Not eyeing monopoly on power but coalition govts futile: Taliban

KABUL (Pajhwok): Taliban say they do not want monopoly on power, but are also against coalition governments which had proven futile throughout the history of Afghanistan.

Dr. Mohammad Naeem, Taliban’s spokesman for Qatar office, tweeted that the group’s deputy chief negotiator, Abbas Stanikzai and his delegation met with envoys of the United States, the United Nations, Germany, Italy, France, the United Kingdom, and Norway in a video conference on Friday about the Afghan peace process.

He said that the Taliban delegation talked about the group’s policy, political solution to the Afghan conflict and other key issues during the meeting.

“It is Taliban’s policy since the beginning that problems should be solved through talks, the Taliban were ready for intra-Afghan talks 10 days after the Doha agreement, but the other side prolonged the process to six months, we would have much progress now,” he said.

“We hope that we will solve problems through negotiations. It is important that barriers in front of the negotiations should be removed, leaders of the Taliban and the group members should be removed from the blacklist,” he added.

Naeem said that all promises made in the Doha agreement should be implemented, particularly the release of Taliban prisoners.

He said the Taliban don’t want monopoly on power, adding that they wanted a system that could reflect the wishes and aspirations of all Afghans.

He stressed in order to prevent chaos and instability, there is need for a strong Islamic government to be established which could protect the independence and territorial integrity of country and every individual is made accountable to the law.

Naeem said historically in the world or Afghanistan participatory government comprised of some political parties did not produce positive outcome.

He recalled the international community offered Afghanistan with billions of dollars of assistance but the money ended up in pockets of few individuals.

He said: “Afghanistan is home to all Afghans and we promise to have peaceful and stable Afghanistan for all. We assure our sisters that their Islamic and cultural rights would be preserved. Our sisters, mothers and international community should not be worried in this regard.”

He said the Taliban also assured all foreign diplomats, journalists and humanitarian workers of safety and security in the next phase, they should not feel concerned, added Naeem.

He said in future system of Afghanistan, all Afghans would enjoy freedom of expression and their rights under an Islamic system and framework of national interest.

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