Afghan President Ashraf Ghani on Monday called for a national assembly to consult on peace with the Taliban.
Addressing a peace consultative conference at the presidential palace, Ghani said the gathering would be similar to Emergency Loya Jirga, a grand assembly of Afghan leaders and elders, which was held in 2002 after the overthrow of the Taliban.
“People’s real voice should be raised so that the world hears it,” Ghani said. “(In the gathering), uncompromizable values, flexibilities and the cost of peace and war should be clearly determined and discussed.”
Ghani also said that the third meeting of Kabul Process will be held next month and that it would focus on post-peace Afghanistan.
“We don’t want to remain dependent on one power or another forever, we should stand on our own feet,” Ghani said.
He said that the meeting should also aim return of Afghan refugees, which, he said, was important for peace.
Ghani added there is a need to consider Taliban fighters’ integration into society in peace process. He also offered office and safety to the Taliban.
He said that the Taliban could discuss anything they want in intra-Afghan dialogue. “We could reach agreement in intra-Afghan dialogue.”
Referring to talks between Afghan politicians and Taliban in Moscow, Ghani suggested that the politicians had no executive authority.
“I have already said that I would like to sign peace treaty in Mecca or Medina… do you want it to sign it in Moscow? Good luck!,” Ghani said.
This comes as the US Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation Zalmay Khalilzad will lead an interagency delegation to Belgium, Germany, Turkey, Qatar, Afghanistan, and Pakistan from February 10 – 28, the US State Department said in a statement late Sunday.
“This trip is part of an overall effort to facilitate a peace process that protects US national security interests and brings all Afghan parties together in an intra-Afghan dialogue through which they can determine a path for their country’s future,” it said.
“He will meet with our allies and partners to discuss mutual efforts to advance that goal and will consult with the Afghan government throughout the trip,” the statement read.
