The Russian Ambassador to Kabul Alexander Mantytskiy in an interview with TOLOnews said that it is the Afghan people and influential politicians who should decide about the future system, not the Afghan government, if an interim government is expected to come on power.
Mantytskiy said if the demands say that Taliban should join the government, a solution should be sought for such integration and again it is the Afghan people and politicians who should find a solution.
“Not government, but your people should decide what is the best solution for yourself. Do you want this interim government, for which purpose? If allow Taliban to enter to this political system, it seems that something should be done. But you should decide yourselves, Afghan people, Afghan political parties and prominent figures,” said Mantytskiy.
Talking about the Afghan peace, Mantytskiy said Moscow is not worried about US and Taliban talks behind closed doors, but is worried why so far, an agreement has not been reached.
He said Russia wants peace in Afghanistan and that peace need an agreement to be reached.
“We do not have any concern regarding these talks. My concern is of it, agreement should be reached in this matter. Because without any agreement, timetable, ceasefire, direct talks between different Afghan parties, it is impossible to have peace here in your country. Peace is very essential, not only for you, for your neighbors, for Russia also,” Mantytskiy added.
The Russian envoy, meanwhile, criticized the Afghan government for not sending its delegations to Moscow format meeting on Afghanistan last year. He insisted that such meetings should be held to address Afghanistan’s problems, but did not make clear when the next round of Moscow format meeting on Afghanistan will be held.
Meanwhile, Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission (AIHRC) said any peace that comes by force is not acceptable to the commission, insisting that a lasting peace should be maintained in the country.
“A peace in which the human rights values and justice is stepped on, that is not peace, it is a political deal that will not take us to lasting peace,” Sima Samar, AIHRC chairperson, said.
Mantytskiy’s remarks about future Afghan government and a possible establishment of an interim government expressed after Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on Monday said that an interim government possibly can end problems in Afghanistan.
His remarks, however, was sharply criticized by Afghan government officials and were labeled as obvious interference in Afghanistan’s internal affairs.
