By Janet Ekstract
ISTANBUL (TURKISH JOURNAL) – NATO Chief Jens Stoltenberg in a press briefing on Tuesday, said: “A government that does not respect the fundamental rights of all Afghans and reinstates the reign of fear, risks international isolation.” Stoltenberg said the U.S. never had the intention to remain in Afghanistan forever and that in the end, Afghan leadership “failed to stand up to the Taliban and to achieve the peaceful solution that Afghans desperately wanted.” Stoltenberg emphasized that the current government in Afghanistan has the responsibility to “ensure that international terrorists do not regain a foothold.” He added: “ Allies have the capabilities and the vigilance to address future terrorist threats from Afghanistan.” Stoltenberg highlighted the fact that the Afghanistan of 2021 is far more modern and vibrant than it was in 2001. He stressed that the strides Afghans have made over decades can’t be so easily reversed.
In the meantime, UN Security Council members Estonia and Norway, proposed the Council consider an official statement to urge an immediate stop to the Taliban offensive. The Security Council is also considering including a warning to the Taliban that it will not support any government in Afghanistan that originates from military force. Specifically, the statement would address the most crucial issue which is that the Council would refuse to recognize any semblance of the former Taliban Islamic Emirate that ruled Afghanistan from 1996-2001.
The Security Council’s official presidential statement would include condemning Taliban attacks on cities and towns throughout Afghanistan “in the strongest terms” and reiterate that a military solution in Afghanistan is unacceptable. A draft statement created by members Estonia and Norway, that the Associated Press obtained on Friday, urges the Afghan government and the Taliban “without delay,” with equal participation of women, to make “immediate and sustained progress toward achieving an inclusive, just, durable and realistic political settlement” to their lengthy conflict.
Speaking on condition of anonymity, some Council diplomats said because consultations were private, that some of the 15 members on the Security Council didn’t yet comment on the proposed statement. In addition, the draft plans to raise the Council’s “deep concern” at the Taliban “defying its own stated commitments to reduce violence and cease hostilities” and would urge “an immediate halt to the offensive and an end to violence.”
