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KABUL: Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah says he supports U.S. efforts to pursue a cease-fire with the Taliban, where according to him Taliban can be part of a political process and that they can represent the people of Afghanistan at any level if the group give sup violence.
Abdullah said this to The Associated Press at the World Economic Forum in Jordan.
Abdullah says the Taliban could take part in elections and even compete for the presidency if they renounce violence. He says Afghans want peace, but “they don’t want to live the way that the Taliban want them to live.”
The Taliban have held talks with a U.S. envoy in recent months while continuing to carry out daily attacks on Afghan forces.
“The issue of negotiations is important, that we sit
together, and not just the government of Afghanistan. The government of
Afghanistan plus other political parties together with the Taliban to talk
about the future of this country – I don’t think there is any other way to deal
with this issue because it’s just not one single issue, it’s the future of the
country, it’s war and peace which have to be decided,” he added.
He emphasized on the role of women in the peace talks.
“There will be no peace if the women, half of the population, are not
participants in the development of the country, the politics and the economy of
the country. We will not have peace,” Abdullah added.
