Kunduz governor backs negotiations with insurgents

KUNDUZ CITY (Pajhwok): The governor of northern Kunduz province on Tuesday hoped a possible peace accord with the Gulbadin Hikmatyar-led Hezb-i-Islami.

In an exclusive interview with Pajhwok Afghan News, Asadullah Omarkhel called upon other armed opponents of the government to put down their weapons and join the reconciliation process.

The governor recalled he demanded the rebels three month back to join the politics and renounce violence because the armed conflict pleased the enemy and supported the agenda of regional intelligence networks.

Also former peace committee chief, Omarkhel said people wanted peace to prevail, but they were disappointed with the way the process was being conducted. The performance of the peace council was not up to public expectations, he noted.

Huge sums of money had been spent on the peace drive but most of youth continued to join the Taliban ranks due to unemployment, the governor admitted. He, however, praised the council for persuading thousands of fighters to join reconciliation.

Omarkhel said issues could not be settled through fighting and talks were the only option to bring lasting peace to the country. He welcomed Hikmatyar’s decision to go for negotiations. The HIA return to politics would be a great achievement of the government.

He favoured talks with those had seen the nefarious designs of regional intelligence networks. Omarkhel is considered close to renowned jihadi leader Prof. Abdur Rab Rassoul Sayyaf.

nh/mud

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