President Ghani has appointed Haroon Chakhansuri, the former deputy chief of staff of the president, as the new political deputy and acting minister of foreign affairs, said Geran Hewad, a spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign affairs (MOFA) on Wednesday.
 
Hewad hailed the performance of Chakhansuri’s predecessor Idrees Zaman, saying the reforms package recently introduced in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was one of Mr. Zaman’s legacy.
 
“One of the tasks completed by Zaman was the reform package in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and he managed to introduce it to the president,” added Hewad.
 
But the appointment has sparked strong reactions.
 
“The position of the Minister of Foreign Affairs is one of the important and key positions in government, therefore the political leaders should be very serious about appointing an experienced, committed and professional figure” said Malik Setaz, a political commentator.
 
“If someone doesn’t have knowledge, and doesn’t have experience and the characteristics that are necessary for a foreign minister he will not be successful,” said Mohammad Jawed Salehi, a former adviser to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
 
Based on the political agreement for the creation of National Unity Government (NUG), the appointment of the Minister of Foreign Affairs is supposed to be under the authority of CE Abdullah Abdullah.
 
Abdullah has said that no one consulted him on the new appointment.
 
“If it (the appointment) was necessary, then responsible and qualified people should have been appointed there,” said Abdul Hafiz Mansoor, former member of Wolesi Jirga.
 
Idrees Zaman succeeded Salahuddin Rabbani to the post last year after Rabbani announced his resignation.