KABUL - Highlighting government's topmost priorities for 2016, Sayed Zafar Hashemi, deputy presidential spokesman, said on Saturday that this year government will focus more on issues of national importance and on major projects necessary for the nation - such as the peace process, economic development, and political and security issues.
But a number of analysts have said that holding the nation's parliamentary elections, addressing the issues of migration, ensuring justice is brought against corrupt elements and those involved in acts of violence should be the top priorities of government.
According to Hashemi, insurgents tried to create a parallel political geography in Afghanistan during 2015.
He said however that government is working on a number of programs to seek support from the international community to install a peace talks process with the Taliban.
"The proper time has arrived for the president of Afghanistan pay more attention, during winter and beyond that, to economic issues and the peace talks. We can say peace is government's top priority," he said.
Meanwhile, the High Peace Council (HPC) expressed its hope that this year would see a significant number of Taliban join the peace process.
According to HPC, peace with foreign militants is not impossible, adding that foreign insurgents do not have an identity or address, therefore peace must be made with the Afghan Taliban.
"In the future the government must enter the peace talks with a clear mechanism," HPC spokesman ShahzadaShahid said.
Delaying parliamentary elections in 2015 sparked major concerns however. On the basis of the law, the new lawmakers should have been elected months ago but the elections were not held. Recently the House of Representatives rejected a presidential legislative decree which was issued to hold the parliamentary elections.
"There are two institutions at a national level which are endorsed through votes, the first one is the president and the second one is the national assembly members. I hope that the Wolesi Jirga will not reject the legislative decree for continuing its tenure illegally. As a citizen I was also surprised when the Wolesi Jirga rejected a presidential legislative order to bring about reforms in the election system. The people of Afghanistan and international community see such a move as an obstruction in the way of electoral reform," Shah Sultan Akifi, head of the Electoral Reform Commission said.
In addition, a major cause for concern is the continued influx of Afghan migrants to Europe. It is said that the economic recession and nonexistence of clear economic prospects and the failure of government leaders to deliver on pledges are among the reasons Afghans are leaving the country.
"There are more than a million internally displaced people, six million Afghans in 75 countries of the world and another six million who returned to the country have made us look at our capabilities. 250 new employees were increased in our ministry. Security threats are the main reason for Afghans leaving," IslamuddinJuraat, spokesman for the Ministry of Labor, Social Affairs, Martyrs and Disabled said.
Afghans also want government to take steps to curb corruption and kangaroo courts. (Tolo News)