Group of Mediators Visits ARG to Ease Ghani-Noor Political Impasse

A mediation group consist of more than 80 people from Balkh province on Wednesday visited the Presidential Palace (ARG) in a bid to ease the ongoing stalemate between President Ghani and the ousted governor Atta Mohammad Noor.

Sayed Jabar Jamal, a member of the mediation group said that during the visit, the president pledged to solve the Balkh issue soon.

Meanwhile, Balkh Provincial Council Chief, Mohammad Afzal Hadid said that talks are still underway between ARG and Jamiat-e-Islami party.

He stressed Balkh tribal elders gathered today to have discussions with the president.

According to Balkh Provincial Council Chief, the ongoing tensions between Ghani and Noor have raised security threats in the Mazar-e-Sharif City.

Hadid claimed that Mazar-e-Sharif is under serious security threats, and there is the possibility of terror attacks in the city.

“We are concerned because it has been said that some terrorists have entered the city and I confirmed that, but our security forces are active [to respond],” he said.

Presidential Palace in a statement on Wednesday state that no one including the president is allowed to act against the national interest, adding that the politicians should to take decisions through a diplomatic process.  

This comes as government and Jamiat party have held several rounds of talks so far; but not yielded the required results to end the rift between President Ghani and Atta Mohammad Noor.