Russia favours ‘transitional coalition govt’ in Afghanistan

KABUL (Khaama Press): Zamir Kabulov, Russian Special Envoy for Afghanistan in an Interview with Sputnik said that Russia is in favor of an inclusive and transitional coalition government in Afghanistan. Kabulov in his interview said the Taliban alleged agenda to take full control of Afghanistan, which would result in bad scenarios if the group insists on such an approach, however, he said Russia believes in the transitional coalition government in which the Taliban will have a status.

“In the first phase – there is a need for the establishment of a transitional coalition government which could be able to lead and control both parties – later, there is a need to form a new government to help resolve the problems,” he said. The Russian envoy said peace talks have failed in Doha and called for the process to proceed in Moscow format, where there is the presence of all parties US, Russia, China, and the neighboring countries of Afghanistan.

Talks in Doha are only about making contact, and not over the peace process, he added “I have been assigned a task by the leadership to facilitate the start of intra-Afghan talks by undertaking discussions within the framework of a (three-way party meeting) which includes Russia, the US, and China. We have agreed about such a meeting with the US Special Envoy Zalmay Khalilzad; there is a possibility that this meeting will be held in Moscow,”. The insistence of the Taliban on the return of emirate will jeopardize the entire peace process, “If the discussion is focused on taking complete control, this will be a bad scenario,” Kabulov told Sputnik.

Russia Kabulov said Russia prefers the establishment of a transitional coalition government that also determines the Taliban’s political status, he added, that delays in the main peace talks could lead to the expansion of Taliban influence in the area, who according to Kabulov currently controls 75 percent of Afghanistan. But Abdullah Abdullah, Chairman of the High Council for National Reconciliation, said in response to Kabulov’s remarks that an interim government in Afghanistan is not a solution and the decision depends on the people of Afghanistan.

HCNR Chairman in response to Kabulov said that interim government is not a solution but the decision depends on the People of Afghanistan. “The people of Afghanistan sit at the negotiating table and set the path for themselves, the establishment of just an interim government cannot be the solution,” ATN News quoted Abdullah.

During the inauguration of the Human Rights Commission of HCNR, Abdullah Abdullah raised concerns over escalated violence, targeted killings. “If one side wants to show that they are more capable of killing innocent people by targeting human rights activists or civilians, I do not think this is a peaceful solution,” Abdullah added.