With Afghanistan's newly elected president Hamid Karzai about to appoint his cabinet, the regional press offers him some advice on how to deal with the political confusion.

It is unclear whether the country's grand assembly, the loya jirga, will be asked to approve the new cabinet.

There are also fears that some of the country's diverse ethnic and tribal groups feel they are being marginalized, and may not accept the authority of a government they believe has been imposed on them by foreigners.

"The new government of Afghanistan can only succeed if it is broad-based and gives precedence to the national interests rather than the parochial interests of the diverse political groups in the country" the Tehran Times says.

The country was known more for its insecurity and instability ...Now that must change

Iran Daily

The power struggle between tribal leaders is becoming a problem even in the current Karzai government, the paper contends.

"Ultimately, the real winner in the current political rivalry that grips the country will be the group or faction that manages to bring its interests in line with the interests of the whole nation."

Time for change

Also in Tehran, the Iran Daily urges Mr Karzai to transform Afghanistan into a responsible member of the international community.

"Afghanistan has long suffered from the absence of political stability, a power vacuum, formidable internal rivalry, tribal interests and above all chronic poverty," the paper says.

"A notorious producer and exporter of illegal drugs, the country was known more for its insecurity and instability as one of the most sensitive areas of the planet. Now that must change."

The new Afghan leadership must try to secure the confidence and trust of all Afghans

Pakistan Nawa-i-Waqt

The daily is optimistic that "with Karzai at the helm of power, the Afghans will get their act together and concentrate on the tough business of finding workable solutions to their problems."

However, it warns, "the success of his mission will depend largely on his administration's efficiency and capability."

All for one and one for all

The Persian-language daily Azad adds that "only dialogue and understanding can solve the problems of Afghanistan."

In Pakistan, the daily Nawa-i-Waqt urges Mr Karzai to be wary of the US influence and uphold Afghanistan's Islamic values.

"Afghanistan will not remain safe from the devastating influences of the negative external factors unless it gets rid of the internal strife," the paper warns.

The new Afghan government also needs to foster the tradition of inclusiveness.

"The new Afghan leadership should take all segments of the society along with it and must try to secure the confidence and trust of all Afghans," it says.

It remains to be seen whether Karzai's skills as a statesman will help heal the longstanding ethnic wounds

Egypt Al Akhbar

"Afghanistan has overwhelmingly a religious and traditional mindset and it would be wise on the part of Mr Karzai to avoid the secular values and discourage the tendencies inimical to religion and Afghan traditions."

And better relations with its neighbours can help the progress and prosperity of Afghanistan, the Pakistani paper adds.

In Cairo, the Egyptian daily Al Akhbar says Mr Karzai "has shown political savvy", but, it cautions, "the road to recovery is not without its pitfalls. Afghanistan is in a state of flux. Its chequered ethnic landscape is a reason for apprehension.

"It remains to be seen whether Karzai's skills as a statesman will help heal the longstanding ethnic wounds," the paper says.

"Afghanistan may be unique in that its destiny is largely shaped by the outside world and its political ambitions."

BBC Monitoring, based in Caversham in southern England, selects and translates information from radio, television, press, news agencies and the Internet from 150 countries in more than 70 languages.