Afghans yet to reach hoped-for peace: Karzai

KABUL (Tolo News): The former Afghan President Hamid Karzai said that the Afghans have yet to reach the peace which they have hoped for, hinting that an enduring peace will be ensured when every Afghan is included in decision-making about their country.
The former Afghan president in an interview with the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting urged the current Afghan government to engage in talks with its opponents and hold a Loya-Jirga (National Assembly). However, he called the withdrawal of foreign forces from Afghanistan a good opportunity to ensure peace and stability in the country.
“As long as peace comes to Afghanistan and we don’t witness fighting among (several) fronts and inter-brother fighting—it is satisfactory, but we have not reached our most hoped-for peace and stability, which is the will of the Afghan people—the peace which is ensured through national unity—the peace in which all Afghans are considered in decision-making about Afghanistan,” Karzai said. Karzai expressed his strong objection to the 20-year military presence of the US and allies in Afghanistan. “In general, the US military action caused pain to the people of Afghanistan,” he said. Holding a Loya Jirga has been mentioned not only by Karzai but the European Union and US as well.
“There is no decision on holding the Loya Jirga. About the future– of course it is usual that the people of Afghanistan have always held gatherings, with the people and the Ulema, to make a good decision,” the Islamic Emirate’s Spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid told a press conference last week. “The mechanism of national unity depends on an inclusive government,” said Sayed Javad Sejadi, a political analyst. Karzai once again criticized the US decision regarding the Afghan assets and said that the Afghans themselves are the victims of terrorism.