sentences:  Afghanistan had been in a state of serious ethnic fragmentation and factionalism since the early 1990s; Karzai attempted to unify the country by working with and representing all four major ethnic groups in the cabinet.The inclusion of different warlords in the cabinet (and appointment to high provincial positions) divided opinion in Afghanistan, but many saw it as an attempt by Karzai to include everyone in a post-Taliban era of Afghanistan to prevent further conflict.During the time in power of the administration, clashes between certain warlords did occur, notably ethnic clashes between Abdul Rashid Dostum and Atta Muhammad Nur in northern Afghanistan (their rift would continue until c. 2003), and factional clashes between the militias of Pacha Khan Zadran and rivals including Taj Mohammad Wardak in Paktia and Khost provinces.