Former President Hamid Karzai on Tuesday said that meaningful peace talks are expected to resume soon, but he reiterated that the Afghan government and the Taliban should not lose the current opportunity for reconciliation.
“You will soon witness the resumption of meaningful peace negotiations,” Karzai said at a press conference, calling on the people to not lose hope and to remain in the country. “Have patience, have plans, and move toward peace.”
The former president said the ongoing conflict in Afghanistan has deep roots in world powers’ interference for the last two centuries.
“We called the Taliban brothers repeatedly and we were criticized for this… What has been built in Afghanistan in the last 20 years, the institutions that were built, all belong to the people of Afghanistan, not foreigners… Don’t destroy roads, bridges and institutions,” Karzai said, urging the group to show a willingness for peace. “To the Taliban, I would say that you will not gain anything by taking over districts.”
“And I call on the Afghan government not to waste the opportunities for peace; make efforts and get to the peace negotiations and create a national government through peace,” Karzai said. “I say to both sides that you are the owners of this soil, sit with each other, make peace and save the country from this situation.”
Karzai said the current situation is temporary. “The conflict is a stranger’s conflict. The solution to this conflict is through unity and peace,” he added.
Karzai also called on Afghans to have faith in themselves, remain in the country and free themselves from fear.
“Today, I am here specially to remove your fear that I hear in the media. This is immortal soil, and it will stand on its own. And we have proved it. We should have confidence,” Karzai added.
“We, the people of Afghanistan, should know the value of our soil and make demands based on that,” Karzai said. “Afghanistan is a country for which world powers are in need and we should deal with the world with confidence.”
In response to a question about Turkey’s role in Kabul airport security, Karzai says Turkey is a friend to Afghanistan and that he hopes Afghanistan will witness “good days” through its cooperation with Turkey.
He said that individuals cannot decide on who will run the country.
“The leadership of the country and decisions about a (future) government in the country is not in any individual’s authority; it belongs to the will of the Afghan nation,” Karzai said. “It is done through the Afghan nation’s will. We will accept anyone’s leadership on the condition that the will of every individual in Afghanistan is part of it.”
Karzai also mentioned the freedom of the press as one of the biggest achievements of Afghanistan in the last 20 years.
