Afghan authorities are demanding a warlord and his followers stop their anti-government activities.
A statement from the office of President Hamid Karzai says Badshah Khan Zadran and his forces must stop their subversive activities, or the government will take whatever action is needed to maintain peace and stability.
Former Afghan King Mohammed Zahir Shah, who moved back into his former royal residence in Kabul Sunday, also issued a statement condemning Mr. Zadran as an enemy of peace.
The defiant warlord told Associated Press that any action taken against him is a threat against the nation, and that ethnic Pashtuns are behind him. Mr. Zadran said President Karzai should resign. Both men are Pashtuns, as is the former king, but the warlord has accused the president of giving too much power to ethnic Tajiks.
Mr. Zadran has been a strong local ally of the United States in the fight against the Taleban and al-Qaida. He was appointed governor of Paktia province after the Taleban was ousted, but local tribal leaders prevented him from taking office.
Mr. Zadran's fighters, who have unsuccessfully attempted to capture the capital of Paktia province (Gardez), now are based in neighboring Khost province. The warlord and his forces have openly defied the central government's authority in southeastern Afghanistan, near Pakistan.