A supporter of the Afghan resistance front explained why the talks are useless
On October 20, the Taliban arrived in Moscow for talks. The Taliban delegation is led by Abdul Salam Hanafi, Second Deputy Prime Minister of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan. The event is planned to discuss the situation in the country and form an inclusive government.
Naimi Ahmad Shoaib, a native of Panjshir Province, an economist and supporter of the Afghan National Resistance Front, spoke about why these talks should not be taken seriously and why the head of delegation decides nothing.
Abdul Salam Hanafi, Head of Delegation. Photo: AP
– I know the head of the delegation, Abdul Salam Hanafi. He is an ethnic Uzbek. In the 1990s, he served as Deputy Minister of Education in the Taliban government (a banned terrorist organization in Russia. – MK ), says Naimi Ahmad Shoaib. “Then he seemed to be one of the symbols of the Taliban, such as the 'wedding general.' By sending this person to Moscow, the Taliban wants to show the world community that it is cooperating with various ethnic groups – Uzbeks, Tajiks and others living in Afghanistan.
– It is no secret to anyone that the whole power is in fact in the hands of the Haqqani family (the Haqqani Network terrorist group is a radical wing of the Taliban – MK ). For example, one of the members of the Haqqani clan now holds the post of interior minister.
I will tell you the story of the head of the delegation who arrived in Moscow, Abdul Salam Hanafi. He recently had a meeting with representatives of Hazaras. They came to him with complaints about the Taliban, which expelled people living in various provinces from their homes.
Hanafi honestly admitted that he was helpless in this matter, there was nothing he could do. He advised me to seek the help of Interior Minister Sirajuddin Haqqani or talk to one of the Pashtuns. From this it can be concluded that the Taliban does not take the character of Hanafi seriously. And the talks taking place in Moscow are not taken seriously. Otherwise, they would send a more serious person within the delegation, who has the power to deal with certain issues. So the delegation meeting in Moscow today has no influence on the Taliban and its head is just a “puppet”.
– The Taliban himself says he is in a position where no one in the world recognizes them. To solve this, you have to negotiate, if only for the sake of appearance. They are therefore ready to travel to the meeting anywhere, to any country where they will receive it. It is important for them to show the world community that they are cooperating with other states and are not isolated. Therefore, they specifically use the same Hanafi to show, they say, look, we have representatives of ethnic groups. But it's really a window modification.
– In any case, the negotiations will not solve anything. It is stated that the action will focus on an inclusive state. Russia may expect the Taliban to take some steps in this direction. But talking to the representatives of this delegation is useless. These issues should be addressed directly with Pakistan, which supports the Taliban, or with the Haqqani Group. However, they are unlikely to get into negotiations.
The people of Panjir have asked the world community to she did not leave them. Photos: Photos from the video
– Unlikely. Although for demonstration, Hanafi can provide security to prove that a person in an ethnic group has weight. Understand that Hanafi is the most precious of the Taliban, which is close to power. I will say more, and the person whom the Taliban appointed prime minister is also worthless. For example, we never heard his voice, he didn't make a single statement on camera. There are a lot of jokes about it on social networks. They say there is a leader in the country, but he has no voice. The prime minister is called a “man without a voice.”
– All the people in the Taliban with a dark past have little information about them. Hanafim is known for where he came from, who was under the former government, some other irrelevant information can be found, but nothing more. In fact, no one knows what his past is.
By the way, the one who is called almost the head of the Taliban movement – Interior Minister Sirajuddin Haqqani – is also a “dark horse”. His face is never shown, for us he is a non-existent figure. Recently, a text was published in his name praising suicide bombers. The photo shows a blurred face. Nothing is clear about him either. What his past is, literate or not, cannot be said.
– Given that the country is on the verge of economic collapse, there can be nothing good. People have nothing to eat, little humanitarian aid.
Although the Taliban have made a public commitment to provide security measures, it is in fact continuing to fire on people. Ethnic groups are being purged. In some provinces, people are evicted from their homes, where they have lived for 40-50 years. Terrorist attacks are taking place in remote cities. The Taliban uses these methods to intimidate neighboring countries, including Iran and Russia. They make it clear: if you do not help us, we will fight by such methods. Before the Taliban reached Kabul, it occupied the provinces. And now the Taliban leadership in Kabul says it has nothing to do with the attackers. It is not true. Hundreds of suicide bombers have now been stationed on the border of the northern provinces. It does the same Taliban, but under a different flag.
Photos from the video where the Taliban emigrated people of the province. Photo: Still from video
– Those who worked under the former government are still persecuted there. People are found and taken in an unknown direction, their fate is unknown to us. People are afraid for life.
– I'll tell you how it happens. The country has announced that all residents can receive ready-made passports. People come to the office. Biometric data are collected from everyone. Then the Taliban will find out those who worked under the former government. The man leaves the office, is blindfolded and taken in an unknown direction.
Another example of illegality. A few days ago, we found fresh graves in Panjshire. The resistance front called on the international community to send its experts to investigate. You have to understand how many people were killed and for what reasons. According to our information, there are many civilians among the dead who had nothing to do with the resistance front. Naturally, no one was allowed to investigate.
– Of course not. In Afghanistan, the media are heavily censored. Only those agencies and media can work that are loyal to and praise the Taliban. Many journalists who wanted to tell the truth were imprisoned or so intimidated that they had to leave the country.
Recently, a prominent Afghan reporter, who won the World Journalist Award last year, fled the country due to threats. When he got out of Afghanistan, he published material about what was happening there. He summed up the publication: “I am upset that I cannot continue to work, but I cannot stay in Afghanistan.”
– It's also a shock to us. We do not understand why we have to negotiate with them. But let me remind you that this is not the first time the Taliban has come. Meetings with them have been organized before. I have one question – if it is an inclusive state, why is Afghanistan, with a population of 38 million, represented by a pair of terrorists? Why not invite people from the opposite camp who live in the countryside? For example, people from the resistance front or politicians representing the people?
Video footage of the Taliban people of the province. Photo: Still from the video
– If they were invited at the official level and the Taliban did not let them out of the country, then the whole world would understand what is happening in Afghanistan. Now the Taliban are trying to convince everyone that they guarantee peace, the Afghan people are free, the people are doing what they want. So they would test their words in practice. Russia was to invite opposition to the Taliban regime.
I also want to say that the recognition of the Taliban by any state will mean that the terrorists have been legalized. And all of humanity will suffer.