Editor in Chief: Moh. Reza Huwaida Tuesday, March 19th, 2024

Talks Underway to Break Jamiat-Arg Impasse

Talks Underway to Break Jamiat-Arg Impasse

KABUL - The ousted governor northern Balkh province Atta Mohammad Noor on Wednesday said negotiations between Jamiat-e-Islami Party of Afghanistan and the Presidential Palace (ARG) have started to break the ongoing stalemate between the two sides.
If the talks do not yield an outcome, other options will be taken into consideration to resolve the issue, Noor told a gathering in Balkh.
“Negotiations and talks are the logical and wise way. I think a meeting was held yesterday. Jamiat leadership and our allies must sit and resolve the issue. If the issue is resolved through logic ways, this would be better and if not, we will seek some other ways,” Noor said.
Sources speaking on condition of anonymity have said that these talks are ongoing in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs where the two sides have debated the prospects of Jamiat's shares in the cabinet.
Noor was ousted as governor last year on December 18. But he defied his dismissal.
According to the sources, acting minister of foreign affairs Salahuddin Rabbani, Abdul Sattar Murad, Muhayyuddin Mahdi and Waqef Hakimi are representing Jamiat in these talks while the delegation representing the Presidential Palace includes the National Security Advisor Mohammad Hanif Atmar, head of National Directorate of Security Masoom Stanekzai, Minister of Finance Eklil Hakimi and Salam Rahimi, head of the administrative office of the president.
The two sides in these talks are exchanging views on the implementation of the political agreement on the formation of the National Unity Government and the fate of the post of Balkh governor.
“We want to know that where the reform process is now, which progress has been made in this respect?" asked University Lecturer Rahmatullah Bezhanpur.
Meanwhile, Ahmad Wali Massoud, head of Ahmad Shah Massoud Foundation, said the country’s problems will not be addressed even if government accepts all demand of Jamiat.
“Government is trying to terminate the opportunity for diplomacy and talks by making threats,” Massoud told TOLOnews.
In the meantime, Mohammad Dawood, the newly-appointed governor of Balkh, said the issues facing his appointment as governor of the province will come to an end in the near future.
"The president (Ashraf Ghani) has said over different occasions that he is firm on his decision. The president has told me to be patient and they will resolve the issue through peaceful means," Dawood said.
This comes after President Ashraf Ghani in announced two weeks ago that he has accepted the resignation of Atta Mohammad Noor as Balkh governor and has appointed Mohammad Dawood as new governor of the province.   (Tolonews)