Citizens blast politicians for not defending country

KABUL (Tolo News): As fighting rages in various provinces, citizens criticized key Afghan politicians, asking the whereabouts of those influential political and jihadi figures who claimed to be leading major ethnic groups in the country but who are not defending the people and provinces from Taliban attacks.
The war has intensified in Kandahar, Badakhshan, Ghazni, and Faryab provinces, and residents ask: What are the key politicians and jihadi leaders like Salahuddin Rabani, Mohammad Mohaqeq, Karim Khalili, Abdul Rashid Dostum, Hamid Karzai, and Attah Mohammad Noor Helmand doing to fight the Taliban? Several citizens and MPs say that key politicians have only supported the government for their own benefits and are now hiding in their homes in Kabul, or they have kept silent while they are out of the country.
“They should be ashamed. If I was in their place, instead of these politicians, I would repent. If you ask people about them, they are not happy,” said Ferdaws, a resident of Kabul. Another Kabul resident Lal Mohammad said: “They are only fighting for power; they don’t think about people. They ruin people.” Many Afghan citizens have blamed Afghan politicians for not taking part in the defense of the country and have not commented on the public criticism; however, previously they spoke of supporting the Afghan government and defending it from Taliban attacks if the peace process failed.
“They always act based on their own benefit; they neither have assets here nor are their families living in the country,” MP Khalid Asad said. “The government should work on such an approach so that politicians could defend their country alongside security forces,” MP Abdaal Allah Mohammadi said.
Meanwhile, the Taliban have taken over parts of Kandahar, including Spin Boldak district, while Tadin Khan, a popular commander in the province is currently in Kabul. He is also a member of the leadership committee of the High Reconciliation Council. A source close to Marshal Abdul Rashid Dostum said that he is currently in Uzbekistan and is planning to travel to Kabul in the upcoming week. The source added that Dostum will go to the north of the country after having a meeting with President Ghani. Among famous politicians in the country, only Amir Ismail Khan, a former jihadi commander, has taken up arms against the Taliban and is leading the people’s mobilization in Herat.