Noor conditionally supports talks with Taliban

MAZAR-I-SHARIF (PAN had made over the past decade.

Speaking at a flag-hoisting ceremony marking Afghan New Year in the northern city of Mazar-i-Sharif, the governor called the outgoing year fruitful in terms of Afghanistan’s development.

Politically, he said, Afghans should be ready to deal with the situation after the withdrawal of foreign soldiers in 2014. He added high-profile killings, including former President Burhanuddin Rabbani’s murder, were intolerable.

“The killers of former Rabbani should be arrested and brought to justice,” Noor demanded, while conditionally supporting the ongoing peace parleys with the Taliban fighters.

All Afghans tribes and political parties should take part in the negotiations, the governor said, stressing that human rights, the freedom of expression and other achievements of the last 10 years must be protected.

Also present on the occasion, First Vice President Mohammad Qasim Fahim characterised dialogue with the Taliban as imperative for political stability in the country. He believed the talks would help preserve the achievements made over the past decade.

Last year, the governor said,  a 75 kilometre railroad was built in the province at a cost of $129,000 (6.3 million afghanis). An airport runway was reconstructed at a cost of 30 million euros.

A new five-storey building for the Governor’s House will be completed this year, according to Noor, who said work on 55 kilometre city roads would be completed this year.

In the health sector, a big hospital was constructed in Mazar-i-Sharif and seven clinics were set up in rural areas. He said buildings for 35 schools were constructed last year.

frm/mud

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