US Vice President Pence weighed in on one of the thorniest issues in Afghanistan’s complex politics on Wednesday by urging the peaceful resolution of a power struggle between the president and the deposed governor of a northern province
KABUL,(Pakistan Point News - 18th Jan, 2018) US Vice President Pence weighed in on one of the thorniest issues in Afghanistan’s complex politics on Wednesday by urging the peaceful resolution of a power struggle between the president and the deposed governor of a northern province. According to a statement from the vice president’s office, Pence emphasized to Afghan President Ashraf Ghani by telephone “his support for the Afghan government to engage with Balkh Governor Atta and conduct a peacefully negotiated transition of leadership.
” In December, Ghani announced Atta Mohammad Noor, one of the last remaining Afghan regional strongmen, had resigned as governor of Balkh province and a successor had been appointed, although it appeared to be more of dismissal after months of public wrangling between the two. It was noted with surprise in Afghan government circles Pence referred to Atta as the governor. The call was seen here as an attempt to forestall military action by Kabul to permanently remove him and install his appointed replacement.
Atta served as governor for more than 13 years in Balkh, a key province that serves as the gateway to Central Asia. He grew immensely rich in his position and is said to have run the province as his personal kingdom. He was also a key ally to the United States in the fight against the Taliban. Atta’s party, the influential Jamiat-i-Islami, welcomed Pence’s comments — the first by a U.S. official on the issue.
