‘North to become another Syria if attention not paid’

KABUL (Pajhwok): Politicians and former jihadis, criticizing what they called a widening gap between the people and the government, on Thursday warned northern provinces would become another Syria if the government did not pay urgent attention.

Balkh governor Atta Mohammad Noor, also the executive director of the Jamiat-i-Islami party, said the war had been transferred to the north and the fire burning the region must be extinguished.

The governor was addressing a gathering observing the fourth death anniversary of Mohammad Rassoul Mohsini, former Baghlan provincial council head.

 “Daesh did not come from outside, only white flags were changed with black, they are provided great resources. Helicopters, which I don’t know coming from this or the other side of Amu River and Durand Line, are equipping motorcyclists,” Noor claimed.

“Some countries are training and empowering Daesh while others changing their policy are supporting Taliban militants to eliminate Daesh,” he added.

“The war is between powerful countries and neighbors, but the victims are Afghans, unfortunately the government has no a working program for controlling such dangerous phenomena,” he said.

Former vice-president and member of the Protection and Stability Council (PSC), Mohammad Yunus Qanuni, called the war’s extension to different parts of the country, particularly to the northern region, a stragety that involved inside and outside hands, saying the ongoing situation had given birth to painful challenges for the nation.

Calling terrorism a great challenge for Afghanistan, he said the war in Afghanistan had been imposed on the country.

About increasing targeted killings, Qanuni said the killing spree was aimed at neutralizing those who could play a vital role in the country’s defense.

He asked the government to identify those behind the targeted killings in order to avoid losing more influential figures.

“The targeted killings have been ongoing since the loss of Ahmad Shah Massoud and may continue in future, unfortunately no clue to who were the masterminds of these incidents could be discovered so far,” he said.

Abdul Hadi Arghandiwal, the leader of his own faction of Hezbi-i-Islami Afghanistan (HIA), also called the ongoing conflict in Afghanistan as imposed one.

“We should strike unity in our ranks and establish a government based on people’s wishes, we should discharge our responsibility towards our people and country.”

Ahmad Wali Massoud, head of Ahmad Shah Massoud Foundation, said attempts at holding Afghanistan backward existed, but the Afghans looked forward to change and development.

But Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Dr. Abdullah Abdullah said the unity government was paving the ground for major national goals.

He said the struggle for development of the country needed patience and a clear route and that all people had the responsibility to defend the country against the enemies.

mds/ma