A view of Kabul, the centre of Afghanistan’s social and political life. Photo UNAMA/Fardin Waezi
Afghanistan’s President Ashraf Ghani has made unconditional peace talks offer to the warring group Taliban, saying negotiations could help end 16-years long war.
He proposed a series of steps like ceasefire and release of prisoners as part of a radically new plan to save his country from further bloodshed and chaos.
Ghani’s offer of options include new elections, involving the militants, and a constitutional review as part of a pact with the Taliban, according to media reports.
“We are making this offer without preconditions in order to lead to a peace agreement,” Ghani said in opening remarks to an international conference attended by officials from around 25 countries involved in the Kabul Process.
According to Reuters news agency, the comments represented a significant shift for Ghani, who in the past has regularly called the Taliban “terrorists” and “rebels” although he has also offered to talk with parts of the movement that accepted peace.
Afghan President Ashraf Ghani Photo: DFID – UK Department for International Development/ Wikimedia Commons
“The Taliban show awareness of these contextual shifts and seem to be engaged in a debate on the implications of acts of violence for their future,” he said.
The Afghan president said a framework for peace negotiations should be created with the Taliban recognized as a legitimate group, with their own political office to handle negotiations in Kabul or another agreed location.
According to media reports, some Taliban officials have acknowledged that they have faced pressure from friendly countries to accept talks and said their recent offers to talk to the United States reflected concern that they could be seen to be standing in the way of peace.
Ghani said the process would be accompanied by coordinated diplomatic support including a global effort, also making a talks offer to neighboring Pakistan.
