The commission of “Return of and Communications with Former Afgh an Officials and Political Figures” said that some former government officials and politicians responded positively to the offer of the commission.
A spokesman for the commission, Ahmadullah Wassiq, said that the Afghan politicians returning to the country can continue their political activities under the structure of the current Afghan government.
“The contacts have made with some provincial governors and members of the parliament of the former government. I am optimistic that these people will talk with the media in this regard,” said Ahmadullah Wassiq, a spokesman for the commission.
He said that eight academic figures including medical doctors and experts returned back to Afghanistan on Monday.
According to Wassiq, dozens of Afghan politicians and former officials have filled out forms to return to the country.
“We seven people come together. Some of the academic figures came earier. We are more than 200 people,” said a returnee.
Earlier, some politicians downplayed the establishment of the commission as symbolic.
“The establishment of the Commission of the Return of and Communications with Former Afghan Officials and Political Figures should have a specific roadmap to pave the way for the return of politicians and influential figures,” said Sayed Haroon Hashimi, a political analyst.
“They should try to assure the political figures,” said Barna Salehi, a political analyst.
The US special envoy for Afghanistan, Thomas West, recently kicked off a visit to the region and neighboring countries, where he has so far met several Afghan politicians, journalists and representatives of civil society.
Based on some reports, West arrived in Tajikistan last Monday, where he is expected to meet Ahmad Massoud, the leader of the National Resistance Front.
Following the start of the “Commission for the Return and Communications with Former Afghan Officials and Political Figures,” some of the country’s politicians are now asking the Islamic Emirate to first talk to political figures inside the country.
According to these political figures, the Islamic Emirate has forgotten politicians inside the country.
“First, the commission should make it clear about what it it talking about with them, and then talk once with a number of them who are inside Afghanistan, along with the figures who have been involved in Afghan politics for 45 years,” said Sayed Ishaq Gailani, the leader of the Afghan People’s Solidarity Movement.
“I think the establishment of this commission is very good, in terms of composition as well, and I hope that they will have relations with the elders inside the country and get their views,” said Asif Nang, the former governor of Laghman.
The “Commission for the Return and Communications with Former Afghan Officials and Political Figures” started work on Saturday.
The commission said it will decide on the political activities of the figures who will return to the country later. Now the question is, to what extent can this commission be useful in bringing back the political and military figures of the country?
“Those who have left Afghanistan want to come back if they can resume their activities in the society, in the government and in the political society of the country, and this commission has not proposed this,” said Tariq Farhadi, a political analyst.
“If these figures, the government officials and professional cadres, who have left Afghanistan are not given chances, then I think this will add to the number of unemployed,” said Ghulam Sakhi Ehsani, a university lecturer.
“The Commission for the Return and Communications with Former Afghan Officials and Political Figures” said that those who return to the country will have their legitimate demands met. The commission drafted a procedure in fifteen articles that provided short-term accommodation for political figures and former military personnel.—Tolonews
