MPs Blame Taliban for Rise in Violence as US Exit Begins
Lawmakers in the Wolesi Jirga, the lower house of Parliament, blamed the Taliban for the increase in violence and said that hundreds of civilians and security force members are killed in clashes every day as US troops are leaving.
The lawmakers expected heads of security agencies to appear on Monday session, but the officials had traveled to Ghazni and the session was postponed for Wednesday.
The US started the withdrawal of its troops from Afghanistan on May 1st. On Sunday, US forces handed over a military camp to Afghan forces in Helmand province.
Lawmakers Divided Over Changes in 3rd Budget Draft
Some lawmakers, including the deputy speaker of the Afghan parliament, on Monday said that the third draft of the current fiscal year’s budget does not include the amendments they requested.
Lawmakers said they see a 0.5% change in the entire draft, adding that it will be shameful” if the draft is approved.
“The third draft is not different than the second draft, but the government continues to add billions of afghanis to the codes,” said Mirza Mohammad Katawazi, the first deputy speaker of the Wolesi Jirga, the Lower House of the Parliament.
NSC to Oversee Defense, Security Projects’ Procurement
The National Security Council (NSC) will oversee the procurement process for projects of security and defense institutions based on a decision by the National Procurement Authority, officials of the authority said Sunday.
The decision is intended to expedite the procurement process and implementation of projects, the officials said.
“In order to make sure that these projects are processed on time, the National Security Council was assigned to monitor the procedure,” said Ramin Ayaz, spokesman for National Procurement Authority.
“The establishment of a new department has been proposed within the framework of the National Procurement Authority to expedite the procurement process of security and defense institutions,” said Rahmatullah Andar, spokesman for the NSC.