Afghan president says won't compromise on social freedoms in peace efforts
Ashraf Ghani announces that he has started consultations within Afghanistan on peace with Taliban
Afghan President Ashraf Ghani (L) speaks during a ceremony to inaugurate a new session of the parliament at the parliament house in Kabul March 7, 2015. PHOTO: REUTERS
KABUL:
Afghan President Ashraf Ghani said on Saturday he would not compromise on the social freedoms introduced since the Taliban's 2001 ouster as his government works towards opening peace talks with the insurgents to end Afghanistan's long war.
"We will not let the price of peace be greater than the price of war," Ghani said in a speech before Parliament after the body's winter recess.
"We will firmly safeguard the achievements of the past 13 years under former President Karzai," he said.
Ghani did not refer to specific achievements, but these might include more rights for women and greater freedom of speech. An Afghan female pilot was also awarded the International Women of Courage award in Washington on Friday.
His assurances came two weeks after officials in Pakistan and Afghanistan said the Afghan Taliban had signalled they were willing to reopen peace talks with Kabul, a push that appeared to be driven by Afghanistan, Pakistan and China, which recently offered to help broker the talks.
The possibility of the Afghan government opening negotiations with the Taliban raised hopes for peace efforts, which had failed to get off the ground under Afghanistan's previous government.
But the reports have also been met with some ambivalence, due in part to concerns that not all elements of the Taliban, now a fractured group, may be on board.
Taliban representatives have publicly cast doubt on the possibility of talks already.
Ghani, however, has not commented directly on the reports that the Taliban are ready to open negotiations. But he said in Saturday's speech that he has started "consultation meetings" within Afghanistan on the peace process, in which he called for religious leaders, politicians, women and youth to be involved.
"Peace is a national issue, not only government's responsibility," Ghani said.
With the departure of most US and other foreign troops at the end of last year, Afghan security forces have been struggling to defeat the insurgency, while the Taliban have been unable to hold much territory.
The number of Afghan security forces fell sharply last year, due in part to desertions and casualties, according to US military data released on Tuesday.
Ghani said on Saturday the notion Afghan security forces were losing morale was a false impression. But undoubtedly, it will feature high on his agenda when he travels to Washington DC to meet with President Barack Obama later in March.
Afghan President Ashraf Ghani said on Saturday he would not compromise on the social freedoms introduced since the Taliban's 2001 ouster as his government works towards opening peace talks with the insurgents to end Afghanistan's long war.
"We will not let the price of peace be greater than the price of war," Ghani said in a speech before Parliament after the body's winter recess.
"We will firmly safeguard the achievements of the past 13 years under former President Karzai," he said.
Ghani did not refer to specific achievements, but these might include more rights for women and greater freedom of speech. An Afghan female pilot was also awarded the International Women of Courage award in Washington on Friday.
His assurances came two weeks after officials in Pakistan and Afghanistan said the Afghan Taliban had signalled they were willing to reopen peace talks with Kabul, a push that appeared to be driven by Afghanistan, Pakistan and China, which recently offered to help broker the talks.
The possibility of the Afghan government opening negotiations with the Taliban raised hopes for peace efforts, which had failed to get off the ground under Afghanistan's previous government.
But the reports have also been met with some ambivalence, due in part to concerns that not all elements of the Taliban, now a fractured group, may be on board.
Taliban representatives have publicly cast doubt on the possibility of talks already.
Ghani, however, has not commented directly on the reports that the Taliban are ready to open negotiations. But he said in Saturday's speech that he has started "consultation meetings" within Afghanistan on the peace process, in which he called for religious leaders, politicians, women and youth to be involved.
"Peace is a national issue, not only government's responsibility," Ghani said.
With the departure of most US and other foreign troops at the end of last year, Afghan security forces have been struggling to defeat the insurgency, while the Taliban have been unable to hold much territory.
The number of Afghan security forces fell sharply last year, due in part to desertions and casualties, according to US military data released on Tuesday.
Ghani said on Saturday the notion Afghan security forces were losing morale was a false impression. But undoubtedly, it will feature high on his agenda when he travels to Washington DC to meet with President Barack Obama later in March.