Afghan leader offers Taliban a political path to peace

APD NEWS

text

Afghanistan has offered the Taliban a path to political legitimacy if it joins talks aimed at ending 16 years of war.

President Ghani has proposed a ceasefire and the release of prisoners under a peace plan which would include new elections at which the Taliban would run as a political party. The government, which is backed by the West, would also open a Taliban office in Kabul, work to lift sanctions against its leaders and offer visas to members and their families.

Mr Ghani’s framework for talks shows a willingness to negotiate with the Taliban’s high command, which is under growing international pressure to help return Afghanistan to stability. On Monday the group invited the United States to talks for a “peaceful solution” to the conflict — suspending its usual demand that foreign troops leave Afghanistan first — but it has yet to countenance direct negotiations with Kabul.

Speaking at at an international conference this morning, Mr Ghani said that the Afghan government would enter talks with “no preconditions”.

He said: “A ceasefire should be held, the Taliban should be recognised as a political party and trust-building process should be initiated. Now the decision is in your hands. Accept peace, and let’s bring stability to this country.”

Mr Ghani said that the process would be accompanied by diplomatic support, including a global effort to persuade Pakistan of the advantages of a stable Afghanistan. Kabul accuses its neighbour of helping the Taliban.

In return the Taliban would have to recognise the government and respect the rule of law.

More than half of Afghanistan is controlled or contested by Islamists after a three-year advance during which US-trained Afghan forces have buckled.

The Pentagon stepped up airstrikes last year and is planning a huge onslaught on the Taliban when its fighting season starts in April, partly in the hope that mass casualties will push Taliban commanders into talks with Kabul.

Civilian casualties have risen in recent months as the Taliban targets towns and cities in response to President Trump’s aggressive military strategy. Last year 3,000 civilians were killed and 7,000 were wounded, according to the United Nations. More than half of the casualties were attributed to the Taliban or Islamist fighters aligned to Islamic State.

(THETIMES)