| AFGHAN CHIEF MEETS LOCAL MP |
| Friday, 23 February 2007 | |
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John Pugh met last week in his constituency office with Ajmal Khan, paramount chief of the Pashtoun tribe in Afghanistan. Pashtouns although the largest ethnic grouping in Afghanistan are frozen out of the Afghani government. John and Ajmal are accompanied by local man David Simpson, a lifelong friend of Ajmal's family, who lived in Afghanistan for many years. "Ajmal has come over here to try to persuade the British government to revise their policy. He fears that a corrupt government in Kabul and ham fisted American bombing of villages in the tribal areas is simply driving the people into the hands of the Taliban. "Having been educated in Canada, he believes strongly that British and Afghans can co-operate to revive the country's economy and wean people away from poppy growing and heroin production. "It is a privilege to meet such a positive and brave man." Ajmal travels continually with bodyguards in his own country in constant fear of assassination. John has tabled questions to the Foreign Office about corruption in the current Afghan government which are due to be answered on the floor of the house this Tuesday and hopes to introduce Ajmal to other MPs down in Westminster next week. Photo:John with Ajmal Khan and David Simpson |