Editor in Chief: Moh. Reza Huwaida Friday, April 19th, 2024

Why Regional Countries Should Join the Afghan National Consensus Against Taliban

Historically, Afghanistan has experienced different political systems such as empire, kingdom, constitutional kingdom, communism, absolutism, but none of them unified Afghan people as the current Islamic Republic System. In spite of criticisms against the mistakes of political leaders, everyone including men, women, and religious scholars unanimously support the current system. Now, the voice of consensus is not only heard from the formal addresses, but also from the streets, roofs of houses, and loudspeakers of mosques. The shouting Allah Akbar from the streets of Herat and Kabul is a unique example of the oneness of Afghan people under the flag of the Islamic republic system.
The recent voice of Allah Akbar was also the voice of people, the voice of peace and brotherhood, not hostility. If the Taliban and their regional supporters really pay value to the voice of people, the voice of peace and brotherhood, they should join it instead of targeting it. The people of Afghanistan consider their neighbors as their brothers. They made it clear that not to allow anyone to misuse from the soil of this country against their neighbors. In fact, the people and government of Afghanistan have proved their goodwill towards the Taliban and their supporters, but the recent position of regional countries in convergence with the Taliban raised serious questions in Afghan public opinion.   Now, most people of Afghanistan ask if reaching peace is an illegitimate demand that some of the regional countries interrupt. Are a moderate political system and a peaceful Afghanistan against the interests of neighboring countries? Does a peaceful Afghanistan pave the way for the presence of foreigners or un-peaceful Afghanistan? It seems there are no logical answers other than supporting the people of Afghanistan to reach peace or at least not interrupt the peace process. Otherwise, they will commit an irreparable mistake in regard to this particular issue of Afghanistan.  Undoubtedly, some of the neighboring countries may have some concerns, but they must pursue it through legal mechanisms and legitimate ways, not through sending guns and weapons to kill innocent civilians. For example, the public opinion asks what does the killing of people, including women and children, have to do with the concerns or demands of neighboring countries? Were they a threat to you (neighboring countries)? How do the senders of guns and weapons respond to Allah and even to their own people? Who will be responsible for such a massacre which repeatedly carried by their proxy fighters?
Currently, everyone knows that the government and people of Afghanistan are under widespread and brutal attacks by the Taliban terrorists, why do the regional countries ignore these crimes?  Isn’t this contrary to those mottos or policies claiming to support the regional people and ensure regional security? Let’s make it clearer. What is the philosophy of the presence of some regional countries in Iraq, Syria, and Yemen? The answer we often heard is to support the people of those countries against terrorism and extremism? Why the same approaches are not taken in Afghanistan? Aren’t the people of Afghanistan human? 
The people of Afghanistan expect to receive logical answers to these questions as these questions are the question of public opinion, not an individual! Given the point that the announced foreign policy of the most regional countries is supporting legitimate and people-based governments, now the question is which one is the legitimate government of Afghanistan?  Those who are on the blacklist of the United Nations and escape from voting? However, the current system of Afghanistan has its own challenges, and everyone confesses its need for reformation but not overthrown. The government and people of Afghanistan have repeatedly called the Taliban for an election formula but they rejected it while having no alternative plan acceptable for today’s Muslim and Non-Muslim world.
Moreover, it should be raised here that the Taliban made an agreement with the United States in February 2020, in which the group had pledged to reduce violence and reach an agreement with the Afghan government after the withdrawal of foreign troops, but now they escalate the conflict and adopts a policy of capturing Afghan cities and halting any real talks with government officials. It is a clear example that the group has violated its own agreement and obligations. The Taliban and Taliban released prisoners had promised not to return to the battlefield but now they lead the war against the oppressed people of Afghanistan. At the present, everyone is disappointed that the Taliban will not fall short unless establishing an authoritarian government in Afghanistan under the name of the Islamic Emirate, in which the people have no role. Therefore, the unanswered question is why the regional countries have decided to support such a group in Afghanistan? Is it morally or legally justifiable? In addition, will they stay committed to their supporters while not remained committed to their own people?
By and large, taking any steps against the will of the Afghan people that may weaken or overthrow the system and enable Taliban to re-establish Emarte in Afghanistan, would be in paradox to their announced moral and legal policy in the region. And tomorrow, they will not able to justify their presence in other parts of the region under the justification of people’s support. Therefore, the regional countries, instead of appeasing the Taliban, should do their utmost to strengthen the legitimate government of this country, and condemn the Taliban attacks for the complete occupation of Afghanistan, leaving the negotiating table and killing the innocent people.