KABUL - Afghan political commentators warned on Thursday that the handing over of Dand-e-Ghori area in Pul-e-Khumri city of northern Baghlan province by the government in a sense is an endorsement of the Taliban.
They say that such a deal will only benefit the militant group to appear with more violence against Afghan troops.
A member of Baghlan provincial council on Wednesday claimed that local authorities in Dand-e-Ghori area of Pul-e-Khumri city, led by Gulab Mangal, the minister of Borders and Tribal Affairs signed an agreement with Taliban giving them control of Dand-e-Ghori.
Reacting to the allegations, local officials dismissed the reports and said that the agreement was inked with the tribal elders of Dand-e-Ghori, an accord that prevents the Taliban from operating in the area.
Based on the agreement, the Afghan Security forces will not carry out further operations in Dand-e-Ghori or arrest militants. .
Dand-e-Ghori saw some of the fiercest fighting between Taliban and Afghan forces in recent months.
"Taliban operate in various regions of Afghanistan. Forging such agreements in-fact providing legitimacy to the Taliban group or in some words the partition of parts of Afghanistan between Taliban and government," MP Naqibullah Fayeq said.
"The agreement in-fact is an attempt to give legitimacy to the Taliban and weaken the government," University lecturer Baz Mohammad Anwari said.
Meanwhile, a number of signatories have reacted to the allegations in a different manner.
"The agreement was signed with the tribal elders and not the Taliban. Tribal elders have pledged to take control of Baghlan, this is a commitment to the people and the central government," one of the signatories of the agreement Safdar Mohseni said.
Civil society institutions have also mocked the agreement.
"This is the desecration of the blood of the soldiers and the people who work to sustain the system," civic advocate Atif Arifyan said.
In the past similar agreements were signed in Musa Qala. district of southern Helmand province which was one of group's main strongholds in the south. However, the agreements later forged major challenges to Afghan forces. (Tolonews)