KABUL: The Afghan capital ground to a halt amid tight security today as hundreds of VIPs began arriving for the swearing-in of President Hamid Karzai for another five-year term.

As the capital locked down, Western diplomats said Karzai’s backers in the international community expected him to use his inauguration speech on Thursday to pledge action that will win back their respect and trust.

Few on a guest list of 800 were expected to rank above foreign minister for the event scheduled for 11:00 am (0630 GMT) Thursday at the presidential palace in central Kabul, Western diplomats said.

“By not attending, (Western heads of state) are sending the message that I am not your friend any more,” said a Western diplomat, speaking on condition of anonymity.

“Karzai has to earn political capital because he has none left,” he said. “The inauguration is step one, but the speech is just words, which Karzai can use very well.

“The key variable is the ministers,” he said, referring to the cabinet that Karzai is expected to announce in about two weeks and which should reflect how he intends to respond to international pressure to reform his government.

To many Afghans, Karzai’s presidency lacks legitimacy, his government lacks authority, and the way in which he took the presidency lacks credibility.

He was declared re-elected on November 2, by his own officials after massive ballot-stuffing — mostly in Karzai’s favour — marred the August 20 election.