Dostum’s presence in Afghanistan need of hour: Danish

KABUL (Pajhwok): Second Vice President Sarwar Danish has met Gen. Abdul Rashid Dostum in Ankara, the capital of Turkey, and discussed with him national unity, security and cohesion among different ethnic tribes in the country.

Danish visited Turkey to attend the oath-taking ceremony for President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. In Ankara, he held a meeting with Gen. Dostum as well, a statement from the second vice president’s office said on Tuesday.

The meeting took place in a cordial environment. Both sides discussed the current situation in the country, the need for durable peace, national reconciliation and promoting unity among different ethnic groups.

“Danish termed the presence of Dostum in Afghanistan the need of the hour. It’s vital to peace, reconciliation, development and national unity,” the statement said.

Dostum welcomed the second vice president at his office and said: “The resolution of problems and stress in national unity in this critical situation is necessary at the moment.”

Danish stressed the presence of Dostum in Afghanistan during upcoming parliamentary and district council elections.

In recent weeks, hundreds of Dostum’s supporters protested the arrest of Nizamuddin Qaisari, who led a group of illegal gunmen and killed several innocent people.

nh/mud