Peace talks opponents asked to provide alternative

KABUL and other insurgent groups, to provide an alternative solution to the conflict.

The Afghan government sees brining peace and stability to the country impossible without peace talks with opposition forces, but some political parties are opposed to the talks.

Some lawmakers say opposing the peace talks is against the interest of the countrymen and those in opposition are the enemies of peace and stability.

“Since the Afghan government and the international community recognise the Taliban a strong opposition force, then a dialogue with them is the only option to find a negotiated end to the war,” Abdul Sattar Khawasi, an MP from Parwan province, said.

“Those who oppose the peace talks have their own interests in the conflict and they fear losing benefits if the peace returns in Afghanistan,” he told Pajhwok Afghan News in an interview.

“I want to ask political parties opposing the dialogue to give an alternative,” he said, adding the war was no solution to the Afghan imbroglio, which severely devastated Afghanistan over the past three decades.

Another MP Gul Badshah Majidi said they were not against the peace parlays with the rebels, but the outcome should not send the country back to the situation 10 years ago. “If there is a possibility of such threat, then people of the country do not want (the Taliban) reintegration,” he said.

Nasima Niazi, a female parliamentarian from southern Helmand province, also said the war was not a solution. “Peace is the key demand of people of Afghanistan and I support talks under the Constitution of Afghanistan,” she said.

“The only solution for the conflict is peace talks and the Afghan government is trying to achieve that goal,” Attaullah Ludin, deputy head of the High Council for Peace, said.

Dr. Abdullah Abdullah, President Hamid Karzai’s rival in the second round of the presidential election, and leader of the Change and Hope Party, on Thursday renewed his opposition to the peace talks with the Taliban.

frm/ma

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