Members of the Wolesi Jirga (the Lower House of Parliament) on Sunday welcomed the recent move by some politicians to put aside their differences in a bid to ease tension within government.

This comes after the foreign ministry announced on Saturday that acting foreign minister Salahuddin Rabbani wouldaccompany President Ashraf Ghani to the 72nd session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York this week.

In the recent months, relations between Ghani and Rabbani have reportedly been strained and the two have disagreed on a range of issued.  

In addition to Ghani and Rabbani’s stand-off, Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah met with Balkh governor Atta Mohammad Noor on Saturday in Mazar-e-Sharif following a period of soured relations between them.

MPs welcomed these moves and said if government’s high-ranking officials put aside their differences and work together for the welfare of the people, the situation in Afghanistan will improve.

“The president, based on his remarks that he had made, has started talking with his critics in recent days and this is good news,” said MP Nisar Haris.

“I thank the president, CEO and politicians for their patience. I hope to see such agreements and good relationships with General (Abdul Rashid) Dostum,” MP Gulalai Akbari said.

But some MPs have said politicians stand against each other based on personal interests and not for the good of the people or the country.

“As I see, 80 percent of them are following their personal interests; not the interests of the people or society,” Mirbat Khan Mangal, another MP said.

The head of the Meshrano Jirga (Upper House of Parliament) meanwhile blamed both officials from central and localgovernment for creating problems resulting in political standoffs.

“It is clear that central and local government officials have their own problems ,” senate head Fazlulhadi Muslimyar said.

MPs also said sometimes politicians create ethnic tensions among the people and officials.