QUETTA, Dec 5: Pakhtoon and Baloch tribal elders, religious leaders and Afghan commanders of Helman province while welcoming the appointment of Hamid Karzai as head of the interim setup, has assured allout help and cooperation for establishing a strong and stable government in Afghanistan.

Speaking at a Press Conference here on Tuesday, Mullah Ata Mohammad, head of the Shoora, expressed the hope that the interim setup would succeed in restoring peace and order to the war-torn country.

“People of Afghanistan are fed up with the continuous fighting. They want complete peace and rebuilding of their country,” he said, adding that with the help of all groups Mr Karzai would be able to restore peace in the country.

He said that both Baloch and Pakhtoon tribal elders, religious leaders and commanders had unanimously formed this Shoora and decided to send a representative delegation to the Kandahar for holding talks with Taliban leadership for a peaceful transfer of power to the tribal elders of Helman province.

He said fighting was not a solution to any problem and it was also not in the interest of the Afghanistan and Taliban themselves. He said the Shoora did not want fighting and it would make all possible efforts to resolve the problem through negotiations.

He said fighting would only increase the difficulties of the Afghans who had been facing bloodshed and destruction for the last 22 years.

Mullah Ata Mohammad expressed the hope that Taliban would realise the situation and hand over the remaining provinces, including Kandahar, Helmand and Zabul to the tribal elders in the larger interest of the people of Afghanistan.

He said that Helmand province was still under the control of the Taliban administration and only two out of 11 districts of the province were being run by local Shoora comprising tribal and religious leaders.

Mullah Ata Mohammad warned that no group would be allowed to enter the Helmand province without consulting the Shoora. “We will not allow any tribal group to enter Helmand for fighting,” he said adding that they would make all possible efforts for a peaceful takeover of Helmand and other remaining provinces.

Maulana Mohammad Khaliq, Mohammad Hasni Baloch and Saeed Sanjrani Baloch also spoke on the occasion and said that they would fully cooperate with the Shoora.