KABUL (PAN): Presidential candidate Gul Ahmad Yama has said providing jobs to 10 million people and bringing international forces under the government's control are among his priorities. Running for the presidency as an independent candidate, he told Pajhwok Afghan News in an interview he did not have any problem with the presence of foreign troops in Afghanistan, but wanted the troops to be directly controlled by the Afghan government.

"Civilian casualties in operations by foreign forces are a result of a lack of an accurate and effective plan and coordination between them and the Afghan forces," he argued. To prevent the civilian deaths, he said, his government would evolve plans to control international forces.

A supporter of the presidential system, Yama said he would implement his policies to safeguard core national interests without damaging the interests of the countries having a military presence in Afghanistan.

"There is a great need for such policies as could enable us to bring all foreign forces under the control of the Afghan government," he emphasised. "I will do my bit to get all Afghan prisoners released from the Guantanamo Bay and Bagram Jails," he vowed. The presidential hopeful said he would integrate those armed groups into government who run by the constitution.

He revealed that he had already talked to representatives of some of the armed Taliban. "Afghan Taliban have no problem with foreign forces, but they are unhappy with Hamid Karzai government. I have spoken to some representatives of the Taliban and we have reached an agreement," Yama said, but gave no further details about the agreement. Taliban have repeatedly said they will not be ready for talks until foreign troops are left. About his plans for economy, Yama said he will make efforts to develop a balanced economy based on international assistance and domestic revenues.

The aspirants said he would work for control over the country's water resources, besides preparing land for agriculture, protecting forests, extracting mines, construction of dames and roads and other development projects as part of his manifesto. The presidential hopeful said in the first three months of his presidency, he would announce jobs for Afghans including those just returned from the neighboring countries and the disabled by launching the aforementioned projects.

Without giving detail, he criticized the current private banking system in the country, saying the system needed to be reassessed. "The banks suppose to provide job opportunities to the jobless in the country, but they are only launching prizes to their customers." He said only 10 percent of the people who had their accounts in these bank can win the prizes, while the money of 90 percent people goes in vain.

Yama vowed to promote technical education in the country in addition to increasing the number of schools and teacher training centers. He added he had planned to establish a university in each district so as the higher education could reach every youth in the country which said will result into decreased unemployment.

He said he had discussed his development plans with international community and the UN and had received a positive response. About media freedom, he said he believed in freedom of expression, but in the same time media have to understand its responsibility towards the nation and society. About his foreign policy, Yama said his foreign policy will be based on friendly relations with every nation and he will make efforts to keep the sovereignty of the state intact.

He said to follow the transitional justice project in which calls for bringing the war criminals to justice. To a question that why the people will vote him, he said during the 30 years of war that had multiple causes, he remained in the country and knew what were the reasons behind these problems and the poor nation also knew that he was the only person who can steer the country out of the crises towards peace and stability.