National Security Adviser Hamdullah Mohib in a press conference on Tuesday provided details about recent meetings between President Ghani and Zalmay Khalilzad, the US Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation. He also discussed Ghani’s recently-leaked “7-Point Peace Plan.”
“Khalilzad’s aim in traveling to Kabul was to discuss the release of two US professors who are in the custody of the Haqqani group; nothing was discussed about peace during his visit with President Ghani,” Mohib said, referring to Kevin King and Timothy Weeks, two professors kidnapped in 2016. He added: “The US is seeking our cooperation regarding the release of the professors, and we are ready to cooperate.”
Mohib mentioned President Ghani’s “7-point peace plan,” which was leaked to the media: “The people of Afghanistan have the right to know the details of it,” he said.
“The point of the peace plan is a negotiation with US and NATO—we want to know what our allies want from us—how do they want to continue their cooperation with Afghanistan? We believe they want to continue their cooperation,” he uttered.
Mohib also said: “Previously, the Afghan government did not have a condition to enter peace negotiations with the Taliban, but a year later, we found out that the Taliban were not united, they don’t have control of the war and some key Taliban commanders have joined Daesh.”
“Before entering the peace talks, the Taliban must show how much control they have,” Mohib said, suggesting a month-long ceasefire before negotiations could begin.
He also stressed the talks must take place with Pakistan, and that Pakistan must guarantee it will not support the Taliban or give them safe havens.
Mohib said. “Guarantees for peace from both the Taliban and Pakistan are important.”
He called on the Taliban to “stop killing Afghans” and also asked for clarity over their “secret” ties with Pakistan. “So far, the Taliban have not provided clarification to the people of Afghanistan about their relations with Pakistan,” he said.
He believes there is a need for a regional consensus over any peace agreement, adding that “without the support of regional countries for a peace deal, the war will continue.”
