West asked to recognise Taliban govt, accept defeat

KABUL (Pajhwok): A former head of the British military says Western countries need to acknowledge losing the war in Afghanistan and recognise the Taliban government.

Gen. Lord David Richards said in an interview on Monday that the West nust work with the new Afghan rulers to prevent mass starvation in the war-devastated country.

He asked governments to show magnanimity in defeat and compassion for the wellbeing of 40 million people of Afghanistan — currently in the grip of a grave humanitarian crisis.

Gen. Richards told the BBC there were people within the Taliban government that the United Kingdom and other countries could work with.

“I think the West is going to end up recognising the Taliban government. If that’s the case, then we’d better get on with it sooner rather than later,” he added.

The ex-chief of the defence staff commented: “There’s a great phrase to be magnanimous in victory. I think this is an occasion for us to be magnanimous in defeat.”

Sir David Richards commanded British troops in Afghanistan in 2006 before his elevation as chief of the defence staff.

PAN Monitor/mud