[Tolo News] As Afghan forces inch forward to break the Taliban's strong defense lines in a bid to retake the strategic city of Kunduz, Afghan politicians in parliament on Wednesday warned of the collapse of more cities unless so-called spies -- or fifth pillar elements within government -- are rooted out immediately.The politicians also accused the National Unity Government (NUG) of being "incompetent" and failing to protect and preserve national interests. They suggested the establishment of a defense council and the transferal to such a body of the authority currently held by the National Security Council.
Amid mounting pressure on NUG leaders over the dramatic fall of Kunduz city, some Afghan politicians suggested some government leaders need to be brought to book in the wake of deteriorating security in a number of provinces in recent months.
Kunduz city has come under heavy assault in the past three days -- after the Taliban launched a massive offensive against them in the early hours of Monday morning. All three access points leading into the city have been closed off, trapping residents inside the city limits and preventing troops from entering.
"Leaders of the National Unity Government must face trial as they failed to secure the people's lives and properties. Leaders in the Presidential Palace and Sapidar Palace (CEO Abdullah Abdullah
... the former foreign minister of the Northern Alliance government, advisor to Masood, and candidate for president against Karzai. Dr. Abdullah was born in Kabul and is half Tadjik and half Pashtun...
's office) must be stoned to death," MP Iqbal Safai said.
"When there is no capacity and management, they must offer their resignations in a civilized manner and apologize to the people of Afghanistan," another MP Kiramuddin Afzalzada said.
Rumors have meanwhile been circulating recently of so-called double agents within government. However,
the man who has no enemies isn't anybody and has never done anything...
despite growing calls for a name and shame campaign, none have as yet been identified.
"Take effort and clear the Presidential Palace of the fifth pillar elements. The fifth pillar has infiltrated inside ARG (Afghanistan's Presidential Palace) and they have become decision makers," MP Nahid Farid stated.
| "We thought Mohammad Omar Safai was the governor for the government of Afghanistan, but he served as Taliban shadow governor." |
The Afghan politicians also recommended the establishment of a defense council and said it was a necessity.
"Parliament should consider a defense committee and all authorities of national security council must be transferred to this committee, if the issue is not handled today, along with Kunduz, more provinces will collapse in the coming days," MP Fakoor Behishti said.
Reports are rife however, that after capturing Kunduz, the Taliban embarked on a looting spree and deliberately killed residents -- an accusation which is rejected by a Kunduz politician.
"As a representative of Kunduz people, I want to say that the Taliban did not loot banks and money exchangers, these are totally baseless allegations," Kunduz MP Kamal Safai said.
Reacting to Safai's statement, some other MPs said that those who openly back the Taliban in fact have links to the fifth pillar.
"Those who justify treason and looting committed by the Taliban are in-fact fifth pillar elements, the fifth pillar is at ARG (Presidential Palace), in the national assembly and in the security institutions," MP Zahir Saadat said in a retaliatory statement to Kunduz MP.
As criticism against government gathers momentum over the fall of Kunduz, the office of the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) on Wednesday rejected the existence of the fifth pillar inside government and called the collapse of Kunduz the aftermath of a plot.
"There are certain elements in many countries who commit such treason, but we reject the existence of such elements within the leadership of our national unity government," CEO front man Mujiburrahman Rahimi said.