Former Afghan minister returns to Kabul on Taliban persuasion

Former Afghan minister returns to Kabul on Taliban persuasion

Farooq Wardak served as minister for education and parliamentary affairs in Ghani government

By Shafiq Ahmad

ANKARA (AA) - A former minister who fled Afghanistan after the Taliban seized power last August has returned to the country, an official confirmed on Wednesday.

Farooq Wardak is the first senior member of ex-President Ashraf Ghani's Cabinet to return to Afghanistan since the establishment of a liaison commission in March to contact Afghans living abroad.

Wardak, who served as minister of state for education and parliamentary affairs in the previous government, returned to Kabul on Tuesday, Bilal Karimi, assistant spokesman for the interim Taliban administration, told Anadolu Agency from Kabul.

Wardak has been active in Afghan domestic politics for the past 20 years, and also served as a minister in former President Hamid Karzai's government.

The seven members of the Commission of Liaison and Repatriation of Afghan Personalities, comprising acting ministers, are persuading Afghans to return to their homeland, Karimi said.

Wardak understands how difficult it is to be a refugee, the spokesman said, adding that Afghans living as refugees in other countries should know that they will be treated with more respect in their home country.

“We are open to welcoming all Afghans,” he added.

Meanwhile, the commission in a tweet said Wardak's return was made possible due to the combined efforts of its members, which is headed by Sheikh Shahabuddin Dilawar, the acting minister of mines and petroleum.

The commission also released photos of Wardak being received at the Kabul airport.

"I am extremely glad to return to Afghanistan," Wardak told local media, confirming that members of the committee had urged him to come back as soon as possible.

According to footage run by Pajhwok Afghan News, he said: “I want to be with my people and serve them.”

"I want to use whatever experience I have in local and international affairs for my people," he added.

"War is not a solution to any problem. Those who continue to talk about war should be aware that it means destruction and killings," he said in response to a query.

“Afghanistan is home of the Afghan people, and we all must work together to build our country,” Wardak said.

Commenting on education, he said: "Islam has granted equal rights to men and women to receive education, and I am hopeful that the doors to girls' education would open soon."

According to Afghan media, Amanullah Ghalib, the former chief of Da Afghanistan Breshna Shirkat, or the electricity department, has also returned to the country.

Earlier, Intezar Khadim, a National Security Council member, and Hassan Mubarak Azizi, a former acting transport minister and army spokesman, came back.

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