Liberal Demokratic Party of Afghanistan
Hürderstrasse 4 - D-85551 Kirchheim - Germany - Fax 0049 (0) 89 - 329 21 73

info@afghanistan-jamhuriat.com

Total members: 117.524 (26 June 2017)

 

 

 

Dear ladies and gentlemen,

Over the past few days, it was announced that farmers in Afghanistan have been facing heavy losses this year, as their fresh fruit and vegetable crops, including pomegranates, have not sold as well as expected compared to previous years. The reason given was that our neighbour Pakistan raised tariffs on fresh fruit from Afghanistan this year.

When we take over the government, we will encourage a trade agreement with our neighbour Pakistan that will be in the interest of both countries. We would expect to be able to agree on a tariff exemption for fresh fruit and vegetable imports between the two countries. Of course, this would be an offer for Pakistan to decide on at its own discretion. But all the poor farmers in both countries will especially benefit from it. The farmers in Afghanistan and Pakistan are mostly small landowners who depend on the proceeds from the sale of their crops to feed their families. Such an agreement could also secure a large number of jobs in both countries. It would also achieve another objective, namely to keep prices affordable for the majority of the population, so that not only the rich, but also the poor people of Afghanistan and Pakistan could all afford to buy fresh fruit and vegetables.

Pakistan is home to the EDHI Foundation, founded in 1951 one of the world's largest aid organisation. This organisation provides out-patient assistance and charity, cares for people in need, orphans, women who have suffered violence, etc. The foundation organises the transport and treatment of those who are sick and also funerals for the poor. It also operates hospitals, including cancer clinics, women's shelters, soup kitchens, orphans’ homes, etc. As soon as we take over the government, we will set up a relief organisation based in Afghanistan with the same EDHI Foundation name. It will be financed by the Afghan state.

It was recently learned that some diplomats from the Pakistan embassy in Kabul were being treated rudely on the street. A motorcyclist deliberately hit and damaged a diplomatic car from the Pakistani embassy. We hereby warn the failed Afghan government against acts of provocation against the Pakistani embassy in Kabul. We demand respectful treatment of the Pakistani embassy officials in Afghanistan. The failed Afghan government should not be constantly accusing Pakistan of escalating the conflicts, when, in fact, they are also complicit.

Saudi Arabia is one of the friends of Afghanistan and has always supported our country in good times and bad. We wish to thank His Majesty King Salman for the generous and repeated assistance given to the poor in Afghanistan. We also wish to express our thanks and praise for his son Prince Mohammad bin Salman for his excellent reform policy. He is a nice and very good top-level politician. Respect for women's rights and rejection of violence against women are issues that are close to his heart. He has therefore worked to reform the rights of women in Saudi Arabia. Women may now obtain driving licenses, go to films, concerts, and sports stadiums, and can travel abroad without any male accompaniment. The prince's reform policy on women's rights will certainly be a role model for us in Afghanistan. We will continue to develop our friendly relations with Saudi Arabia in the future.

As far as women's rights in Afghanistan are concerned, it should be noted that as early as 1919 King Amanullah Khan introduced liberal rights for women in Afghanistan. Women in Afghanistan should know that they can now claim their liberal without fear of anyone. They can decide for themselves if they want to appear in public with a headscarf, a burka, or without head covering.

With regard to corruption in Afghanistan, we would like to mention that in the case of our government, we will severely punish both the corrupt officials who have accepted bribes and those who promote corruption by offering such bribes.

Best regards

Hayattullah Maiwand

1.Chairmain of FDPA