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| Afghanistan |
| Political Leaders, MPs Meet With Ghani to Discuss Revisions to NDS-ISI MoU |
| 2015-05-23 |
| [Tolo News] A number of Afghan politicians, tribal elders MPs and civil society activists met President Ashraf Ghani ...former chancellor of Kabul University, now president of Afghanistan. Before returning to Afghanistan in 2002 he was a scholar of political science and anthropology. He worked at the World Bank working on international development assistance. As Finance Minister of Afghanistan between July 2002 and December 2004, he led Afghanistan's attempted economic recovery until the Karzais stole all the money. .. on Thursday to voice their reservations and requests regarding a recent cooperation agreement signed by the National Directorate of Security ...the Afghan national intel agency... (NDS) and Pakistain's intelligence service (ISI). According to the memorandum of understanding (MoU) which was signed in secret last week, both countries commit to working closely together operationally to fight terror, and the ISI will help train and equip the NDS. In addition, Afghanistan and Pakistain will cooperate in investigating individuals and entities suspected of ties to terrorism within their respective territories. The MoU has prompted a wave of heavy criticisms, particularly from politicians and analysts who are highly skeptical of Pakistain's intentions. With its long history of duplicitous rhetoric and covert support for the Taliban, many Afghans are disinclined to trust and collaborate with the Pak military and intelligence apparatus. Regarding their meeting with President Ghani, a participant, Mohammad Amin Weqad, indicated that the MoU would be reviewed given the issues raised by those gathered. "It was agreed that the MoU must be reassessed and amended, because the views of the people's representatives in the national assembly, politicians, Jihadi figures and civil society must be included in the draft agreement," he said on Friday. Other participants in the meeting emphasized that Ghani had said the agreement was not yet finalized, but was simply in draft form. For some, specific language as well as provisions of the MoU are unacceptable. "The 'separatist movements' and ANA soldiers being trained by Pakistain are among the issues that should be reviewed and amended," MP Abdullah Qarloq said. |
| Posted by:Fred |