Parliament Commission: ONSC ‘Interfering’ in Security Affairs

The head of the Afghan Parliament’s internal security commission on Tuesday accused the Office of National Security Council (ONSC) of incompetence, saying interference by the ONSC in the affairs of the country’s security agencies is complicating the war effort on the battlefield.

Khan Agha Rezaee, the head of Parliament’s internal security commission, said that officials from the security institutions do not have enough authority to act, stating that all affairs in the security entities are being monitored by the ONSC.

“The interference which exists today has led to the inability of the security and defense forces, they (NSC) shouldn’t be allowed to do so, they must only give suggestions and conduct monitoring,” said Khan Agha Rezaee, the head of Parliament’s internal security commission.

Although there has been no official comment from the ONSC regarding the allegations, legal experts have said that the ONSC is a policy-making and consultative institution, adding that dismissals and appointments in the security sector by the concerned institution are in contrast to the prevailing laws of the country.

The Afghan president has authority over the ONSC. However, the monitoring of decisions made by the council is done by the secretary, who answers to the National Security Adviser Hamdullah Mohib.

“What can resolve the issue is the structure of management and leadership. The Office of the National Security Council has changed into a 21st-century institution,” said Ashraf Ghani in March.

However, the Parliament’s internal security commission says that Mohib has monopolized all the responsibilities and authorities of the security officials and that this interference has led to disharmony among the nation’s security entities.

“The plan that was carried out to appoint 100 district police chiefs and deploy them in the districts was not professional,” said Daud Amin, a former police commander in Khost who was recently dismissed from his job.

Mohib has long been presiding over and leading the meetings of the heads of the security agencies.

The last press conference held by Mohib occurred three weeks ago.

Meetings attended by the country’s security and defense officials at Mohib’s office are held on a weekly basis to answer the questions raised by the media.

Despite repeated attempts, TOLOnews’ reporter did not manage to get a comment from Mohib’s office. But the former police commander of Khost province who was recently dismissed from his job has strongly criticized the way the ONSC undertakes the appointments of district governors and district police chiefs.

“By no means is the National Security Adviser allowed to issue appointments or dismissals or issue orders to the security forces,” said legal expert Rohullah Sakhizada.

In the past two decades, four people including Zalmay Rassoul, Rangin Dadafar Spanta, Mohammad Hanif Atmar, and the incumbent Hamdullah Mohib have served as National Security Adviser.