Balkh residents say worried about Noor-Ghani rift

MAZAR-I-SHARIF (Pajhwok): Provincial council members and civil society activists in northern Balkh province say they are worried about their Governor Atta Mohammad Noor’s differences with the Presidential Palace.

They say the political differences have damaged people’s trust in the system.

Despite political relations between Noor and President Ashraf Ghani were rumored as friendly until the governor entered a coalition with the first vice president Abdul Rashid Dostum in Turkey against the government during Eidul Fitr days.

The coalition also involves second deputy Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Mohammad Mohaqiq.

After arriving from Turkey, Noor told a meeting in Balkh that the coalition was needed for protection of the system. He had criticized the government and said only a few figures were in control of power.

Balkh civil society activists said forming such coalitions was normal in other countries, but not in Afghanistan.

Qadir Mesbah, head of the Khat-i-Naw Association in Mazar-i-Sharif, the provincial capital, believed senior government officials pursued their own interests only.

He told Pajhwok Afghan News that politicians preferred personal interests over that of the country.

About the differences between Noor and the Presidential Palace, Mesbah saw personal interests  behind the differences and said what was missing in the whole drama was the nation and their problems.

He accused Pakistan and Iran of interference in Afghanistan and said the neighboring countries wanted to misuse differences within the Afghan government.

“The two countries are trying to find points through which the Afghan government is plunged into problems,” Mesbah believed.

He said differences between the Presidential Palace and Noor had a negative impact on development affairs in Balkh and had hurt public trust.

“The government is questioned over such issues that also threatens the interest in investments, social coordination and commerce,” he said.

Mazar-i-Sharif residents say they are worried the differences between the governor and the president may further  deteriorate the security situation in Balkh.

Sayed Alam, a resident, said: “Balkh is not a foreign country and is part of Afghanistan. People definitely worry when their governor is in a dispute with the president.”

He asked the president and the governor to make their decisions in favor of the people and the country.

Provincial council head Dr. Mohammad Afzal Hadid also said people were worried about the differences between Noor and the Presidential Palace.

“People are concerned about insecurity and instability in the province,” he said, adding that senior officials had no right to play with their fate. Hadid said the president should deliver on his election campaign pledges.

However, Balkh governor’s spokesman, Munir Farhad, told Pajhwok that the differences between Noor and the Presidential palace did not affect the governance in the province.

He said all development activities and government affairs were ongoing in coordination with the central organizations.

mds/ma