The Afghan government on Monday warned the Taliban against rejecting the peace process with the government, stressing that if the Taliban continues opting for war, the group will face well-measured military action by members of the Quadrilateral Coordination Group (QCG) – comprising negotiators from Afghanistan, Pakistan, US and China.
The (QCG) so far has convened four rounds of meetings in Kabul and Islamabad in an effort to outline a roadmap for peace and to convince Taliban to join the peace talks in order to bring an end to years of insurgency in the country.
The statement comes a few weeks after the Taliban refused to attend a face-to-face dialogue with the government in Kabul, setting preconditions for the talks that include the complete withdrawal of foreign forces and the removal of the group’s name from the UN terror list.
Meanwhile, political commentators have interpreted government’s announcement of military action against Taliban from a different perspective, saying that in the wake of Pakistan’s continued support to Taliban, no one must expect Islamabad to deal with the group from a military stance while China will also announce its neutrality, as Islamabad-Beijing are bound by a strategic partnership.
But the hopes for face-to-face talks dimmed after the Taliban refused to attend the peace talks table this past month.
“In line with the QCG meeting, if the armed opponents continue rejecting the peace process, member countries will not be reluctant to use all resources and options against these groups,” Sayed Shah Hussain Murtazavi, a deputy presidential spokesman said.
Joining civilian officials, meanwhile, Afghan military officials have said that the Taliban will repent as it loses the opportunity to enter purposeful negotiations.
“Those who are opting for war, the people and armed forces of Afghanistan have no option except suppressing them or bringing them to justice,” MoD spokesman Dawlat Waziri said.
In addition, some ex-Taliban officials have rejected claims that Pakistan will come up with military action against the Taliban, stressing that if Pakistan had decided in favor of military action against the Taliban, peace would have come to Afghanistan years ago.
“Pakistan will use military action against Taliban as it is not in the interest of Pakistan. China will pursue the same track like Pakistan, because it is not in its interests, China takes all steps to be neutral regarding the situation in Afghanistan,” former Taliban minister Hassan Haqyar said.
This comes after the Afghan government, in recent years, has consistently asked Islamabad to use its influence on the Taliban in the hope of convincing them to denounce violence and attend peace talks.http://www.tolonews.com/en/afghanistan/24712-govt-warns-taliban-against-rejecting-peace-process
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