KABUL - A close aide to the embattled first vice president said Ghani and Dostum have talked on the phone regarding his return.
Close aides to First Vice President General Abdul Rashid Dostum on Monday said Dostum and President Ashraf Ghani recently talked on the phone and discussed Dostum’s return to Afghanistan.
Mohammad Azim Qoyash, a senator and a close aide to Dostum, said in the last three months a delegation from government has met with Dostum on several occasions.
Qoyash said Dostum and the presidential palace are expected to reach an agreement in the near future and that Dostum will soon return home.
According to Qoyash, Dostum wants to reclaim his authority as first vice president and wants government to close the Ahmad Eshchi case.
In 2016, Ahmad Eshchi, the former Jawzjan governor, laid complaints of having been abducted, tortured and sexually assaulted on Dostum’s orders.
Following the alleged incident, Dostum was reportedly placed under house arrest.
However, the first vice president left Afghanistan for Turkey in May last year on the pretext of seeking medical treatment. 
“General has demands that include closing Ahmad Eshchi case against Dostum and giving Dostum back his authority (as vice president),” Qoyash said.
This comes after former Balkh governor Atta Mohammad Noor stated in recent discussions with government that he would step down if a number of demands were met – including one that Dostum be allowed to return home. 
“General Dostum has a right to come back to Afghanistan and occupy his job,” Noor said at the time.
Noor has since reached an agreement with government and is no longer governor but Dostum is still in Turkey.
A number of MPs meanwhile said Dostum’s absence, which has left the seat of first vice president empty, has had a profound effect on government.  
“Legally it is necessary that he (Dostum) should return. And now as he is away, in legal terms, some problems exist in this regard,” MP Khudadad Erfani said.
“If the First Vice President is not at his post, then doubtless his office will remain inactive,” senator Safiullah Hashimi said. =
The Presidential Palace has however not yet commented on the apparent development.(Tolo news)