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Too Early to Speculate on Consequences of Peace Deal with Taliban: NATO
NATO Secretary-General says it is too early to speculate on what kind of consequences a possible peace agreement with the Taliban will have in the situation in Afghanistan.
Addressing a joint news conference with New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern at the NATO headquarters on Friday, Jens Stoltenberg said that the situation in Afghanistan is still “difficult”, but he emphasized that the best way to help to stabilize the country is to train the Afghan forces and build local capacity.
He said NATO strongly supports the ongoing peace efforts to find solution to the crisis in Afghanistan and that welcomes the talks between the U.S. and the Taliban.
“We hope that can lead towards a process which includes, of course, the Afghan government,” Stoltenberg said.
“The way NATO supports those efforts is of course to support the Afghan government: political support, practical support, and also through our military presence, because the purpose of our military presence in Afghanistan is to send a message to the Taliban that they will not win on the battlefield. So, they have to sit down at the negotiating table and find a political solution,” he said.
He believed a political solution, a peace agreement in Afghanistan, would also address the issue of the presence of troops from other countries, including NATO. However, he explained, it was much too early to speculate exactly what kind of consequences that would have.
“We are ready to continue a partnership, cooperation with Afghanistan and our presence is conditions-based and of course, a new peace agreement will have an important consequence for NATO presence in Afghanistan.”
In part of his speech, Stoltenberg hailed New Zealand’s contribution to the Afghan National Army in training and education.
Stoltenberg acknowledged New Zealand was supporting the NATO mission in Afghanistan, saying the alliance had many partners working together in Afghanistan.
He said the alliance wanted to make sure Afghanistan did not once again become a safe haven for international terrorism. “We saw the consequences back in 2001, when the 9/11 attacks on the United States were organised and planned, from Afghanistan.”
Not many years ago, the alliance had been part of a big combat operation, with more than 100,000 troops in a combat effort in Afghanistan, the secretary general continued.
“But the Resolute Support, which New Zealand is contributing to, is a train, assist and advice mission, helps the Afghans stabilise their own country and the Afghans are now taking over responsibility for security.
“And we highly value the contribution from New Zealand; the personnel from New Zealand are very committed, they are playing a key role in helping to educate and to build a national defence academy. And that’s the best way to help Afghanistan, and that is to help them develop their own forces, so they can create security in their own country themselves.”
Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, the Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs, has urged the countries in the region and around the world to soften and expand their economic relations with the Islamic Emirate instead of imposing sanctions and undue pressure.
In a statement issued by the deputy PMs office, Baradar made these remarks on Saturday during a speech at the inauguration ceremony of a commercial market in Balkh province.
Baradar added that a prosperous and strong Afghanistan is not to the detriment of other countries in the region; rather, it contributes to the welfare and strengthening of other nations.
He said: “The Islamic Emirate believes in comprehensive economic and political authenticity in the field of regional and international cooperation, provided that there is mutual respect for major values and fundamental principles.”
He stated that IEA’s engagement with the private sector in large-scale and long-term projects—based on public-private partnerships or other types of contracts—conveys a clear message that the environment for domestic and foreign investment in Afghanistan is favorable, and that anyone can take advantage of this opportunity.
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Karzai urges reopening of girls’ schools and universities for Afghanistan’s bright future
Former Afghan President Hamid Karzai says knowledge and education are the primary pillars of progress and dignity in any society.
In a post marking the end of the academic year and the preparation of 12th-grade graduates for the Kankor (university entrance) exam, Karzai said on Saturday that Afghanistan needs hundreds of thousands of female and male doctors, engineers, economists, technology specialists, and experts in other fields to become self-reliant.
He called on all students to make greater efforts and to reach higher levels in scientific and social sciences.
He once again emphasized: “I hope that, for a bright future for Afghanistan, girls’ schools and universities should be reopened so that our daughters can stand on their own feet and become worthy of serving the country.”
Pakistan on Friday summoned Afghan Deputy Head of Mission in Islamabad to convey “strong demarche” over a deadly attack on a military camp in North Waziristan District that killed four Pakistani soldiers.
In a statement, Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the attack was carried out by a faction of Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).
The statement said that Pakistan conveyed “grave concern over the continued support and facilitation” provided by the Islamic Emirate to TTP.
Pakistan has demanded “a full investigation and decisive action against the perpetrators and facilitators of the terrorist attacks launched against Pakistan from Afghan soil.”
It urged the Islamic Emirate “to take immediate, concrete and verifiable measures against all terror groups operating from its territory, including their leadership, and deny the continued use of Afghan soil for terrorism against Pakistan.
According to the statement, the Islamic Emirate has been “categorically informed that Pakistan reserves the right to defend its sovereignty and protect its citizens, and will take all necessary measures to respond to terrorism originating from Afghan soil.”
Pakistani officials have repeatedly claimed that attacks in the country are originated from Afghan soil, a charge the Islamic Emirate denies.
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