Foreigners give aid to serve own interests: Ludin

JALALABAD (Pajhwok): Nangarhar Governor Attaullah Ludin on Tuesday said foreign nationals gave aid to Afghanistan on serving their own interests.

Ludin was addressing a gathering of Momand tribesmen in Jalalabad, the capital of the eastern province. The meeting was attended by tribal elders from seven districts and local officials.

Ludin said interference from neighbouring countries in Afghanistan had increased due to internal issues.

“Foreigners want Afghanistan to implement its foreign policy that meets their demand,” he said, and accused foreign nationals of assisting Afghans in their own interest.

“If they have no interest, they would not give us aid,” argued the governor, who supported President Hamid Karzai’s refusal to sign the bilateral security agreement with the US.

The governor called on the Momand tribesmen to participate in the April presidential and provincial council elections and cooperate with the government in maintaining security for the ballot.

Nangarhar National Directorate of Security chief Gul Nabi Wardak that discussing and resolving issues through traditional jirgas had been beneficial to the people and the system.

“Five months ago, we have a similar gathering with the Shinwari tribe and the next meeting will be with the Khogyani elders to share problems and seek solutions,” he said.

He said the ongoing conflict did not belong to the Afghans and the rebels were killing their brothers and destroying their own homes to please their foreign masters.

“The aliens have taken a lot of advantage from the differences among us and they are able to create problems for us.”

The spy chief called on militants to arrive at negotiating table with them so that they could convince each other on making peace.

Police chief Brig. Gen. Fazl Ahmad Sherzad said they had intensified efforts to protect the Afghan side of the Durand Line.

“Our forces have been able to drive the anti-state elements from Hesarak, Batikot, Sherzad, Achin, Momand Dara and Khogyani districts and Jalalabad,” he said.

A Momand tribe elder, Malim Zar Jan, a resident of the Kama district, told Pajhwok Afghan News the gathering was aimed at discussing security related problems with government officials.

“We are trying on our own to have peaceful elections and it is our demand from the government to ensure the elections are peaceful in the seven districts where the tribe resides.”

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