Daikundi civil society activists take a dig at HPC

NIELI (Pajhwok): The High Peace Committee (HPC) does not have the capacity to make the reconciliation peace process a success, civil society activists in central Daikundi province believe.

Habibullah Helmandi, one of the activists, told Pajhwok Afghan News the HPC had become as a political project. Some politicians controlled the body to save their personal interests, he alleged.

He added insurgents were still present in some districts and were active in their areasclose the HPC office. But the committee had done nothing to woo them into joining the peace process, he claimed.

Zohra Arifi, a woman civil society activist, accused HPC officials in province of failingto discharge their duty. She called for closing the HPC office in Ghor.

She charged HPC members had links with warlords and powerful individuals. None of them was interestedin the security and welfare of the common people, she maintained.

Hamidullah Rastgar, a resident of the provincial capital, said: “HPC hasn’t brought any positive change to reconciliation process compare to their consumption and therefore we ask the government to close the departments’ doors.”

The stringent criticism of HPC comes amid a strong militant presence in border areas of the province, including Ishtrili, Miramor, Khadir and Sang-i-Takht districts.

Meanwhile, deputy head of HPC in Daikundi Boman Ali Sherband rejected the allegations from civil society and touted the peace process as a success. He referred to the surrender of gunmen and dozens of insurgents.

The peace body had provided facilities for those militants who joined the peace drive, he said, hoping the reconciliation effort would lead to a marked improvement in the security environment.

But Rahmatullah Shariati, a political analyst, listed lack of oversight and HPC being independent of the provincial administration were the main reasons for its failure.

He proposed the appointment of talented and sincere individuals to reinvigorate the committee. Strong oversight by civil society was also necessary to meet the current challenges being faced by HPC, he suggested.

pk/mud