MPs Blame Taliban for Rise in Violence as US Exit Begins
Lawmakers in the Wolesi Jirga, the lower house of Parliament, blamed the Taliban for the increase in violence and said that hundreds of civilians and security force members are killed in clashes every day as US troops are leaving.
The lawmakers expected heads of security agencies to appear on Monday session, but the officials had traveled to Ghazni and the session was postponed for Wednesday.
The US started the withdrawal of its troops from Afghanistan on May 1st. On Sunday, US forces handed over a military camp to Afghan forces in Helmand province.
Taliban Warns of More Violence If Doha Deal Is Violated
The Taliban has warned of more violence if the Doha agreement is violated by the United States as the Biden administration is reviewing the groups’ commitment to the deal.
A bipartisan study group assigned by US Congress has called on President Joe Biden’s administration to slow the withdrawal of American troops from Afghanistan, remove the May 1 exit deadline and instead reduce the number of forces only as security conditions improve in the country.
The Taliban has said that such a move would have severe consequences and that Washington will be responsible for a future escalation.
Parliament Has Legal Right to Criticize Budget: EU Envoy
Andreas von Brandt, Ambassador of the European Union in Afghanistan, said that the Parliament has the legal authority to criticize the budget, adding that it is the responsibility of the government to come up with a constructive approach and seek support from the majority of the lawmakers in the approval process of the budget.
A month has passed since the government and Parliament have clashed over the approval of the budget plan.
“I think it is the duty of Parliament to criticize the government, and it is also the duty of the government to find a majority to get ahead with its proposals; however, this has to be in a professional and forward-looking and in a constructive way,” said EU envoy Andreas von Brandt.
Illegal Armed Groups Obstruct Rescue of Balkh Child: Probe Team
A parliamentary commission that has gone to the northern province of Balkh to investigate the kidnapping of a child named Abdul Rauf said on Friday that the presence of more than 150 illegal armed groups in the province is obstructing the rescue of the child.
The MPs said they see lack of coordination between the security and intelligence agencies in the rescue operation of Abdul Rauf.
“Some people should have been arrested very early, but there is sign of negligence in this respect,” said Iqbal Safi, the head of the parliamentary commission.