Massoud’s son invited Qatari prince to Herat, claims Qadir

KABUL (Pajhwok): Lawmaker Haji Zahir Qadir on Monday claimed a son of Ahmad Zia Massoud had invited the Qatari prince to western Herat province.

Some 20 days ago, a Qatari plane carrying 10 luxurious vehicles and some food items, landed at the airport in western Herat province without informing the airport authorities.

After the incident, police had detained at least six people and President Ashraf Ghani suspended some officials, including the airport in-charge.

Two days ago, Transportation Minister Mahmadullah Batash, Foreign Affairs Minister Salahuddin Rabbani and Aviation Authority chief Capt Hamid told the Wolesi Jirga that the Arab cargo plane had been granted permission to land at the Herat airport and three more such planes were expected as well.

Batash said the plane had been allowed landing, but the person who allowed this did not inform Cap. Hamid and other officials.

The minister said later Safi Airways demanded permission for a special flight to bring in 150 Qatari nationals including the prince to Herat, but the permission was not granted and the airline was asked to take up the issue with the Foreign Ministry.

But Wolesi Jirga’s deputy speaker Haji Zahir Qadir said government officials knew everything, but they did not inform lawmakers about the incident.

He said evidence available with them showed the son of Massoud, the president’s special representative for good governance and reforms, had travelled to Qatar and invited the Qatari prince to visit Afghanistan.

He said the prince gave Massoud’s son $2 million in cash and promised to send 20 land cruisers, 35 pick-up vehicles and a tent worth $700,000 in a plane against a few hours stay in Afghanistan.

He said the cash was given to Massoud’s son for buying weapons and the vehicles and the tent would have to be left behind as property of Massoud’s son.

Speaker Abdul Rauf Ibrahimi said the issue of the cargo plane should be investigated to divulge the facts.

nh/ma

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