Stanikzai says talks to form inclusive govt are ongoing

Almost two weeks after the take over of Kabul, the Taliban says that efforts are still underway to form an inclusive political system in Afghanistan.

Sher Mohammad Abbas Stanikzai, a leading member of the Taliban negotiation team, says that leaders of Taliban and Afghan politicians are trying to form a system in which all ethnic groups are represented.

“All people will be included in the new system. Talks with all politicians are underway in this regard,” Stanikzai said.

Meanwhile, former Balkh governor Atta Mohammad Noor, who is in exile in Uzbekistan, said in an interview with BBC that politicians who remain in Afghanistan – including former president Hamid Karzai, Abdullah Abdullah, and Gulbuddin Hekmatyar – cannot represent all people of Afghanistan.

“Dr. Sahib (Ashraf Ghani), Hamid Karzai, and Abdullah Abdullah surrendered the government to the Taliban in collusion and surrendered themselves as well. Their decision and negotiations are in no way acceptable,” Noor said.

Hazrat Omar Zakhilwal, the head of the Harakat-e-Nejate Afghanistan party, stated that the Taliban cannot rule alone, adding that international aid will continue as long as a comprehensive system is established within Afghanistan.

“The Taliban may not be able to rule Afghanistan alone, they need to be changed, and we expect them to create opportunities for others as well,” Zakhilwal said.