*ISLAMABAD:* Former Afghan ambassador in Islamabad Mullah Abdul Salam Zaeefsays Pakistan has ‘increased pressure’ on the Taliban to join thereconciliation process but the insurgents will not accept the pressure.
“Pakistan has increased pressure on the Taliban but they will not acceptwhat Pakistan wants them to do. Pakistan has detained some senior Talibanleaders at a time when efforts are underway in the region to encourage theTaliban to come to the negotiating table,” Zaeef told Daily Times by thephone.
Pakistan is now committed to supporting the Afghan-led and Afghan-ownedpeace and reconciliation under Afghanistan – Pakistan Action Plan for Peaceand Solidarity (APAPPS), which is a joint action plan for cooperation inkey areas of counter-terrorism and for reduction of violence and promotionof peace and reconciliation, involving repatriation of refugees and jointeconomic development.
Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi during his visit to Kabul on April 6welcomed President Ashraf Ghani’s peace and reconciliation offer to theTaliban and both leaders called on them to respond positively to the peaceoffer and join the peace process without further delay.
“Taliban do not want any deal through any country, including Pakistan andIran, but they want to solve the problems with the US without involvementof others,” Zaeef said.
Zaeef, who was the Afghan ambassador during Taliban government in Kabul,was arrested in Pakistan in 2002 and handed over to the United Statesmonths after American military toppled the Taliban government.
The United States had detained Zaeef at the Guantanamo Bay for some years,and finally set him free in 2005. He was put on the list of designatedterrorists until 2010 and later he was excluded from it.
To a question why the Afghan Taliban were invited to peace negotiations byKabul government, Zaeef said that the Taliban had not accepted the offer tojoin the political system as yet.
“So far, the Taliban consider the Kabul government an unconstitutionalgovernment. Secondly, the Taliban want to liberate Afghanistan fromclutches of occupation forces. They want to introduce Islamic government inAfghanistan,” the former Taliban envoy said.
“I believe the Kabul government is not willing to understand objectives ofthe Taliban. Some Taliban leaders believe there is a conspiracy theoryhidden behind recognition of the Taliban as a political power and,therefore, they do not accept this offer,” he said when asked aboutPresident Ghani’s offer to recognise them as a political party.
Ghani in his speech at the Kabul Process meeting on February 28 had offeredthe Taliban to open office in Afghanistan.
Responding to another question, Zaeef said that Pakistan was keen to seethe Afghan Taliban joining the political system because Pakistan was facingserious allegations.
He categorically stated that the Taliban would not accept the demands ofany country unless the foreign forces quit Afghanistan. He said that theUnited States was still engaged in creating problems for the Taliban andthe people of Afghanistan and the region in several different ways. He saidthat the regional situation had deteriorated with the US invasion ofAfghanistan.