Azerbaijan, Baku, Aug. 18 / Trend , T.Konyayeva/
Respect for the law must prevail at all levels and branches of government when building a peaceful and democratic society in Afghanistan, but emblematic figures, such as General Abdul Rashid Dostum, have proven that they are not willing to follow the letter of the law, an American expert believes.
"If Afghanistan to become a peaceful and democratic society, rule of law should prevail without exception," Program Officer (Afghanistan) of United States Institute of Peace (USIP) Barmak Pazhwak wrote to Trend in an email. "Without this pre-condition there won't be a peaceful and stable Afghanistan."
However, he believes General Dostum, like many other strongmen who have been involved in the last thirty year of war in the country, have proven time and again that they are not prepared to live as law abiding citizens.
The leader of ethnic Uzbeks who disgraced Field General Abdul Rashid Dostum has returned to Afghanistan from Turkey several days before the presidential election. General Dostum lived in exile in Turkey almost for a year, when he was accused of attacking his political opponent, Akbar Bay. A suit was field on the genera and he was removed from the heads of the General Staff under President Karzai.
Experts believe that General Abdul Rashid Dostum came to power by violent means in the early 1980's. At the beginning he supported the Communist government in Kabul and then in the early 1990's, participated in the civil war, during which he had entered into alliances with the various warring factions.
Moreover, Dostum is considered involved in war crimes and human rights violations. The matter is about a mass execution of the Talib militants in late 2001, who surrendered to Northern Alliance - a coalition of military forces of the U.S. and Afghan warlords, one of which was Dostum. Since 2002, Dostum has been blamed for the death of Talibs who were in his captivity.
According to Deutsche Welle, the U.S. government condemned Dostum's return to Afghanistan, because, they believe this step will not improve the situation in the region.
Pazhwak also noted this is the greatest danger that they pose to the country's future.
However, political analysts believe General Dostum's return to Afghanistan can mean for the current government as strengthening President Hamid Karzai's position in the upcoming August 20 elections, because in early summer, Dustum formally declared his support for Karzai in the elections, which in turn may provide him with votes of ethnic Uzbeks living in northern Afghanistan. In response, Karzai canceled its order, issued in February last year to suspend the powers of General Dostum.
Press secretary of the presidential administration Hamed Elmi said that General Dostum still occupies a key position in government, and military leadership of the country, and there are no obstacles for his return to the country.
"If the Justice Ministry is submitted the relevant documents proving the legality of the charges against General Dostum, they will be carefully considered," Hamed Elmi told Trend in a telephone conversation. "The Afghan Justice Ministry is working independently from the government."
He also added that currently the Justice Ministry has not received such requests, and so there is no reason to prohibit Dostum to return to Afghanistan.
But Pazhwak believes there should be an end to impunity where the victims can hold into account the perpetrators of war crimes, because this is very important for sustaining peace and security in the country.