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A30 world news
Diahuebs 16 December 2021

Karzai ‘invited’ Taliban to stop chaos

al Loya Jirga — a grand coun-
cil of all Afghans, including
women — would be con-
vened. It would decide the
country’s future, including a
representative government, a
constitution, a national flag.

There’s no indication the
Taliban will accept his for-
mula, though he says they
have not rejected it in dis-
cussions. A jirga is a centu-
ries-old Afghan tradition for
decision-making and is par-
ticularly popular among eth-
nic Pashtuns, which make up
the backbone of the Taliban.
Karzai said a future Afghani-
stan has to have universal
education rights for boys and
girls, and women “must find
their place in the Afghan pol-
ity, in the administration, in
economic activity and social
activity, the political activity
in all ways of life. ... That’s an
issue on which there cannot
be any compromise.”

But until it happens, Karzai
says, the world has to engage
with the Taliban. Afghani-
(AP) — The Taliban didn’t adamant that Ghani’s flight (go) into the city,” Karzai for, what we were hoping stan needs to operate. Gov-
take the Afghan capital — scuttled a last-minute plan said. “I and others spoke to (along) with the chairman ernment servants have to be
they were invited, says the focused on the Taliban’s en- various officials and assur- of the peace council to go paid. Health care facilities
man who issued the invi- try. He and Abdullah Abdul- ances were given to us that, to Doha that evening, or the need to function.
tation. lah, the government’s chief yes, that was the case, that next morning, and to finalize
negotiator, had been working the Americans and the gov- the agreement,” he said. “And “Right now, they need to co-
In an Associated Press inter- with the Taliban leadership in ernment forces were holding I believe the Taliban leaders operate with the government
view, former Afghan Presi- Doha on a negotiated agree- firm to the places (and) that were also waiting for us in in any form they can,” said
dent Hamid Karzai offered ment to allow the militia to Kabul would would not fall.” Doha for the same ... objec- Karzai. who also bemoaned
some of the first insights into enter the capital under con- tive, for the same purpose.” the unchallenged and some-
the secret and sudden de- trolled conditions. By about 2:45 p.m., though, times wrong international
parture of Afghan President it became apparent Ghani Today, Karzai meets regu- perceptions of the Taliban.
Ashraf Ghani — and how The countdown to a possible had fled the city. Karzai larly with the Taliban leader- He cited claims that women
he came to invite the Taliban deal began Aug. 14, the day called the defense minister, ship and says the world must and girls are not allowed out-
into the city “to protect the before the Taliban came to called the interior minister, engage with them. Equally side their homes or require a
population so that the coun- power. searched for the Kabul police important, he said, is that Af- male companion. “That’s not
try, the city doesn’t fall into chief. Everyone was gone. ghans have to come together. true. There are girls on the
chaos and the unwanted ele- Karzai and Abdullah met “There was no official pres- War has dominated Afghani- streets — women by them-
ments who would probably Ghani, and they agreed that ent at all in the capital, no stan for more than 40 years, selves.” The situation on the
loot the country, loot shops.” they would leave for Doha police chief, no corps com- and in the last 20 years “Af- ground in Kabul bears this
the next day with a list of 15 mander, no other units. They ghans have suffered on all out.
When Ghani left, his secu- others to negotiate a pow- had all left.” sides,” he said. “Afghans have
rity officials also left. Defense er-sharing agreement. The lost lives on all sides. . . . The Asked to describe the Taliban,
minister Bismillah Khan even Taliban were already on the Ghani’s own protection Afghan army has suffered. Karzai said: “I would describe
asked Karzai if he wanted outskirts of Kabul, but Karzai unit’s deputy chief called Afghan police have suffered, them as Afghans, but Afghans
to leave Kabul when Karzai said the leadership in Qatar Karzai to come to the palace the Taliban soldiers have suf- who have gone through a
contacted him to know what promised the insurgent force and take over the presidency. fered.” very difficult period in their
remnants of the government would remain outside the He declined, saying legally lives as all other Afghans have
still remained. It turned out city until the deal was struck. he had no right to the job. He added: “An end to that done for the past 40 years.”
there were none. Not even Instead the former president can only come when Afghans
the Kabul police chief had re- Early on the morning of Aug. decided to make a public, get together, find their own We “have been through an
mained. 15, Karzai said, he waited to televised message, with his way out.” extremely difficult period of
draw up the list. The capital children at his side “so that our history in which we, the
Karzai, who was the coun- was fidgety, on edge. Rumors the Afghan people know that The former president has Afghans, have made mistakes
try’s president for 13 years were swirling about a Taliban we are all here.” a plan. In his talks with the on all sides, in which the in-
after the Taliban were first takeover. Karzai called Doha. Taliban, he is advocating the ternational community and
ousted in the wake of the He was told the Taliban Karzai was adamant that there temporary resurrection of the those who interacted with us
9/11 attacks, refused to leave. would not enter the city. would have been an agree- constitution that governed have made tremendous mis-
ment for a peaceful transi- when Afghanistan was a takes,” Karzai said. “It’s time
In a wide-ranging interview At noon, the Taliban called tion had Ghani remained in monarchy. The idea was also for all of us to realize that,
at his tree-lined compound to say that “the government Kabul. floated during earlier Doha and to look back at the mis-
in the center of the city where should stay in its positions talks. takes that we have all made
he lives with his wife and and should not move that “Absolutely. Absolutely. That and to make it better.”
young children, Karzai was they have no intention to is what we were preparing At the same time, a tradition-