Ghani rules out govt collapse, Taliban’s return to power

KABUL (Pajhwok): President Ashraf Ghani has ruled out the collapse of his government, saying the Taliban could not return to power.

In an interview with the BBC on Monday, the president said: “This is not a government that is collapsing”, despite mounting attacks by the insurgents across the country.

The president skirted the query how longer he would need the support of international troops stationed in Afghanistan.

At a meeting last week, NATO foreign ministers delayed a decision on withdrawing troops by the May deadline, agreed between the US and the Taliban in their peace deal signed last year.

It was time for the Taliban to demonstrate their commitment to bringing peace and stability to the country, Ghani believed.

He said: “It is time for the Taliban and their supporters to show the same will for seeking peace as they have demonstrated for seeking conflict.”

Afghanistan’s future would be shaped by its people, not by somebody sitting behind the desk, dreaming, he commented.

Asked if the Taliban could seize power militarily, he relied the rebels had tried but failed in their efforts. Afghanistan would not collapse as it was not Vietnam, he asserted.

PAN Monitor/mud

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