KABUL (SW) – Analysts fear the recent remarks by National Security Advisor would harm ties between Afghanistan and the U.S.
The NSA Hamdullah Muhib told a moot in Washington D.C. on Thursday he is visiting to share Kabul's concerns over secrecy in talks between the Taliban and the U.S. in which the Afghan government has been clearly sidelined. He categorically charged Washington's top man for Afghanistan reconciliation, Zalmay Khalilzad, for deliberately undermining Afghan government in the proposed peace talks.
“We think either the ambassador doesn’t know what he is doing, or he has something else in mind,” Mohib said, adding that Khalilzad had considered running for president of Afghanistan twice before. ''People in government think perhaps all this talk is to create a caretaker government of which he will then become the viceroy.”
Muhib also raised questions about ties between the the Taliban and Pakistan.
Commenting on this, analyst Ishaq Atmar, said such harsh criticism would harm bilateral ties between the U.S. and Afghanistan. He went on to say President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani is faced with lack of support from outside and internally, and that is what has sidelined the government from peace talks.
Jaffar Mehdawi, member of the Wolesi Jirga (lower house) said in this regard that the views shared by NSA Muhib were away from reality and counter-productive. He said this could results in political crisis, legitimacy issues and negative consequences.
He went on to say President Ghani is seeking a peace deal with him in power, and the issues stem from here. Mehdawi said the remarks made by the NSA expose growing rift between the U.S. and President Ghani, and was a sign that Washington is no more backing him.
NSA Muhib was summoned by the State Department for his remarks.
ENDS
