KABUL - Following Pajhwok Afghan News startling revelations that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) was teemed by near and dear ones of government officials and lawmakers, the spokesman of MoFA on Tuesday prompted to say that new leadership was committed to introduce tangible reforms in the ministry.

Two days back Pajhwok found that mostly sons and close relatives of government officials and members of parliament held key posts in Afghanistan embassies abroad where most of them had sought political asylum.

MoFA spokesman Ahmad Shakib Mustaghni acknowledged appointment in the MoFA in previous years based on nepotism.

“All of our employees are not relatives of officials or political figures. And there is no law that bars those relatives working here,” he said, insisting that appointments were based on the needs of the ministry.

“However, as we see that recently a major portion of our educated youth are interested in working at MoFA, so it has been decided in order to bring transparency so that everyone needs to appear for entry test,” Mustaghni continued.

MoFA spokesman said the new leadership had major plans in bringing reforms and capacity building to the ministry.

He rejected recent reports that 11 ambassadors have been fired, but said working terms of 24 top diplomats were over and they were given retirement notifications. (Pajhwok)