KABUL - Wolesi Jirga (WJ) members on Wednesday demanded investigation into cash aid given to Taliban families in northern Kunduz province by the governor, saying the move betrayed Afghan security forces.
Reports had quoted Kunduz Governor Asadullah Omarkhel as saying he paid cash from the martyrs package of Afghan forces to 50 to 60 families of Taliban militants who were killed in the conflict.
“I swear 50 to 60 heirs of the slain Taliban came to us and demanded compensation for their men killed in the conflict. We also told them that the hand of the government is big and merciful,” Omarkhel was quoted by in the reports as saying.
Nahid Fared, lower house of parliament from western Herat province, told today’s session, “Our soldiers sacrifice their lives on a daily basis, but the death benefits are given to the enemy, it is treason against our forces and national interests.”
Fatima Aziz, a representative from Kunduz province, also said it a treason to pay the compensation amount of Afghan forces to the enemy. She said the move would dishearten Afghan forces .
A number of lawmakers demanded investigation into the issue. Wolesi Jirga Speaker Abdul Raouf Ibrahimi, said: “If it is true, then it is a clear treason against Afghan forces and support to the enemy.”
He directed the security and defense commission of the lower house to summon those responsible for distribution of death benefits to provide information about the issue.
When contacted, the spokesman for Kunduz governor, Syed Mahmood Danish, rejected if the governor had given cash aid to families of the Taliban.
He said the central government had sent only four million afghanis to the governor’s house at the request of the residents of Pul-i-Kandahari area. He did not provide information about the identities of those who received the aid.
Kunduz police chief, Brig. Gen. Abdul Hameed Hamidi also rejected soldiers’ death benefits had been distributed to the Taliban and said the governor and he had no role in the aid distribution as the process was done by the court and other military organs.
Dawa Khan Minapal, deputy spokesman to the president, rejected if a special aid had been dispatched for Pul-i-Kandahari residents.
“The presidential palace provides aid to only families of soldiers and civilians, but the aid is distributed by the relevant province and through a particular code and suggestion.” (Pajhwok)