HIA dead-set against possible power-sharing deal

KABUL (HIA) has hit out at the US for trying once again to broker a power-sharing deal between President Ashraf Ghani and Dr. Abdullah.

Led by Gulbadin Hekmatyar, the HIA claimed that efforts for a power-sharing arrangement amounted to a move against the law and the will of the people.

Such endeavours in the current unstable situation in the country were also tantamount to a betrayal of people’s votes, the party said in a statement.

The HIA statement comes amid efforts by senior political figures and religious scholars, including ex-president Jamid Karzai and Abdur Rab Rasool Sayyaf, for reconciliation between Ghani and Abdullah.

The party alleged recent statements and measures by foreign powers proved their utter failure in Afghanistan, including in political, military, social and economic spheres.

Large-scale rigging and interference in last year’s presidential elections was one of the factors that had led to further worsening of the crisis in Afghanistan, the party maintained.

As a consequence a genuinely representative government, supported by the masses, could not be established in the wake of the Sept. 28 elections, the HIA statement continued.

In had disregard of its past stance and arrogance, the US had reached an agreement with the Taliban on the pullout of its forces from Afghanistan, the statement noted.

At the same time, the party charged, the Americans had launched a campaign to replicate the governance model that former secretary of state John Kerry had imposed on the Afghans through his power-sharing arrangement.

The statement claimed that the US was trying to divide power between Presidential Palace and Sapidar Palace under the name of compromise instead they should work for bringing peace and should asked the government to release the prisoners of HIA and Taliban.

The group accused the US of endeavouring once again to create a joint company (coalition government) in Kabul, despite its non-stop criticism of the national unity government’s failures.

Instead, the statement suggested, Washington should have tried to end the conflict, pressed for the release of Taliban and HIA prisoners and creating a High Peace Council in consultation with all stakeholders.

The party believed the Trump administration would have been well-advised in paving the way for intra-Afghan peace dialogue, formation of an inclusive negotiating team and removal of hurdles to reconciliation in Afghanistan.

“Not only we denounce power-sharing between Ghani and Abdullah as an unprincipled act against the law, we also view it as a dirty game against people’s will. We always oppose it as a bargain on people’s votes,” the statement said.

HIA said the only way out of the current crisis was a withdrawal of foreign troops and a transparent election. It warned an agreement would be signed on a new government in the months ahead.

The statement called on all political parties to unify their positions on the issue and participate actively and with a clear agenda in intra-Afghan talks.

“We want all sides to support continuation the current government until an agreement is reached on a new government in intra-Afghan talks. We are against any compromise on power-sharing as well as national unity government,” the source added.

The HIA asked State Builder, Peace and Islamic Justice, Stability and Partnership and Karzai and Atmar teams to agree on a council in order to decide on important issues facing the country.

sa/mud

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