Editor in Chief: Moh. Reza Huwaida Friday, March 29th, 2024

Dostum Home after 14 Months of Exile in Turkey

Dostum Home after 14 Months of Exile in Turkey

KABUL - First Vice-President Gen. Abdul Rashid Dostum on Sunday returned to the country and was welcomed at a special ceremony at the Kabul Airport after spending 14 months in Turkey.
Dostum’s plane was landed in Kabul Airport around 4:30pm today.
He was welcomed by second vice-president, Mohammad Sarwar Danish, second Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Mohammad Muhaqiq and Atta Mohammad Noor in the airport.
Dostum, the leader of Junbish-i-Islami Afghanistan party, quietly left Kabul for Turkey last year in May after he was accused of rape and torture by a political rival Ahmad Ischi. Dostum had since been living in exile in Turkey.
A few months back Gen. Dostum attempted to return to the country but his aircraft was not permitted to enter Afghanistan.
However, HaroonChakhansori, the president spokesman, on Saturday told a press conference that Dostum was never a citizen of Turkey but he had gone there for treatment.
He said after treatment, Gen. Dostum had recovered and he would arrive in Kabul in a private airline today evening.
“Reception ceremony for Dostum has been prepared in the airport and after arriving he would start his job as first vice president of Afghanistan,” he had said.
A week back, President Ashraf Ghani told a press conference that the return of Dostum was a legal issue and the Attorney General Office (AGO) was following it.
Junbish supporters have been protesting over the past 20 days, demanding the return of Dostum and release of Nizamuddin Qaisari, a Dostum’s commander in in Faryab province accused of multiple crimes.
The Presidential Palace said Nizamuddin Qaisari was in detention and only judiciary organs could decide his fate. (Pajhwok)