The peace process has become even more ambiguous with the opening of an office for the Taleban in Qatar.
Members of Parliament summoned Foreign Minister Zalmai Rassoul, national security advisor to the president Dr Rangin Dadfar Spanta
Members of Parliament summoned Foreign Minister Zalmai Rassoul, national security advisor to the president Dr Rangin Dadfar Spanta and the head of the High Peace Council Secretariat, Masoom Stanekzai last week.
The closed-door meeting has created more ambiguity than clarity.Spanta, the national security adviser, said there was no “programme” for peace.
MPs confirmed to Killid that the president’s adviser explained that since efforts over the years to talk to the Taleban have not led to peace talks, these contacts cannot be seen as a move towards peace. Efforts by the High Peace Council have not yielded the results that people were expecting, he added.
Many-sided views
There’s great hope and optimism each time a new page is turned in trying to restore peace and stability in the country. But each time people’s hopes are dashed by reactions both from inside and outside Afghanistan.
Atefa Nazari, a teacher in a private school, says, “We hear every night experts talk on TV about the future. But sometimes their views are so discouraging that it we feel so dispirited.” She believes that for lasting peace all political parties and national institutions should sit together and draft a comprehensive strategy. Only then would other countries that are involved in trying to end the conflict “hear” Afghanistan’s views.
Members of Parliament (MP) from Sar-e-Pul Sharif Balkhabi and Sayed Anwar Sadat say Spanta was not optimistic about the outcome in Doha since it was not “as the people and the government want it”. Sadat said he understood from Spanta that “the trend that is going on would not bring peace to Afghanistan.”
Foreign Minister Rassoul and head of the High Peace CouncilSecretariat Stanekzai had different views.
Naqibullah Fayeq, the representative of Faryab, said Stanekzai “insisted” the Afghan government is in “secret contact with Tayeb Aqa, a representative of Mullah Omar.” But he added that Dr Spanta did not think there was anything to suggest there would be peace talks. “The individuals (Taleban) that have contacts with Afghan government are not peace emissaries … the contacts are based on friendship and as compatriots,” he said.
MP from Badakhshan Fawzia Koofi gathers from Spanta’s statements that the government is being secretive about the peace process. “The surprise opening of an office in Qatar is an example of how things are concealed. There are hidden works going on that the people don’t know about,” she asserts.
Voices are again being raised about the usefulness of the High Peace Council. Sadat thinks it should be disbanded “because it has not achieved even a small result in breaking the deadlock over peace with the Taleban”.
Transparent talks
Asadullah, 38, says he returned to Afghanistan hoping for lasting peace. Now many of his relatives have immigrated because they see no future here. But Asadullah is still hopeful. “The authorities should be honest with people and transparent. People’s support and strong backing would be a great strength for the government,” he feels.
MPs think the government owes people an apology for being secretive. Abdul Wahab Erfan,a member of the National Assembly, says people’s feelings have been played with for many years. “The government should take responsibility,” he adds.
“If as Dr Spanta says the peace process has not restarted then why were they discussing (it) so seriously? It is a big shame for the government,” he concludes.
Mohammad Alam Ezedtar, the first deputy of the national assembly, condemns the government. “Authorities are addicted to telling lies.”
