Afghan governments’ failure to thoroughly and timely investigate serious allegations and cases of illegal activities involving officials and politicians and/or others is among the major factors which have contributed to the protraction of the conflict in Afghanistan. In Afghan politics, often happen some shocking incidents that require in-depth investigations whose findings must be shared with the public given their significance so that people become aware of how some so-called politicians play with their destiny.
One of such cases recently is the arrest of an advisor to Fazal Hadi Muslimyar, the Senate speaker, who, according the Ministry of Interior (MoI), was a facilitator of terrorist attacks especially those carried out by Daesh or the Islamic State terrorist group. According to MoI, Delawar who has served as advisor to Muslimyar was detained in Kabul along with guns, fake number plates, armored vehicles, and many Pakistani ID cards. In addition to being involved in other terrorist attacks, Delawar is also found to be behind last year’s bombing that targeted a security checkpoint in Jalalabad city in eastern Nangarhar province a day after the security forces removed the tented glasses from his armored vehicle. The explosion killed or wounded most of those manning the checkpoint.
These are very serious accusations that must be inquired into. Afghan government must also probe into the nature of Muslimyar’s relations with Delawar besides looking into his involvement in terrorist activities and links to terrorists groups. The people want to know why the Senate speaker had appointed an individual as his adviser who had linked to terrorists and that whether or not Muslimyar had knowledge of it. Since the family members of the Senate speaker have also previously been accused of having links with terrorists, the case becomes even more serious and therefore must be followed conclusively. There were once unconfirmed reports that suicide vests had been recovered from his brother’s house. Moreover, Muslimyar was also said to be seeking the release of individuals who had been jailed on charges of affiliation with Daesh. These reports have not yet been officially confirmed.
Regardless of any political reservations, the government leadership must order a thorough investigation into the case, and make its findings public. If Delawar has links to terrorists, and that Muslimyar is aware of it, both should be dealt with in the light of the country’s applicable laws. The non-investigation or whitewash of the case will cement support for terrorists and sleeper cells within the government, which can have gravely catastrophic consequences for the regime.