Afghanistan: in full offensive, the leader of the Taliban "in favor of a political settlement"
A delegation of Afghan Taliban during a session of peace talks with the Afghan government in Doha, July 17, 2021. KARIM JAAFAR AFP
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4 min
The leader of the Taliban repeated Sunday, July 18, in a message on the occasion of Eid el Adha, that he remained "
resolutely in favor of a political settlement
" in Afghanistan, "
despite the advance and the military victories
" recorded these past two months.
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“
Instead of relying on foreigners, let's solve our problems between us (Afghans) and save our homeland from the prevailing crisis
,” continues Hibatullah Akhundzada in this message on the occasion of the Muslim feast of the Sacrifice.
Against the backdrop of an all-out offensive by the insurgents against the Afghan forces, delegations of the Afghan government and the Taliban resumed Saturday in Doha, Qatar, talks started in September and have so far remained at a standstill.
"
We are, for our part, determined to find a solution through discussions, but the camp opposite continues to waste time,
" says Hibatullah Akhundzada.
A series of commitments for a future "Islamic emirate"
Launched at the beginning of May, thanks to the start of the final withdrawal of foreign forces from the country, the insurgent offensive encountered little resistance from the Afghan forces and enabled them to seize vast rural areas of Afghanistan and important border posts with Iran, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan and Pakistan. The Afghan forces no longer essentially control the major axes and the provincial capitals.
In his message, the leader of the Taliban then unrolls a series of commitments from a future "Islamic emirate" in power in Kabul.
The Islamic Emirate was the name of the Taliban regime that ruled Afghanistan between 1996 and 2001, and was driven out by an international coalition led by the United States, after its refusal to hand over al-Qaeda leader Osama ben Laden, in the wake of the September 11 attacks.
"
We want good and strong diplomatic, economic and political relations (...) with all the countries of the world, including the United States
" and "
we fully assure the neighboring countries, the region and the world, that the Afghanistan will not allow anyone to threaten the security of any other country from within
, ”he said.
►
To read also: Afghanistan: the fear of a civil war is growing
(With
AFP
)
♦ Analysis
For Jean-Charles Jauffret, specialist in Afghanistan and professor emeritus at Sciences-Po Aix, this declaration of intent by the leader of the Taliban is simply a facade speech which aims to manipulate the international community.
"
He plays a little on both tables, the military plan and the diplomatic plan, knowing all the same that there is at the key - and Joe Biden did not confirm it, but all the same - in the agreement which had been signed on February 29, 2020, there is the promise for the government that would be set up in Kabul, with some Taliban, of a jackpot of 12 billion dollars.
Right now there is also a question: the Taliban are very strong, they have about 50,000 armed fighters right now, they could hope, if these conversations continue - but it will also be a fool's deal - put on the table. demand for the release of
7,000 of their nationals, to propose a real ceasefire.
We want to reassure the international community that we will not go beyond the borders - in particular a country like Tajikistan was very worried by the fighting which took place on its border - so reassure everyone by a sort of resumption of conversations, whereas on the spot the war reached an absolutely extraordinary rate of intensity, in particular in the north of the country.
"
►
See also:
Afghanistan: the Taliban offer a three-month ceasefire against 7,000 released prisoners
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Afghanistan
Taliban