hovered near by.

Another huge challenge for the parliament is a rising insurgency that has claimed more than 1,400 lives in the country this year.

There are still 20,000 US troops and thousands of other Nato peacekeepers in the country, who are trying to contain the violence.

The deputies were greeted outside by two bands, an honour guard, a red carpet and a pack of shivering Cub Scouts. The band played off key and the commander of the honour guard dropped the sheath to his sword, making his soldiers giggle, but there was no mistaking the euphoria.

Noorullhaq Olomi, a former communist commander in southern Afghanistan, said: “It was excellent. It was the first time we met, and now we have to try to continue as friends. The parliament has to be about friendship and reconciliation.”

Some of the deputies are illiterate, some are returned exiles.

Abdul Rasul Sayyaf is a former warlord and Islamist, who has a terrorist organisation named after him in the Philippines. Mr Sayyaf, who has been accused of war crimes by Human Rights Watch, finished fifth in Kabul.

Another deputy, Abdul Salaam Rocketi, used to be a Taleban commander.

The women deputies included Malalai Joya, 27, who rose to prominence by criticising warlords.

She was less sanguine about the new parliament. “I will never compromise with the warlords. I will expose them whenever I can,” Ms Joya said.

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