Talking with Taliban on inclusive govt: Imran Khan

KABUL (Pajhwok): Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan has said he has initiated talks with the Taliban on forming an inclusive government in Afghanistan.

The statement from Imran Khan came in a tweet after the conclusion of the 20th Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Council of Heads of State (SCO-CHS) Summit.

Regional leaders, including Imran, discussed the situation in Afghanistan at the Summit in Dushanbe, capital of Tajikistan on Friday. Russia, China, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, India and Pakistan are permanent members of the organization.

Iran which was an observatory member of the organization was also accepted as permanent member in the meeting.

Imran Khan, after the meeting, in a tweet said, “After meetings in Dushanbe with leaders of Afghanistan's neighbours and especially a lengthy discussion with Tajikistan's President EmomaliRahmon, I have initiated a dialogue with the Taliban for an inclusive Afghan government to include Tajiks, Hazaras and Uzbeks.”

“After 40 years of conflict, this inclusivity will ensure peace and a stable Afghanistan, which is in the interest not only of Afghanistan but the region as well,” he said in a second tweet.

Khan did not provide further details about his dialogues and neither the Taliban commented so far on the regard.

Taliban took control of Kabul on August 15 and the movement is now in control of the whole country. The Taliban had said that they would form an inclusive government which would be acceptable to all political parties and people of the country.

Some countries criticized the Taliban’s interim government which was announced on September 7. These countries say it was not an inclusive government as women and minorities were not given any participation in it.

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