Peace process requires adaptability, patience: Ghani

Monitoring Desk

KABUL: President Ghani on Thursday in a video message on the 25th anniversary of the death of Abdul Ali Mazari, leader of the Hezb-e Wahdat party, said that the peace process will be long and people need to be adaptive and patient.

He insisted that the voice of the people will be heard in the peace process.

“The peace process is a long process. This process requires adaptation and patience. At the same time, people’s demands and voices will be heard,” said Ghani in the video message.

Talks between the Afghans were due to begin two days ago–on March 10–according to a peace deal signed between the US and Taliban, but the Afghan government has not yet prepared a negotiating team to engage with the Taliban.

In today’s comments, President Ghani did not say whether the delegation was prepared, but he insisted that the negotiating team–from the government and the people–would enter talks with the Taliban.

US Special Envoy for Peace ZalmayKhalilzad on Wednesday night, in a special interview with TOLOnews, said he hoped the Afghan government and Taliban would reach an agreement in the next 100 days.

President Ghani promised in his inaugural address on March 9 that the negotiating team would be ready by this Tuesday, but so far, the delegation has not been announced.

The President’s spokesman SediqSediqqi said on Wednesday that due to ongoing consultations about the delegate members with a number of elders and politicians, the process of nominating the delegation had been delayed.

A number of politicians say that they have not been consulted so far regarding the delegation. A second part Ghani’s video message addressed his new government, which he described as being the “mirror of all people’s views.”

“Now is the chapter of empathy and togetherness. The future government will be the mirror of all the people of the country. The future government will represent our nation’s will and serve as the people’s servant,” said Ghani.

A commemoration of Abdul Ali Mazari was due to take place today in the Presidential Palace and preparations had been made; however, the second vice-presidency announced last night that the program would not be held due to the spread of the coronavirus, and Ghani made his remarks in a video message on the occasion.(TOLOnews)