KABUL (Pajhwok): Hezb-i-Mahaz-i-Milli Islami leader Syed Hamid Gilani on Saturday suggested the armed opposition should also be included in the national unity process.

Speaking exclusively to Pajhwok Afghan News, Gilani said the unity government, led by President Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai, had been formed and stability was among the administration’s top priorities.

Referring to the creation of the Chief Executive Officer position, the politician said the step had been taken in the larger national interest as a strong foundation to guarantee national unity.

“I am hopeful the CEO experiment would make Afghanistan inclusive to absorb those left out of the national unity process,” Gilani said in a reference to the insurgents.

He hoped the Ahmadzai-led government would take effective steps towards ensuring peace and stability as the president had pledged. He said his party would support every step aimed at strengthening national unity.

Gilani said his party backed Ahmadzai during the presidential election because he had a strong commitment to honouring his promises.

He said Ahmadzai had promised a serious fight against corruption and remained loyal to his pledge and had started taking practical steps to eliminate the menace.

A strong and responsible government could enable the president to steer the nation out of all challenges and misfortunes, believed the spiritual leader.

Hamid Gilani said President Ahmadzai had devised short-term, mid-term and long-term projects, which would put the country on the path to development and prosperity once implemented.

To a question about the government’s performance over the past three weeks, he said an administration could not be judged in such a short span of time, but hoped the government would continue to perform with the same seriousness and commitment.

“We can see him (Ahmadzai) standing firm on his pledges and has started taking practical measures. We strongly support him,” he said.

About the capture of Anas Haqqani, a son of Jalaluddin Haqqani, leader of the Pakistan-based Haqqani Network, Gilani said Afghan security forces had been strengthened and were able to conduct precise operations.

He said the arrest of Anas Haqqani revealed the ability of Afghan forces. However, Gilani explained Anas Haqqani’s name had not been heard in the context of the network’s activities and the country’s judicial organs would decide his fate.

He said President Ashraf Ghani had promised drastic reforms in the justice sector and attorney offices to enable people to receive what they deserve.

ma/mud