KABUL (SW) – Mohammad Sarwar Danish, second vice president, said on Wednesday timely elections are essential for state building process that should not be delayed.
Addressing a gathering at the Arg (presidential palace) to mark the death anniversary of Abdul Ali Mazari, he said those politicians prioritizing peace process over the elections are seeking to peddle their own agenda and seek individual gains.
He said if the forthcoming presidential elections are delayed on the pretext of peace process, it would be a setback to the state building process. Danish feared it would also damage prospects of a sustainable peace in the country.
Danish said the government is committed to hold timely elections later this year that would guarantee safeguarding the gains of the past 18 years.
President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani also underlined the importance of holding timely polls. Ghani said the hot debates over peace process are the result of a comprehensive and longstanding efforts by the National Unity Government towards peace.
Abdullah Abdullah, CEO of the NUG, also stressed upon the significance of holding timely polls. He said the quest for sustainable peace does not mean overlooking the elections and exploitation the situation for personal gains. He said if the Taliban stand firm by their reported pledges of not having ties with the terrorists, part of Afghanistan’s problems would be resolved.
ENDS