Kunduz: Rival tribes end 15-year enmity

KUNDUZ CITY (Pajhwok): Two rival tribes have reconciled, ending their 15 years old enmity as a result of mediation by tribal elders in northern Kunduz province.

Maulvi Ehsanullah Saqib, director of borders and tribal affairs, told Pajhwok Afghan News the feud had surfaced between the two tribes in the Aliabad district of the province.

“Four people had been killed from both sides, but, Alhamdulillah, the hostilities ended with mediation from elders and religious scholars,” he commented.

According to Saqib, they plan to set up a council in compliance with directives from the Ministry of Borders and Tribal Affairs to end such feuds.

Meanwhile, tribal elders and influential figures who meditated between the two sides say they are expanding their reconciliation efforts.

They want the government to help them in resolving disputes and putting an end to enmities.

Agha Mir Naseri, a tribal elder, said: “If the government cooperates with us, we will expand our work to deal with similar cases in other provinces.

“We have been working to promote reconciliation without any privileges Our demand is the creation of a committee by the government to resolve people’s disputes.”

The reconciling parties say they had been living in constant fear and facing different challenges in addition to losing family members over the past 15 years.

Syed Mohammad, one of the parties to this conflict, says: “Now we have come to realise the benefits of living in peace. Our feud lasted 15 years. Alhamdulillah, now we will live in a safe environment.”

Najmuddin, another person involved in the enmity, also expressed his happiness over reconciliation between the tribes.

The Border and Tribal Affairs Department said dozens of enmities, legal and criminal cases had been resolved through jirgas after the Islamic Emirate’s takeover.

sa/mud