MAZAR-I-SHARIF (Pajhwok): Former governor Atta Mohammad Noor on Tuesday said the Afghan government would also participate in next talks between the Taliban and Afghan politicians.
Noor, executive chief of the Jamiat-i-Islami party, made the revelation at a meeting about peace and elections in Mazar-i-Sharif, the capital of Balkh province, today.
Without giving a date, Noor said the next round of discussions between the Taliban and politicians would be held in Doha, the capital of Qatar, and the Afghan government would also take part in the parlays.
The former governor of Balkh province also accused government leaders contesting the next presidential elections of using government resources in their campaign, which was yet to officially begin.
“Afghanistan is currently passing through a critical situation and efforts are needed to steer the country out of it”, he added.
He said 100 Afghan soldiers were lost in the war every day on average due to poor leadership of security officials and the government.
Pointing to insurgents attacks on highly secure military bases, Noor said that officials should protect their soldiers instead of making false promises.
The president himself had acknowledged that 45,000 soldiers lost their lives under his leadership, he said, adding high casualties of security forces represented the poor leadership of security officials and the government in general.
Noor said Afghan forces were equipped with advanced weapons and resources, but they suffered losses due to lack of a good management.
He said government leaders were trying to misuse government resources and authority for their personal campaigns.
“It is amazing that a deputy Chief Executive Officer (CEO) is sacked while the president’s deputy is campaigning. The president should remain in his position only until his successor takes charge according to the law, the law should be applied on all equally,” he said.
He said government leaders was removing officials who did not belong to their electoral team.
Noor also accused government leaders of grabbing power and said the government was trying to have control on all institutes which generated high revenue.
“Except a few, I swear all officials in the government are appointed based on bribery and they include governors, ambassadors and others,” he added.
“The government has failed in both its domestic and foreign policies and is only deceiving the public”, he said.
Talking about Afghan politicians and Taliban meeting in Moscow, he said peace was the demand of all Afghans and it needed hard work to be achieved.
He again criticized the government for what he said adopting ‘a destructive stance’ about the Moscow meeting. He said Afghan politicians attended the Moscow meeting for Afghanistan’s survival.
He said the Taliban continued to refuse talks with the government, but political parties encouraged them to talk with the regime.
The government would take part in the next meeting between the Taliban and Afghan politicians, he said.
Noor said the Taliban played successful politics during the ongoing peace negotiations, as compared to the government.
He added both peace and elections were national processes and Afghans should be prepared for both.
mds/ma
Views: 3