Unity central to steering Afghanistan out of crisis: CEO

National unity is the only way to steer the country out of the current crisis, ensuring success on the battlefield and in the peace drive, the chief executive said on Sunday.
Addressing a Martyrs’ Week event in the Loya Jirga tent in Kabul, Dr. Abdullah Abdullah paid tribute to Afghanistan’s National Hero Ahmad Shah Massoud and highlighted his achievements.
However, he noted that some youth were harming Massoud’s image and detracting from his personality by exhibiting different kinds of sentiments.
“Massoud would turn in his grave to see those who have taken to the roads today and are firing into the air, closing roads or maltreating the masses,” the CEO remarked.
“I’m shocked at youth firing into the air and upsetting Massoud’s soul. Celebratory fire, closing roads and misbehaving with the people amount to an affront to the late leader,” Abdullah said.
Not confined to a village or a district, the ex-defence minister always thought of progress and prosperity for the entire nation, the CEO added.
All Afghans are duty-bound to strive for keep his name alive, according to Abdullah, who urged the people to avoid doing things that brought a bad name to their leader.
Speaking to participants at the gathering, President Ashraf Ghani’s Second Vice President Sarwar Danish touched on the issue of terrorism facing Afghanistan and said that the only way to overcome the crisis is for all Afghans to stand united against the trend.
“If Afghanistan wants to uphold the spirit of its martyr’s, unity is the way to do it,” Danish said, adding that “the enemies are targeting civilians and even their places of worship.”
He also said that the elections are the only way to resolve the crisis. He called on the nation to work with election commissions and to support them.
He said that “blaming government and putting all the pressure (on it) is not a logical solution.”
“Peace is the only way for the country to survive,” he added.
Massoud was assassinated by two bombers posing as journalists 17 years ago. The son of Col. Dost Mohammad Khan, he was born in Panjsher district in 1953.
In 1975, he led the first revolt by Panjsher residents against the government of the time. The suicide attack on Massoud occurred in the Khwaja Bahauddin district in Takhar.
Abdullah said the upcoming parliamentary and presidential elections would be important for the country. He stressed focus on transparency in the polls to meet public demand, he concluded.