European Union Special Representative for Afghanistan Franz-Michael Mellbin Friday said that international community is committed to restoration of peace in Afghanistan and there is no "plan-B" other than the reconciliation process. Speaking at a seminar on "Afghanistan: the future of peace negotiations after Mullah Omer," organised by Institute of Strategic Studies, Islamabad (ISSI), the top EU diplomat warned that there are 'spoilers' of the peace talks between Afghan government and the Taliban both in Afghanistan and Pakistan. But he added that we should not give them the opportunity to derail the peace process.
He called upon all those who want peace in the region to come together, adding peace in Afghanistan will also benefit the whole region. He said that international community was firmly committed to the peace and reconciliation process in Afghanistan, adding the international community will remain engaged with Kabul to restore the peace. Mellbin commended Pakistan's role for facilitating the first round of direct talks between Afghan government and the Taliban in Murree last month, saying the first round was unprecedented and hoped that Pakistan will play its positive role to persuade the Afghan Taliban to resume the talks. He also called upon the state actors of the two countries to come together for peace in the region.
According to him, Afghan President Ashraf Ghani is firmly committed to enhance bilateral ties with Pakistan as well as to take forward the reconciliation process, adding there was no change in policy on the talks in Kabul. He further said that President Ghani wants to ensure that there is complete unanimity within the unity government for the reconciliation process with the insurgents. Former Ambassador to Afghanistan Rustom Shah Mohmand said that in the last 20 years, it was for the first time when Taliban are without Mullah Omer, adding the Taliban will not be the same in the terms of unity, policies and decision making.
He was of the opinion though more than 60 percent regions are under violence in Afghanistan, yet Taliban should abandon the notion that they could rule Afghanistan with exclusion of other groups. Referring to Daish factor, he said that it will not last for an indefinite period, adding the bubble will burst very soon. About Iran's role in the reconciliation process, he said that Tehran's positive and constructive role was important as 1.5 million opium addicts of the Iranians was a source of serious concern for Iran.
Former ISI chief General Asad Durrani, while referring to the history, said that Pakistan had always played a positive role to bring various Afghan factions to the dialogue in the past, adding he was confident that Pakistan will again bring the Taliban back to the talks.
He said that there were serious imbalances between the Afghan government and the Taliban, yet there was still hope that the dialogue will resume. DG ISSI former Ambassador Masood Khan said that peace in Afghanistan is a strategic imperative and not optional. He said that peace in Afghanistan was not only imperative for Kabul and Islamabad but to the whole region. Referring to the distrust in Afghan leadership after Mullah Omer's death, he pointed out that Pakistan has no vested interest other than restoration of peace in Afghanistan and the region.
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