Dialogues with Taliban over inclusive government underway claimed Prime Minister Imran Khan on Saturday. He added that he had initiated dialogue with Taliban for an inclusive government in Afghanistan to include Tajiks, Hazaras and Uzbek ethnicities.
The prime minister, who paid a two-day visit to Tajikistan mainly to attend the SCO Summit met with the leadership of Afghanistan’s neighboring countries and including Iran, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan.
“After meetings in Dushanbe with leaders of Afghanistan’s neighbours & especially a lengthy discussion with Tajikistan’s President Emomali Rahmon, I have initiated dialogues with Taliban over an inclusive Afghan government to include Tajiks, Hazaras & Uzbeks,” the prime minister said on Twitter.
After mtgs in Dushanbe with leaders of Afghanistan's neighbours & especially a lengthy discussion with Tajikistan's President Emomali Rahmon, I have initiated a dialogue with the Taliban for an inclusive Afghan govt to include Tajiks, Hazaras & Uzbeks.
— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) September 18, 2021
He said after 40 years of conflict, this an inclusive Afghan political settlement would ensure peace and a stable Afghanistan, which was in the interest not only of Afghanistan but the region as well.
At SCO too, the prime minister had reiterated Pakistan’s stance for an inclusive government in Afghanistan representing all communities to achieve durable peace in the country.
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Positive engagement with Taliban imperative, says PM Imran Khan
Positive international engagement with Taliban is imperative, claims Prime Minister Imran Khan on Friday in the SCO summit held at Tajikistan capital Dushanbe. He added that, “There is a rare opportunity to finally end the 40 years of war in Afghanistan. This moment should not be squandered,” which reiterates the fact that it is in the national interests of the West and all the regional and neighboring countries of Afghanistan that they ensure peace in the country.
Also he added that the Taliban must fulfill the promises they have made in Afghanistan, and called on the international community to stand with the people of the war-torn country. He added that if Taliban stand firm to their pledges and in practice show their moderate face international engagement with Taliban will start in the form of international recognition and aid flowing to the country.
“The Taliban must fulfill the pledges made, above all for an inclusive political structure where all ethnic groups are represented. This is vital for Afghanistan’s stability,” he said.
The prime minister said that it was also important to ensure respect for the rights of all Afghans while ensuring that it is never again a safe haven for terrorists. Also, international engagement with Taliban will help them to rebuild the war-torn country.
Thus, after the SCO meeting, PM Khan added that dialogues with Taliban over inclusive Afghan government have initiated because it is in vital interests for all the stakeholders ranging from ethnic Afghan leaders, Afghan people, Afghanistan to Pakistan and region as a whole.
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Envisioning a peaceful, stable Afghanistan through dialogues with Taliban
He said that Pakistan, which had suffered due to the spillover of conflict and instability in the neighbouring country, had an interest in a peaceful and stable Afghanistan.
“We will continue to support a stable, sovereign and prosperous Afghanistan,” he said.
Commenting on the situation in Afghanistan, PM Imran said that a “new reality” had been established after the Taliban takeover and withdrawal of foreign troops.
“That all this happened without bloodshed, without civil war, and without a mass exodus of refugees, should be a matter of relief.
“It is now in the international community’s collective interest to ensure that there is no renewed conflict in Afghanistan and the security situation is stabilized.”
The prime minister said that preventing a humanitarian crisis and an economic meltdown were “equally urgent priorities”.
“We must remember that the previous government depended heavily on foreign aid and its removal could lead to economic collapse,” he said, adding that now was the moment to stand with the Afghans “firmly and unequivocally”.
Thus, dialogues with Taliban over an inclusive and peaceful Afghan government is essential to stabilize the new political framework and kickstart economic activities in the country.
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