Taliban could enter Afghan political system, says VP

ISTANBUL

Taliban could stop being a terrorist organization and get involved in the political system in Afghanistan, Vice President of Afghanistan Ahmad Zia Massoud has said.

Following his week-long official visit to Turkey last week, Massoud told The Anadolu Agency in Istanbul: "The national unity government is a democratic government. We will not create problems with any group within the framework of the constitution.

"The Taliban or any other opposition group could be involved in the political process in Afghanistan so that stability can be established in the country."

Massoud said that the former governments of Pakistan had used the radical movement “for their own interests”, but the current Pakistani government preferred to have good relations with Afghanistan and the two countries now enjoyed relations “based on national interests”.

"The previous governments in Pakistan used Taliban as a trump card to get personal benefits. However, the current government prefers to establish direct relations with Afghanistan, not through terrorist groups,” Massoud said.

'Generous support'

As for the security situation in Afghanistan, Massoud said it was “better than ever”.

"The Afghan security forces are now fully authorized to maintain the security in the country. Our people believe that they (the Afghan security forces) can protect them, and are responsible for their safety,” he said, adding that the Afghan security forces were well-trained, and fully competent.

As the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force ended its 13-year combat mission in Afghanistan at the end of 2014, the mission has evolved into training and advising of the nascent Afghan security forces, and 350,000 Afghan troops and police assumed full responsibility of security in the country.

Massoud also praised Turkey for its generous support to Afghanistan, saying it was “one of the main aid donors to Afghanistan”.

He said: "The relations between Turkey and Afghanistan are founded on friendship, and the two countries enjoy strong, historical ties.

"The aid (provided by Turkey) in the last 13 years in particular is based not on its own interests, but on humanity and love. That’s why Afghans love Turkish people."

Aid from Turkey

Turkey promised Afghanistan $150 million in development aid last October over a three-year period from 2015 - one of a raft of measures Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said were aimed at helping the beleaguered country "back on its feet".

Cavusoglu told a conference on Afghanistan in the Chinese capital on Oct. 31, 2014 that it would also make a further donation of €60 million ($75 million) "to train Afghan security forces in addition to training already given in Turkey" and increase its number of troops in the country from around 700 to 1,100 after 2016.

Turkey had initially announced the pledge at the 2012 Tokyo Conference on Afghanistan.

Cavusoglu added that Turkey had also agreed to take over the management of Kabul airport in the country's capital, which is used for both military and civilian purposes.

"This will cost about €50 million but it is important for the future of Afghanistan," he said.

Turkey will also continue posting Turkish troops in Afghanistan for two more years under a new NATO mission called Resolute Support, which was launched on Jan. 1, 2015, following the end of the 13-year security mission in the country in which Turkey twice took command.