Governor of Balkh Province accused Hezb-e-Islami for Suicide Bombing in his Area.

Ustad Atta Mohammad Noor governor of Balkh Province who was one of trusted commanders of Ahmad Shah Massoud, Northern Alliance’s leader, accused Anti Western Hezb-e-Islam, for all savageries and suicide attacks in Balkh province.

He also mentioned that Hezb-e-Islam assassinated Mawlawei Mohammad Aslam in the Cultural city of Mazar-e-Sharif, few days ago.

Mr. Aslam was one of the most famous elders in Mazar city who was also the chief of the Islamic Union.

The Al Qaeda and the Taliban tried few times to kill Mr. Aslam but they failed since Aslam had many speeches against them in the central mosques of Mazar.

Mr. Aslam requested from the youths do not pay attention to the propaganda spread by Al Qaeda nor join their terrorist activities.

Unfortunately, this time Hezb-e-Islami’s group targeted him while he was walking into the mosque for Friday prayer.

Atta Mohammad Noor is the most educated governor in Afghanistan. His province is always mentioned in Western Media as a peaceful province

Mr. Atta was a schoolteacher before the Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan. Atta Joined the Mujaheedin (Holy Fighters) against the Soviet occupation.

Shortly Atta Mohammad was hired as the leader of the Northern cities by Ustad Burhanuddin Rabbani, former President of Afghanistan and leader of Jamiat-e Islami Afghanistan (Islamic Society of Afghanistan), which is an Islamic modern party, and anti Al Qaeda-Taliban.

Moreover Mr. Atta received many recommendations from Ahmad Shah Massoud and became known as the most active commander in northern cities while fighting against the Soviets and Al Qaeda-Taliban.

On May 13/2007 William Wood, the newly appointed U.S. ambassador to Afghanistan, Visited Mazar-e-Sharif, the capital of Balkh.

According to the statistics, there was no poppy left in Balkh," he told reporters.

"We have asked the U.S. Congress to provide generous economic assistance for Balkh as a reward."

Many observers question why, when Balkh becomes successful, other provinces remain firmly committed to the poppy trade.

Mr. Atta acknowledged that the government has an obligation to the farmers.

"We have completely eliminated poppy from Balkh," he said. "We have made commitments and we have to keep them.

Atta Mohammad Noor has always been the main target of Al Qaeda suicide attacks. It has been a few times that the attackers have arrested before assassinating him.

Mr. Atta Noor is an ethnic Tajik politician who was born in Balkh Province.

Balkh Province is the only city where people have electricity and hundreds of schools have been established for the girls and a central University was also built. Students also enjoy visiting a new built modern library too. Also Balkh is the only province in Afghanistan that women are shopkeepers.

On July 17 Mr. Atta asked the central government to allow the province to use their budgets independently. He also criticized some ministries and NGOs for launching reconstruction projects without consulting the provincial government. These remarks were made during a meeting of the Afghanistan National Development Strategy (ANDS), which was attended by representatives of various ministries and residents to approve 80 uplift projects.

Mr. Atta said a province must be given the right to spend the budget as well as a provincial governor should be consulted while launching reconstruction projects in the province. Without naming any one, the governor said several ministries were incapable of properly executing the developmental projects and donors must directly sign contracts with the provincial government instead with a ministry. The governor also criticized some NGOs for working on unauthorized projects in Balkh. He said some NGOs did not bother to take permission from the provincial authorities before launching a project.