Homegrown solution was best option: Massoud

 
KABUL (Pajhwok): Presidential advisor on tribal and border affairs Shahzada Massoud on Wednesday said Afghanistan was home to jirgas and the election crisis should have been resolved through an intra-Afghan understanding.
The election crisis deepened after presidential candidate Abdullah Abdullah rejected preliminary results from the June 14 presidential runoff and declared himself the winner.
Before the results that put presidential runner Ashraf Ghani in the lead, Abdullah had accused Ghani and President Karzai of massively rigging the polls.
However, US Secretary of State John Kerry, who arrived in Kabul on Friday, was able to resolve differences between the two candidates until Saturday.
Both the candidates reached agreement on audit of all votes and the formation of a government of national unity, thanks to Kerry’s and the UN’s efforts.
Shahzada Massoud told Pajhwok Afghan News during an interview that in Afghanistan, there were highly influential figures who had always resolved tribal and regional issues.
“The election crisis should have been resolved through intra-Afghan understanding. There was no need for foreigners to resolve Afghanistan’s internal issues and unnecessarily become heroes,” the presidential advisor said.
He said the Afghans made history by turning out in great numbers to choose their future leaders despite threats.
He said the Afghans through casting their votes wanted a peaceful transition of power but unfortunately the election process deadlocked.
However, Massoud said they welcomed Kerry’s efforts for Afghanistan’s national interest and sovereignty and resolving the election crisis in order to prevent political turmoil.
He said both the presidential hopefuls should honour their agreement on the formation of a government of national unity instead of a coalition set-up.
Massoud opposed the idea of power-sharing, saying government responsibilities should be given to eligible persons keeping in view their capacity and ability.
He said coalition governments had never yielded positive results and Afghanistan needed a government of national unity that could represent the whole nation.
ma