Monitoring Desk
KABUL: Presidential candidate Farooq Nijrabi says his policy would be strengthening a democratic and national system after becoming the president in order to put Afghanistan on the path to stability, development and welfare.
During an exclusive interview with Pajhwok, Nijrabi praised the National Unity Government (NUG) for its policy against corruption, powerful individuals and thieves. However, he said dividing the government and politicising government institutions pushed the county into crisis.
He identified the creation of an illegal government structure such as the Chief Executive Office and parallel institutions as main factors behind the failure of the incumbent government.
Nijrabi, who leads the Hizb-i-Isteqlal Afghanistan party, had earlier said he would contest the presidential polls with a comprehensive and modern strategy.
A total of 18 persons have jumped into the presidential race, including incumbent President Ashraf Ghani, Chief Executive Officer Abdullah Abdullah, Mohammad Hanif Atmar, Gulbuddin Hekmatyar and Nabil.
Nijrabi hailed President Ashraf Ghani’s decisions to tackle corruption and stand against powerful individuals, but said the president did not consult influential persons on government affairs, something that made him annoyed.
He added the government’s exclusive behavior gave birth to differences, compounded by the war, insecurity and economic problems.
He termed President Ghani government as successful in comparison with his predecessor Hamid Karzai and said: “Karzai brought corrupt persons around him and was involved in embezzlement of foreign aid, but President Ghani did not do this.”
Hailing the government for its achievements and policy against corruption and crackdown on thieves, Nijrabi said he was not as much disappointed from the incumbent government as he was from Karzai’s government.
Peace Process
Nijrabi termed peace as main demand of the people of Afghanistan, but added reconciliation had become a complex issue and the keys to peace were in the hands of Afghans. He pledged to advance reconciliation as his top priority after winning the presidential election.
“Peace can be achieved if the two sides seek reforms and betterment, but if one party never understands the purpose of peace then it becomes a dispute,” he said.
He stressed the need for creation of a committee to be comprised of intellectuals, neutral and reliable persons to push forward the peace process.
Optimism about changes in election commissions
Nijrabi said the former election commissioners had been appointed by the unity leaders to serve their own interests and they helped some failed Wolesi Jirga candidates to win.
However, he said the government leaders had no special role in selection of the new election commissioners and he was optimistic the new appointments would block interference in the electoral bodies’ affairs.
Nijrabi said the former commissioners alone could not be blamed for corruption in election commissions, but government officials should be also tried for such allegations.
Foreign and internal policy
Nijrabi said, “Unfortunately our neighboring countries, particularly Pakistan and Iran pour salt on our security, political, economic, social and cultural wounds instead of healing us.”
He criticized the unity leaders and said, “Administration, intention, monitoring and regulations which are four important points of a state and governance are not in the hands of our government leaders and people, but in hands of foreigners particularly the Americans who do whatever they want and no one opposes it, only militants stand against them, but politicians like us only criticize.”
About his team’s policy about regional and cross-regional countries, he said he would not surrender or take control of others if he won the elections.
Nijrabi would expel all foreign forces without any conditions within a week if he succeeded in the election —- a reason that forced him to run for the presidency in the past too.
He said he was anti-foreigners in terms of interfering in Afghanistan and he wanted peace in Afghanistan and the whole of the world.
Foreign countries’ role in appointing Afghanistan leaders
In response to a question whether foreigners have any role in appointing leaders of Afghanistan, Nijrabi said it was obvious to all people that foreigners particularly the US had a role in choosing the president of Afghanistan. “If I win the election, I will not create a premier or CEO post,” he said.
About his coalition with other electoral teams, he said he had not yet decided in this regard. (Pajhwok)
