Figures inside gov’t hurdle to peace in Badakhshan: HPC

Peace committee officials of northeastern Badakhshan province on Monday claimed a number of Taliban militants wanted to join the peace process, but some circles inside the local administration were an obstacle.
Ghausuddin Rahmani, head of the peace committee of the High Peace Council (HPC) in Badakhshan, told Pajhwok Afghan News that the provincial peace committee had adopted some programs for the reconciliation process.
“We have prepared public awareness programs and spreading the message of peace to the people and the militants, we also organize meetings with ulema, civil society representatives and different segments of the society for ensuring peace. All Badakhshan people support peace and they have promised to encourage militants to join the peace process,” he said.
He said the provincial peace committee voiced on local administration to cooperate with them in accelerating the peace process and not allowing anyone to sabotage it.
“Whenever insurgents join the peace process, they are first welcomed at a small ceremony and then left alone without receiving any privileges or jobs and that is the reason their interest to join peace is low”, he said.
However, Sayed Amrullah Habibi, public relations in charge of the peace committee, said a number of Taliban insurgents were ready to join the peace process but some circles inside the government were crippling the process.
“Some figures inside the government who have access to natural resources and illegal money would never want peace in the country, particularly those commanders who have support of illegal armed groups who are even worse than the Taliban, they are involved in armed robberies and people’s harassment,” he said.
“Today we can see who raised arms against the government. Raised as upraising groups and illegal armed men are the same, they can be seen in Faizabad city (the provincial capital) with scary faces and they create disruption and barbarism among people, this situation damages peace and stability,” he said.
On the other hand, Saifuddin Sayes, head of Civil Society Forum in Badakhshan, said there was no coordination among the peace committee and local officials in the province.
“Anti-peace figures still exist here, particularly illegal armed groups who harass people in cities and urban areas, police and intelligence forces should control unrestrained people,” he said.
Despite problems and obstacles, more than 700 insurgents have joined the peace process over the last few years in Badakhshan, he said.
Meanwhile, governor’s spokesman, Nik Mohammad Nazari, said that some figures might be existed inside the local administration who could indirectly damage the peace process.
However, he said no complaints had so far been formally registered with the governor’s house about such figures.