MONITORING (SW) – US Special Representative for Afghanistan Thomas West has met with journalists, bankers, human rights activists, politicians and other former government officials in Istanbul.
In a series of tweets, he said he heard from this weekend from these figures that violence is not a good path for Afghan people, and they prefer and are eager to engage in political process.
“Most discussions focused on future but past looms large – not just last 20 yrs but 44. Thanks to all for time and candor”, he said, adding that these figures felt that reconciliation in the country – between generations and communities – was required for lasting peace.
“And they are hoping for a political process that includes the Afghan people. Looking forward to more advice from Afghan women, professionals, business and political leaders in the coming days”.
A number of Afghan politicians recently met in Ankara, Turkey, under the name of the ‘Supreme Council of National Resistance to Save Afghanistan’.
The council issued a statement legitimizing resistance to the Islamic Emirate, saying that the continuation of the Islamic Emirate would lead to a worsening of the humanitarian situation, drug trafficking, increased migration and the transformation of Afghanistan into a safe haven for terrorists. In part, the statement called on the Islamic Emirate to hold talks with them to resolve the Afghan crisis.
Zabihullah Mujahid, spokesman for the Islamic Emirate, told Salam Watandar in connection with the meeting in Turkey that if the meetings were for the sake of peace in Afghanistan, they would welcome them and if they were for the sake of Afghanistan’s instability, they would oppose it.
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