NANGARHAR - Community elders and leaders from Afghanistan’s eastern provinces, who gathered in Jalalabad, the capital of Nangarhar province last week, said that security situation was deteriorating and this might affect next year’s elections.

Speaking at the gathering attended by thousands of people, a Member of Parliament, Fraidoon Mumand, said the worsening security situation has spurred instability extend from districts to cities.

“If the local authorities of Nangarhar have no capacity to ensure security, the elders can raise the issue with us so that we can discuss it at the central level, with President [Hamid] Karzai and the Wolesi Jirga (Lower House of Parliament),” said Mr. Mumand.

Another Member of Parliament, Hazrat Ali, the local elders should support the government in order to improve the security situation.

While pledging support to the government, one of the elders representing Kunar, Laghman and Nuristan provinces said, “Many people will not take part in the upcoming election, if security is not improved in the districts.”

The head of Nangarhar provincial peace council, Haji Malek Nazeer, called on the elders, once again, to encourage anti-government elements to stop fighting and to join peace and reconciliation programme.

Source: Independent Sharq TV