Editor in Chief: Moh. Reza Huwaida Thursday, March 28th, 2024

Success in Afghanistan is not Dependent on Taliban Deal: Cameron

Success in Afghanistan is not  Dependent on Taliban Deal: Cameron

KABUL - Success in Afghanistan is not dependent on a deal with the Taliban - but it would help, British Prime Minister David Cameron said Thursday.
In an exclusive interview with Tolonews in Kabul, Cameron said that if the Taliban fail to join a peace process they will be defeated militarily, adding that it was in the Taliban's interest to have a stable, prosperous, peaceful and democratic Afghanistan.

"Success isn't dependent on a deal with the Taliban, but obviously success would be helped by the Taliban joining a political process. So I would appeal to them to do that, but if they don't do that, they will be defeated militarily," Cameron said.

He also urged Pakistan to help Afghanistan to root out those against stability, saying it was also in Pakistan's interests.

"I think increasingly in Pakistan they know that they are facing a security threat from their own Taliban and these two Taliban [Afghanistan and Pakistan] are related. So I think it's in Pakistan's interest to work with Afghanistan to root out those are against democracy, against stability, and who want to take these countries backward. I hope that there is that will and I think it's for the Pakistani government to demonstrate that will," he said.

He rejected the notion that Afghanistan will return to a civil war after 2014 pointing to the international community pledges to help Afghanistan's security forces and the development of the country.
"We will make sure you have the army, the security force, the police, the development aid and all things that you need to build a successful country," he said, adding that Afghans do not like to see foreign soldiers protecting them year after year, so it's time for the Afghans to resolve the issue.

The British Prime Minister praised Afghan President Hamid Karzai's time in office, stressing the need for a smooth transition to the next president in the upcoming elections.

"I think President Karzai has given a huge amount to Afghanistan and to its people. I think he has given an enormous amount of service, but a final act of service that he can give and the Afghan government can give is to show that you can have a democratic transition, that you can have a past president living peacefully in Afghanistan with a new president elected," he said.

Cameron finished by saying that it's for the Afghans to choose their future president without interference from external parties, but the process of the election should be fair. (ToloNews)