KABUL: There will be no enduring peace in Afghanistan unless the Talibanadapt to the changes that have swept the country since they were ousted in2001, a US diplomat said Sunday.
Special envoy Zalmay Khalilzad, who is leading US efforts to forge a peacedeal with the Taliban, made the comments in a visit to Kabul as hecontinues a months-long push for a settlement.
Speaking to Tolo News, Khalilzad said the Taliban recognise theirgovernment “made a lot mistakes” when it was in power from 1996-2001, and“they have learned a lot”.
“If the Taliban insist on going back to the system they used to have, in mypersonal opinion it means the continuation of war not peace,” saidAfghan-born Khalilzad, speaking in Dari.
Khalilzad has signalled progress in talks, which centre on the Talibanguaranteeing Afghanistan can never again be used as a springboard forforeign terror attacks, in return for an eventual withdrawal of foreignforces.
When the hard-line Islamists were in power, they barred girls from school,executed women on flimsy allegations of adultery and banned a free press,music and many other basic freedoms.
Khalilzad is expected to meet with the Taliban in Doha in the coming days,but critics have lashed peace talks for so far failing to include membersof the Afghan government, which the Taliban view as a puppet regime.
Read Top Stories
The special envoy said it was vital all parties communicate in an“intra-Afghan dialogue”. Such a meeting was supposed to take place in Dohathis month but it collapsed amid squabbling about the size of the guestlist.
“We have started discussion for the withdrawal of the (US) forces, but forthe past few weeks my struggles were focused on providing a ground forintra-Afghan talks,” Khalilzad said.
“That is the first step for further discussion, but there has been noproper progress yet.”
He added that Washington is “a bit impatient” to end the war, given its $45billion annual cost to the US taxpayer and the continued toll it takes onUS forces.
Washington wants “to put an end to their expenses in Afghanistan and thedangers the forces face but also Washington has a responsibility and wantsto end this war responsibly and leave a good legacy,” Khalilzad said.-APP/AFP
