The electronic National Identity Card (e-NIC) department said the politicization of the word “Afghan” is the reason for the suspension of the identity card roll out process.

According to the department, at least $70 million USD has been spent on the process so far. 

“There is no issue in administrative affairs of the e-NIC. The absence of the word Afghan on the identity cards is the main problem which has created an obstacle for the e-NIC rollout,” head of the e-NIC department Zemarai Bahir said.

Meanwhile, the CEO’s office said there is no technical issue in this respect. 

“The e-NIC rollout is one of the political issues within government. There is no technical or legal issue in this respect. People’s concerns have delayed the process,” the CEO’s deputy spokesman Jawed Faisal said.

Head of a civil society association Aziz Rafiee meanwhile criticized government over the delay in the process. 

“How can the issue of e-NIC be non-political in a country where language, ethnic groups and religion are political?” Rafiee said.