In an exclusive interview with TOLOnews, Presidential candidate Qutbuddin Helal discussed a number of hot-button issues, including the Kabul-Washington security pact, the role of women in society and suicide attacks.
Above all else, Helal said reconciliation should be the top priority going into the Loya Jirga in which the Bilateral Security Agreement (BSA) will be discussed. The Jirga, comprised of some 3,000 leaders from around the country, is expected to make a recommendation to the National Assembly on how to vote on the accord.
"I hope that the advisory council thinks about reconciliation...they should be free and not be under pressures," he said.
Peace talks with the Taliban have been a top priority for the Hamid Karzai administration in the last year of his tenure as President. He has increasingly spoken to and about the insurgents in a conciliatory tone, even pushing a strategy of releasing detained militants in order to build goodwill ahead of possible negotiations.
On Saturday, Karzai reiterated a call to the anti-government groups of the Taliban and Hezb-e-Islami, which Helal is a part of, to participate in the Jirga and weigh in on the issue of the BSA. However, both groups condemned the gathering and the pact, saying even the consideration of prolonging the involvement of the U.S. military in Afghan affairs was a crime against the country.
In his interview with TOLOnews, Helal questioned the merits have having foreign troops remain in Afghanistan after the NATO combat mission ends in 2014, which is a provision of the BSA.
"The foreigners are here now, and what are the benefits? The war continues and violence is increasing day-by-day," Helal said.
The Presidential candidate also spoke about the role of women in Afghan society, which has changed dramatically since the days of the Taliban. Helal used Islam to explain the important role of women.
"Women have the position of mother, sister and honor...women have a high position in Islam," he said.
On the subject of suicide attacks, Helal seemed somewhat of an apologist. He argued the suicide attacks carried out by insurgents were simply responses to the attacks foreign forces carried out against them.
Helal previously served as one of the top leaders of Hezb-e-Islami under Gulbadin Hekmatyar. He is one of the 10 Presidential candidates who made the Independent Election Commission's (IEC) preliminary list a few weeks ago.
TOLOnews will be conducting interviews with each one of the Presidential candidates in the coming weeks.
To watch the full interview with Helal click here:
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