Taliban scorn Khan’s call for inclusive govt

Pakistan or any other country has no right to ask the Taliban for establishing an ‘inclusive’ government in Afghanistan, the movement says.

Last week, Prime Minister Imran Khan tweeted he had launched talks with the Taliban on the creation of a broad-based government,

On Monday, a Pakistani newspaper quoted Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid as saying he was collecting information about Khan’s statement.

The Islamic Emirate has not yet formally commented on Khan’s statement regarding talks on the inclusion of Tajiks, Hazaras and Uzbeks in the new political structure.

Asked for comments by Daily Times, Mujahid avoided giving a direct reaction. Instead, the deputy minister of information said he was looking into Khan’s statement.

But another Taliban leader said in a TV debate on Sunday: “We don’t give anyone the right to call for an inclusive government.”

Mohammad Mobeen, speaking on Ariana TV, asked: “Does the inclusive government mean that neighbours have their representatives and spies in the system?”

The current government was inclusive, he insisted. “We have got freedom. Like Pakistan, we reserve the right to have our own system.”