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EU calls for Afghanistan ceasefire
KABUL, Oct 20, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – European Union officials called Sunday for
a ceasefire in Afghanistan, saying the breakdown in talks between the US and
the Taliban presented an opportunity to push anew for a truce.
US President Donald Trump last month declared talks with the insurgents
“dead”, citing a Taliban attack that killed a US soldier.
Negotiations had been in the final stages for a deal that would have seen
the US pull troops from Afghanistan after 18 years in return for various
Taliban guarantees.
But to the dismay of many Afghans and international observers, the deal
included no immediate, comprehensive ceasefire, rather it would supposedly
have paved the way for a reduction in violence and later talks between the
Taliban and the Afghan government.
Roland Kobia, the EU ambassador to Afghanistan, said the talks’ collapse
provided a chance to push for a ceasefire which would, in turn, prove a large
enough change in Afghanistan for Trump to consider resuming negotiations.
“It’s the right moment and the right opportunity to maybe go one step
beyond a simple reduction in violence and explore ways in which a ceasefire
… will take place,” Kobia told Kabul journalists.
“The idea is really to see how we can move the ceasefire idea forward
instead of leaving it for later. … There is an opportunity here today”.
When asked how the EU, which has only a limited footprint in Afghanistan,
could leverage a ceasefire, Kobia suggested that the Taliban might return to
power in “one form or another” within months so would entertain a truce to
help normalise future relations with the European bloc.
“A ceasefire would be a token, a guarantee of goodwill and good
preparation for the normalisation of these relationships,” Kobia said.
The Taliban, for its part, has steadfastly ruled out an immediate
ceasefire but last year downed weapons for a three-day truce.
Afghanistan is currently in an uneasy waiting period following the first
round of presidential elections on September 28.
Results were supposed to be released Saturday but have been indefinitely
delayed due to “technical issues”, the Independent Election Commission said.
Pierre Mayaudon, head of the EU delegation in Afghanistan, said a delay of a
few days to finalise results was legitimate to ensure votes were fairly
counted.
“But not many more days that again will go into weeks and will possibly
raise the perception that something is happening,” he told reporters.
Violence in Afghanistan meanwhile continues unabated. On Friday, at least
70 people were killed when a mosque in Nangarhar province was bombed.
BSS/AFP/FI/ 1659 hrs