HERAT CITY - The Taliban are fighting to safeguard Pakistan’s interests in Afghanistan, a former national security advisor (NSA) claimed on Friday.
Dr. Rangin Dadfar Spanta insisted the Taliban were not fighting against the occupation of the country, because they launched the insurgency when there was not a single foreign soldier in Afghanistan.
The ex-NSA was peaking at an international security conference in Herat City. Representatives and diplomats from 20 countries are attending the event.
Spanta remarked: “If the Afghan government does not a key role in the peace efforts, it will not be an Afghan-owned process.
“Unfortunately, efforts have been made in the garb of the peace process to lend legitimacy to the Taliban and undermine the Afghan government and constitution,” he said.
Spanta reiterated the Taliban had been waging the war to protect Pakistan’s interests, not against the occupation of Afghanistan.
In any peace agreement, he suggested, guarantees should be sought from Pakistan that it would not meddle in Afghanistan’s internal affairs.
The presence of foreign forces was being used as an excuse for perpetuating the conflict, believed the former foreign minister, who believed talks on the withdrawal of foreign forces should be held with the government.
Spanta also voiced his concern at the low voter turnout in the Sept. 28 presidential election. He said the masses wanted peace to be prioritised. (Pajhwok)