KANDAHAR CITY (Pajhwok): President Ashraf Ghani on Thursday said the government was ready to respond to Taliban’s demands if they stopped bloodshed.
The president arrived in southern Kandahar province today to assess the security situation of the province. He was accompanied by First Vice President Amrullah Saleh, National Security Advisor Dr. Hamdullah Mohib and some ministers.
He first attended a meeting of military and civilian officials in Kandahar at the headquarters of the Atal Military Corps.
The meeting was attended by local civilian and military officials who presented their demands and proposals regarding advanced equipment, uniforms, promotions, appointments, treatment of the wounded, personnel rotation, privileges, electronic IDs, timely supplies, anti-corruption and security and defense.
The president told them that all their requests and suggestions would be addressed in time as there was no problem with regard to availability of resources.
Ghani assured the people that a clear mechanism would be created in the Ministries of Defense and Interior to increase their confidence in transparency of appointments.
President Ghani instructed the National Security Adviser to establish a clear mechanism in the NSC office to ensure the delivery of supplies.
He called the Atal Corps as main security and protection force of Kandahar and said attention would be paid to strengthen the force.
In another meeting held to assess the security situation in Kandahar and Uruzgan provinces, the President said, “Clearly present your needs so that supplies can be provided.”
He emphasized on logistics management, waste prevention and better utilization of police capacity, saying that they should have a clear and coherent plan in this regard.
The President said that serious decisions were needed to improve the security situation in Kandahar and to better equip security and defense forces in the province.
“Kandaharis are not alone, Kabul is the capital and Kandahar is the heart of Afghanistan. We want clear facts to find viable alternatives,” he said.
Later in the afternoon, the President attended a gathering of Kandahar Ulema. “There is no greater crime than sedition. According to Islamic teachings, anyone who opposes the Islamic system is sedition,” he told the gathering.
“You want development, but last year alone, five percent of the country’s infrastructure was destroyed by the Taliban,” he said.
Regarding peace, the president said, “what we have done for peace is very clear and shows our intention and determination.”
He said the government declared ceasefire two years ago and all people embraced the Taliban, but the Taliban warned its fighters not to meet with people in villages, towns and cities.
“Why are the Taliban afraid of a ceasefire,” he asked and added: “Peace does not come by killing, insulting one another, but by accepting one another.”
According to him, peace requires moral courage, as the Afghan government did, convened a Loya Jirga and released their prisoners.
“Let’s sit in the tombs of Ahmad Shah Baba and Mirwais’ grandfather in Kandahar and talk peace,” the president told the Taliban.
He stressed that the Taliban should stop bloodshed and the government would respond to their conditions.
He said the Taliban wanted the release of 2,000 more prisoners, but they would not be freed as the release of the last prisoners did not stop the bloodshed.
“No one should doubt that our government and our president want peace. We want peace in which every citizen of this country is respected,” he said.
“Kandahar is the heart of Afghanistan and we will protect it. We will do whatever you want for the protection and prosperity of Kandahar,” he said.
But he noted that he wanted unity among Kandaharis. “Now is the time to strengthen the government, if tomorrow there is peace and the government is weak, you will be deprived of services.”
The President said he would be in Kandahar today and tomorrow and wanted to hear from the people and make wise decisions to return Kandahar to its former glory.
First Vice President Amrullah Saleh also addressed the gathering, saying it had been three months since the Taliban started fighting in Arghandab, Zhari and Panjwai districts of Kandahar.
According to him, the purpose of their visit was to assess the situation closely and hear from the security forces. He said there were some shortcomings but the fact was that Kandahar had been bravely defended.
He added that as a result of the fighting, 6,000 families had been displaced and relocated to Kandahar City and the displaced families would be assisted through the National Food and other aid programs.
Saleh said if the Taliban had place in people’s hearts, why the displaced families moved and took refuge in government-controlled areas.
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