Senate Member Asks For Taliban Role In Government

A member of the House of Elders (Meshrano Jirga) asked President Ashraf Ghani on Tuesday to include the Taliban militants in his government as a peace initiative and appoint their members as ministers and ambassadors.

“Peace doesn’t mean Taliban’s surrendering. Speak with the Taliban and include them in the government. Give them ministries and embassies,” said senate member Nazar Mohammad Faqiree.

Another member of the Senate House claimed that Taliban is having control over 50 percent of the country.

“Today, 50 percent of the country is under the Taliban’s sovereignty and 50 percent under the government. There is no bribery, theft and injustice where Taliban controls,” claimed senator Hashim Alokozay.

In addition, some senate members asked the government to close the door of the country’s High Peace Council (HPC) due to its ineffectiveness and failures to negotiate with the elements of the Taliban.

“Peace Council must be closed as it does not have any achievement. The Council has wasted a lot of money, donors must add the council budget to the security sector,” said Mohammad Asif Sediqi Second Deputy for the Senate Speaker.

The remarks come as HPC Chief Karim Khalili on Monday called on the Taliban to join peace talks and said that Taliban’s legitimate and national demands would be considered during the peace process. He further expressed readiness to meet the group leadership for peace talks in any place, but the group has always rejected the government offer, insisting on withdrawal of all foreign forces as a precondition.

By: Fawad Naseri & Hesamuddin Hesam