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KABUL: The European Union has said the reinstatement of Taliban’s Islamic Emirate in Afghanistan is “not acceptable under any circumstances”, reiterating its support for peace and stability of the war-ravaged country.
In a joint declaration, foreign ministers of 27 countries of the European Union have warned to cut all political backings and aid to the war-ravaged country should the insurgents reestablish their dictatorial regime.
This comes as Kabul government and the Taliban seemed one step closer to bilateral negotiations to end the grisly war. Silver linings emerged from the temporary halt in Taliban hostilities and a subsequent release by the Afghan government of hundreds of insurgent prisoners, which is setting motion for a reduced violence and trust-building.
The EU leaders urged the Taliban to use the ‘historic opportunity’ to join Afghanistan’s current political system. They also reiterated the EU support for a peaceful and stable Afghanistan, seeking an immediate ceasefire and the start of intra-Afghan peace talks, in a bid to preserve the two-decade gains for buttressing the republic government and human rights.
The EU declaration also seeks to solve the Afghan conflict quagmire through political and diplomatic channels that won’t run contrary to international conventions and brings about a state of permanent stability. European leaders emphasized that their assistance will fall in the sphere of buttressing government institutions, capacity building and graft-busting measures.
The militant group of Taliban has welcomed the EU leaders’ declaration, but noted few points that they deemed to be in conflict with the ‘right to independence’ of Afghans.
The group’s spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid, has said that others should not interfere in our affairs just as ‘Afghans refrain from doing so’.
