The provincial governor of the northern Balkh province Ata Mohammad Noor has said he will soon decided regarding his resignation as the governor of the province.
Noor described the motive behind his likely decision as the major political activities he has eyed for the future, including the upcoming elections.
Speaking a ceremony in Mazar-e-Sharif city on the eve of Nowruz, Noor thanked President Mohammad Ashraf Ghan for trusting him to once again assume charge as the governor of Balkh.
The provincial governor of the northern Balkh province and a prominent political figure heading the influential Jamiat-e-Islami party has apologized for supporting Abdullah Abdullah during the 2014 presidential elections.
He accused the Chief Executive of the unity government for supporting a specific circle around him and announced to halt cooperation with the Chief Executive Office.
Noor was one of the main supporters of Abdullah Abdullah during the controversial presidential elections in 2014 and played a key role in both the first round of the elections and during the run-off elections.
A man was shot dead by the security guards of the acting provincial governor of Balkh Ata Mohammad Noor in Mazar-e-Sharif city.
Local government officials confirmed the incident and said an investigation is underway regarding the killing of the man.
Provincial governor’s spokesman Munir Farhad said the incident took place close to the residence of the governor as the man was driving a vehicle.
He said the security guards of Noor called on the man to stop the car but he did not listen or notice which forced the guards to open fire on him.
The Afghan government has reacted towards the alleged communication of Vice President General Abdul Rashid Dostum’s position, saying no one from ARG has communicated Vice President’s position with any individual or entity.
President Ghani’s spokesman Haroon Chakhansuri said “No one from Arg has communicated VP position with any individual/entity – something you don’t see in entire interview of Mr. Noor with BBC.”
The statement by ARG Palace was issued after the Office of the First President reacted at Ata Mohammad Noor’s remarks.
Calling Noor’s remarks as ridiculous, a statement by Dostum’s office stated that Noor along with some others have started to act against their own party (Jamiat-e-Islami) during the recent days as well as Junbish-e-Millie party and against the First Vice President.
The acting provincial governor of northern Balkh province and chief executive of Jamiat-e-Islami party Ata Mohammad Noor has claimed he rejected recommendations to replace General Abdul Rashid Dostum as First Afghan Vice President.
During an interview with BBC, Noor claimed that the government leadership in Kabul proposed to him to replace Gen. Dostum and take over the post of First Vice President.
However, he said he will never accept ‘donations’ and suggested that Gen. Dostum is the First Vice President, ignoring that he has a good or bad personality.
Noor also claimed that he has proposed to Kabul that Gen. Dostum’s successor should be an Uzbek Afghan, in case the First Vice President opts to resign.
The remarks by Noor came as he earlier said that he is no more counting on decision making capabilities of Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah.
Atta Mohammad Noor, executive director of Jamiat-e-Islami party on Thursday said an agreement will be signed between President Ashraf Ghani and Jamiat-e-Islami leaders and based on the agreement, Jamiat leaders will be consulted over major political decisions.
The Presidential Palace has confirmed this.
Noor said in recent meetings between him and Ghani, they moved to sign an agreement and put aside disagreements, which stem from Noor having been an opposition candidate during elections.
“I am happy with the meetings and hope that everything goes forward as we want. However, the agreement is not yet signed,” he said.
“We have drafted an agreement and have finalized and agreed on many issues. The draft will be shared with leaders and allies of Jamiat-e-Islami Party. If it needs more changes, we will work on it, otherwise it will be implemented,” he added.
Noor meanwhile added that he intends to step down as acting governor of Northern Balkh province.
“I have been in Balkh for a long time. It is natural that I should open the way for others to take the seat,” he said.
President Ashraf Ghani and Atta Mohammad Noor have in recent weeks forged closer ties, a move that has been met with mixed reaction.
A serious rift emerged between the two during the last presidential election – after the results were announced. At the time, Noor said he did not accept Ghani as the then president-elect.
However, Noor reportedly hosted Ghani at his house in Mazar-e-Sharif city for one night this week.
Unconfirmed reports indicate that Noor has directly entered political discussions with Ghani.
“Politics is not standard in Afghanistan; it is based on giving and receiving,” political commentator Nadir Shah Bahr said.
Afghans, like millions of Muslims around the world, on Monday started the three day Eid-ul-Adha celebrations.
Early Monday morning, Afghans flocked to the central mosques where they prayed for the security and prosperity of the war-torn country.
Religious scholars in their Eid messages urged the country’s political elite and ordinary people to work together to strengthen efforts for longstanding peace and security.
Afghan president Ashraf Ghani in his Eid speech expressed hope that the country will reach peace in the near future.
He said that a final peace agreement with Hizb-e-Islami, a powerful militant group, will be sealed soon.
The acting provincial governor of northern Balkh province Ata Mohammad Noor has called on the government to use power against the enemies of the country and not to appeal for peace talks.
In a statement released following a deadly attack in capital Kabul, Noor said ‘The enemies do not believe in peace, they only gift death…’
