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Govt Defends Track Record as it Celebrates 1st Anniversary

The Afghan government today celebrated its first anniversary under President Ashraf Ghani.

President Ghani, after taking oath office for a second term, pledged to work for security, promote a regional and international consensus on peace, alleviate poverty and complete the cabinet.

But a number of political leaders and Afghan citizens believe that the government failed to deliver on these promises.

Among the critics is Atta Mohammad Noor, the chief of executive of Jamiat-e-Islami Party, who says that the government has been monopolized by few individuals and those accused of corruption have been assigned to various posts by President Ghani.

On this day a year ago, Afghanistan also witnessed two parallel presidential inaugurations.

Although the Independent Election Commission (IEC) had officially announced Ghani as winner of the elections, Ghani’s longtime rival Abdullah Abdullah refused to accept the election results and accused Ghani of rigging the polls.

After months of political deadlock, Ghani and Abdullah eventually signed a power-sharing agreement and Abdullah recognized Ghani’s government.

“I will continue the job with the present cabinet for the next two weeks,” said Ghani last year.

But one year on, the government has failed to complete its cabinet.

Currently, several state institutions including the Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Rural Rehabilitation and Development, Ministry of Women’s Affairs, Ministry of Public Health, Ministry of Information and Culture, the Central Bank of Afghanistan and the Office of the Attorney General are being run by acting ministers, referred to as "caretakers."

On inauguration day, several rockets landed in Kabul and the scale of violence also remained high during this period.

“There were issues within the government itself, the president had problems with the ministers, he had problems with the politicians and, at one stage, with the parliament,” said MP Mohammad Azim Kibrzani.

However, the formation of the peace negotiating team was broadly welcomed as part of the government’s plan for peace, but a number of political leaders believe that the government has no real intentions for peace.

“The government has not been able to deliver on the promises it made to the people during the election campaign,” said MP Khan Agha Rezayee.

“All the power revolves around two or three or four people—we can't ignore the fact that people accused of major crimes are assigned to investigate some areas under the name of fighting corruption,” said Ata Mohammad Noor, the chief executive of Jamiat-e-Islami Party.

But the government says that it has delivered on its promises.

“The holding of a Consultative Loya Jirga on Peace, the establishment of the High Council of National Reconciliation, the designation of a peace negotiating team and dozens of other projects are under the implementation phase,” said Dawa Khan Menapal, a deputy spokesman to President Ashraf Ghani.

The Afghan government insists on being allowed to complete its commitments in the remaining four years, but the current peace plan discussions with the US include the possibility of a transitional government.  

Govt Defends Track Record as it Celebrates 1st Anniversary

After months of political deadlock, Ghani and Abdullah eventually signed a power-sharing agreement and Abdullah recognized Ghani’s government.

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The Afghan government today celebrated its first anniversary under President Ashraf Ghani.

President Ghani, after taking oath office for a second term, pledged to work for security, promote a regional and international consensus on peace, alleviate poverty and complete the cabinet.

But a number of political leaders and Afghan citizens believe that the government failed to deliver on these promises.

Among the critics is Atta Mohammad Noor, the chief of executive of Jamiat-e-Islami Party, who says that the government has been monopolized by few individuals and those accused of corruption have been assigned to various posts by President Ghani.

On this day a year ago, Afghanistan also witnessed two parallel presidential inaugurations.

Although the Independent Election Commission (IEC) had officially announced Ghani as winner of the elections, Ghani’s longtime rival Abdullah Abdullah refused to accept the election results and accused Ghani of rigging the polls.

After months of political deadlock, Ghani and Abdullah eventually signed a power-sharing agreement and Abdullah recognized Ghani’s government.

“I will continue the job with the present cabinet for the next two weeks,” said Ghani last year.

But one year on, the government has failed to complete its cabinet.

Currently, several state institutions including the Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Rural Rehabilitation and Development, Ministry of Women’s Affairs, Ministry of Public Health, Ministry of Information and Culture, the Central Bank of Afghanistan and the Office of the Attorney General are being run by acting ministers, referred to as "caretakers."

On inauguration day, several rockets landed in Kabul and the scale of violence also remained high during this period.

“There were issues within the government itself, the president had problems with the ministers, he had problems with the politicians and, at one stage, with the parliament,” said MP Mohammad Azim Kibrzani.

However, the formation of the peace negotiating team was broadly welcomed as part of the government’s plan for peace, but a number of political leaders believe that the government has no real intentions for peace.

“The government has not been able to deliver on the promises it made to the people during the election campaign,” said MP Khan Agha Rezayee.

“All the power revolves around two or three or four people—we can't ignore the fact that people accused of major crimes are assigned to investigate some areas under the name of fighting corruption,” said Ata Mohammad Noor, the chief executive of Jamiat-e-Islami Party.

But the government says that it has delivered on its promises.

“The holding of a Consultative Loya Jirga on Peace, the establishment of the High Council of National Reconciliation, the designation of a peace negotiating team and dozens of other projects are under the implementation phase,” said Dawa Khan Menapal, a deputy spokesman to President Ashraf Ghani.

The Afghan government insists on being allowed to complete its commitments in the remaining four years, but the current peace plan discussions with the US include the possibility of a transitional government.  

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