The latest: The National Resistance Council for Salvation of Afghanistan has published a plan called “Saving Afghanistan from Crisis”, which aims to end war and violence and transition from an undesirable situation to a favourable situation and institutionalize power within the framework of a decentralized parliamentary system. The Resistance Council has called for increased pressure on the Taliban to defer the group to negotiations. However, the council has said that the Taliban refuses to accept a political solution, “national resistance” as a legitimate option to be methodically strengthened and expanded.
Go deeper:
- On March 19, the council held a virtual meeting called “Announcing the Political Plan of the National Resistance Council to Save Afghanistan” and published the plan.
- “In order to end the current deplorable situation, save the country, restore sovereignty to the people in light of the adoption of a new constitution, and enter the era of the founding of a new, stable, democratic Afghanistan, free from war and violence, it proposes this plan,” the council added.
- According to the council, it has arranged the plan in consultation with different directions and personalities.
- The council comprises of former politicians, including former vice-president Yunus Qanouni, former Balkh governor Ata Mohammad Noor, as well as Hazara leader, Mohammad Mohaqiq, Abdul Rashid Dostum, head of the National Islamic Movement of Afghanistan, and others.
- One of the other objectives of the plan is to turn armed rivalries into healthy political and civil competitions in the form of program-based and law-abiding political parties, restoring sovereignty to the people, curbing and institutionalizing state power within the framework of a decentralized parliamentary system, and electing governors, mayors, and district governors through the drafting of a new constitution.
Take note that in order to achieve the goals of its plan, the council has taken four steps, the first of which is to lay the groundwork for negotiations.
- At this stage, it has been suggested that a single umbrella has been established among the Taliban’s opponents at the national level.
- At the same time, it calls for specific address designations to provide and facilitate communication with all parties involved internationally and at the United Nations.
- Among them is a request by the United Nations to open a political office for political movements opposed to the Taliban abroad.
- In addition, attracting the Taliban’s support for the plan, appointing a negotiating team by the group, and specifying the location of the talks are other demands made.
- The second phase of the presented plan is about the start of negotiations. Agreements on the formation of a transitional government for two years with specific tasks, the collection of weapons from non-officers and the reconstruction of security forces are among the proposed issues at this stage.
- The third phase of the Resistance Council’s plan is about the inception of a transitional government, and the fourth phase is dedicated to the elected government. The Taliban have not yet commented on the plan.
Other options for pressuring the Taliban have also been cited as launching field activities, mass protests and civil disobedience, crippling Taliban offices in central and provincial provinces, and supporting the Taliban’s inter-factions.
- It has called on the international community not to recognize the Taliban regime and cut off aid to Afghanistan in a way that its people will not be affected.
- It asked them to add extremists, and those involved with terrorist groups to the UN Security Council sanctions list and force the Taliban group to stop cooperating with foreign terrorists and expel them from Afghanistan.
- It also sought to establish coordination among the neighbouring countries, the region, and the world, based upon the restoration of stability in Afghanistan and transforming the country from being a locus of conflicting interests to one of converging interests for the concerned countries.
Zoom out: This comes even as another meeting of officials took place in Turkey regarding Afghanistan. More than 60 civil society leaders, young politicians, human rights activists, and journalists, including women and men of the country, held the second session of the “National Dialogue on the Role of Women’s Civil Society and the Future of Afghanistan” in Turkey.
- The meeting, held between March 15-17 in Antalya, Turkey, had participants discussing national dialogue, restoring peace and democracy, the legitimacy of inclusive governance and pluralism, law-abiding and Sharia law, women’s rights, media freedom, and other fundamental rights.
- The meeting also discussed youth and women’s participation, humanitarian affairs, fundraising and accountability, the private sector, international and regional engagement, the role of the United Nations, and networking among civil society members.
- They believe that creating better coordination and participation among civil society members is key if they want to have a voice in shaping the democratic future in Afghanistan.
