The Taliban Responds to Ankara Meeting: Afghanistan Is Safe and No One Is Allowed to Fight

In response to the meeting in Ankara of tens of prominent political figures at Marshal Abdul Rashid Dostum’s residence, Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid stated that Afghanistan is now safe and that war would not be allowed if anyone intended it.

On Thursday, May 19th, the Taliban spokesman emphasized that anyone who intend to wage war will not be allowed in, but that if anyone tries to improve security and stability in the country, the Taliban will not object.

Meanwhile, on Tuesday evening, May 17, some 40 prominent Afghan political figures and leaders of influential parties gathered at Marshal Abdul Rashid Dostum’s house in the Turkish capital, Ankara, to discuss the present situation in Afghanistan.

The formation of the Supreme Council of National Resistance for the Salvation of Afghanistan and support for the war against the Taliban in Panjshir and Baghlan has been making headlines since the Ankara meeting.

Although the senior officials at the Ankara meeting have not formally confirmed the latter (supporting the war against the Taliban), one member revealed to Voice of America, anonymously, that party leaders and politicians invited to the event had supported the fight against the Taliban.

Members of the Ankara Meeting passed a declaration at the end of the seven-hour discussion, urging the Taliban to refrain from further the devastation of Afghanistan and to negotiate a settlement.

The Supreme Council of National Resistance for the Salvation of Afghanistan is attempting to build an inclusive government based on negotiation principles, but if that fails, it will pursue a second alternative, which is war and armed confrontation with the Taliban, according to the resolution.

Zabihullah Mujahid, in response to the Ankara meeting’s resolution, stated that the Taliban have opened the door to reconciliation, and hopefully it is effective, as a commission has recently begun to engage with politicians and others who have left Afghanistan.

Another Taliban commission, the Return and Communications with Former Afghan Officials and Political Figures Commission, operates. Anas Haqqani, a member of the commission, previously claimed that the Taliban had returned to Afghanistan with about 50 political figures, including former government ministers.

However, political experts believe that the Taliban can only engage with prominent politicians if they demonstrate flexibility.

A political expert, Assadullah Zaeri, told the media that the Taliban must first adopt a more logical and rational stance before engaging in negotiations to resolve their issues.

However, based on the Taliban’s conduct over the last nine months, experts believe they have broken practically every promise they made, making it more difficult to begin negotiations.

For the previous nine months, the Taliban has barred girls from attending school. Many restrictions on the imposition of the hijab, as well as a travel ban for women, are among the concerns that may affect the start of negotiations.

Despite their commitment to human rights, the Taliban denied women’s social and employment freedoms, and former soldiers and journalists were detained, tortured, and killed despite the Taliban’s promise of amnesty.

All of these concerns relating to the Taliban’s nine-month activity, according to experts, make it impossible to begin negotiations with the Ankara-Taliban meeting attendees.

The post The Taliban Responds to Ankara Meeting: Afghanistan Is Safe and No One Is Allowed to Fight appeared first on The Khaama Press News Agency.