Taliban Cannot Make Peace without Pakistan’s Agreement: NSA Mohib

Afghan NSA Hamdullah Mohib says that the government’s peace initiative considers all aspects of achieving lasting peace and has been shared with the international partners. He also said that Khalilzad’s meeting with the president was not about the peace process.

Afghan NSA Hamdullah Mohib says that the government’s peace initiative considers all aspects of achieving lasting peace and has been shared with the international partners. He also said that Khalilzad’s meeting with the president was not about the peace process.
National Security Adviser (NSA) Hamdullah Mohib briefed journalists Monday during a press conference on a wide range of issues, including security status, war, and the government’s peace agenda.
“We want the Taliban to cut ties with countries and intelligence networks. They should make their ties clear and accept a one-month ceasefire so that it would become obvious they give up bloodshed and halt killing defenseless people,” said Mohib. “As long as Pakistan does not stop supporting the group, negotiations and peace will not work. Peace must be durable and stable,” he added.

Speaking about the Taliban leaders and the nature of conflict in the country, the NSA stressed that Taliban leaders are involved in drug trafficking and that the nature of their war is not based on belief but on issues pertaining to economic and financial matters.
“Taliban are more active in places where revenue is available,” Mohib said.

Referring to Khalilzad’s meeting with President Ghani, he said that Khalilzad’s visit from Kabul was not about peace, but about the two professors of the American university kidnapped by the Taliban.
“These professors have a right on us because they were teaching our youths. We are ready for cooperation in this regard, they must be released and works underway,” he continued.

He underlined that the government’s current status is much better than that of the Taliban, and the Taliban have no choice but to negotiate with the government and accept the peace process.

Beijing peace meeting
“This is intra-Afghan talks, not negotiations. It was postponed due to elections and the government supports it,” said Hamdullah Mohib.
The government’s peace agenda has been shared with the international partners and they welcomed it.
“The United States has welcomed the plan in principle and the EU has fully endorsed it and announced its cooperation,” he said.

According to him, the participation of all regional countries in the peace process is important.
However, it is not yet clear when the new round of US-Taliban talks will begin and that whether the group will be willing to negotiate directly with Kabul.