AFGHANISTAN-GOVERNOR Leader in Afghan north dismisses Kabul government as a "show"

Record ID: 152857

  • Title: AFGHANISTAN-GOVERNOR Leader in Afghan north dismisses Kabul government as a "show"
  • Date: 3rd June 2015
  • Summary: MAZAR-I-SHARIF, AFGHANISTAN (RECENT - MAY 26, 2015) (REUTERS) GOVERNOR OF BALKH PROVINCE, GENERAL ATTA MOHAMMAD NOOR, MEETING WITH MEMBERS OF THE PARLIAMENT AND INFLUENTIAL PEOPLE FROM HIS PARTY AT HIS OFFICE IN THE NORTHERN AFGHAN CITY OF MAZAR-I-SHARIF REPRESENTATIVE OF AFGHAN TURK HIGH SCHOOL GIVING A GIFT TO ATTA / ATTA LOOKING AT GIFT AFGHAN FLAG VARIOUS OF ATTA MOHAM
  • Embargoed: 18th June 2015 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Afghanistan
  • Country: Afghanistan
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVAJQODK876EKC7ZLLLMC3XTN4J
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Atta Mohammad Noor, a powerful governor of Balkh province in northern Afghanistan, met visitors and the members of the parliament at his office in the northern city of Mazar-i-Sharif.
    Noor, a former general hardened in wars against the Soviets and Taliban but now suited and affluent, complains of a lack of leadership by President Ashraf Ghani and is angry his warnings of rising militant violence in the north were not heeded.
    "The early days when I have learned that the war geography has shifted to the north and the insurgents wanted to come to Khostak valley in Badakhshan and making fronts in Faryab, Qaisar and Almar, I have had one by one meeting with his excellency president and his excellency chief executive Abdullah, I have told both of them about the situation, both appreciated and promised me that they will take action but unfortunately, they didn't take any action practically then. I had to announce to the media and inform our people because I don't want my people to get killed," the governor of Balkh province told Reuters, recalling a warning he gave Kabul several months ago to prepare for more Taliban violence in the north.
    The dissatisfaction is one of Ghani's main challenges; he must contain the Taliban, rally various strongmen behind a single cause and bridge differences with his partner in power, Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah.
    Noor has emerged as one of the government's biggest critics. He questions how the armed forces are being run, the handling of peace talks with the Taliban and Ghani's relationship with Abdullah.
    Ghani and Abdullah fought bitterly over the outcome of last year's presidential election which they contested, and despite forming a unity government, mutual suspicion has slowed policy decisions, diplomats and analysts say.
    Noor, 51, said neither the president nor the CEO had done much to solve the country's problems.
    "There are major problems still unsolved in the government. This goes out to the leadership of the government, I don't want to single-out the president or the chief executive officer when I say leadership it is clear who has the authority in the leadership. These two have not been honest with each other while working together. Anything has been done so far was just a show, I suggest they work together and remain honest on their promises instead of the show-off movement," Noor said in the interview at his palatial party offices in Mazar-i-Sharif, capital of Balkh.
    Noor strongly backed Abdullah in the election, at one point threatening civil unrest over the outcome. Ultimately Ghani was deemed the winner, and Noor has distanced himself from the rivalry.
    Ghani and Abdullah are aware of the grumbling of Noor and other regional power brokers. Both leaders declined to comment.
    Tensions between Kabul and the provinces are likely to grow if security deteriorates in the north, which had until recent years escaped the worst of the Taliban insurgency.
    In April, militants stormed a court in Mazar-i-Sharif, killing eight people including the district police chief.
    Nine Afghan employees of a Czech-backed aid group were killed in Balkh on Tuesday. People in Need said it was suspending all operations in Afghanistan.
    In Kunduz, near Balkh, Afghan National Security Forces have been struggling for weeks to drive out Taliban fighters, leading the government to fall back on militias controlled by local commanders.
    Noor said he believed Afghan security forces could fight on their own, provided they had better leadership, support and equipment. Most NATO troops withdrew at the end of 2014, significantly weakening Afghan defence options.
    "I support the idea of strengthening the Afghan army forces with better training and better equipment, if there is need for more of former Mujahideen forces to join the army they must be legalize within the framework of the Afghan army," Noor told Reuters.
    "I disagree with the formation of an army beyond the law. But, if there is lake of attention by the government and if there is increase of insecurity and government weakness to ensure security for our people as the war has shifted to the north then, in that case, I support the idea of mobilizing people and Mujahideen."
    The governor, who has commanded his own militia in the past, has been increasingly vocal on security matters and recently appeared on Afghan television wearing his old military uniform.
    He said former resistance fighters should be recruited into official forces if they wanted to fight, and that if security worsened, militias could be an option "of last resort."
    One source of weakness in Afghan security has been the absence of a defence minister.
    Tensions within the government between rival ethnic and regional interests have played out in the tortuous process to agree on a candidate.
    Ghani has chosen a third nominee after the first was rejected by parliament and the second dropped out amid controversy. Masoom Stanikzai could face a similar fate, with Noor and some lawmakers deeply skeptical.
    "The current problems cannot be solved by the appointment of Mr. Stanikzai," Noor said of Stanikzai, who has been closely involved in a faltering attempt to negotiate peace with the Afghan Taliban.
    "What are Mr. Stanikzai's achievements when he was at the High Peace Council where tens and hundreds of millions of dollars were spent from his address? What is the criteria of Mr. Stanikzai that he can lead the defense ministry better and defend the country?"
    Later, a convoy of SUVs took Noor and his guests to the amusement park and he grabbed a video arcade gun, firing on fictional aliens.
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