US asked to continue efforts for peace in Afghanistan
ISLAMABAD: A former senior official in the US administration, Zalmay Khalilzad, says Richardson's trip of South Asia, specially to Afghanistan, could produce fruitful result if it is followed by more high level visits.
Talking to VOA, Khalilzad described Bill Richardson's visit as highly significant. "It will play effective role in resolution of Afghan problem." He said it should not be the first or last visit. "The United States should continue its efforts and undertake more visits to resolve the Afghan problem."
Khalilzad said the visit has two main purposes. "One is to support the peace mission by the UN envoy for Afghanistan Lakhdar Brahimi, persuade Afghan groups and regional countries, especially Pakistan, to help the United Nations in restoration of peace in Afghanistan and intensify diplomatic efforts." The second objective is to take up several issues with Taliban including human rights, restrictions on women, drug trafficking and terrorism, he said. However, main objective of the visit to give a boost to the UN peace efforts.
Khalilzad said Washington wants to see progress in Afghan peace initiative before the President Clinton's visit to the region later this year. He insisted that the US continued interest could yield fruitful results. He said the coming several weeks and months are highly important. There would be bright prospects for the solution to the Afghan problems if more visits are undertaken and talks held. Khalilzad said resolution of the Afghan crisis is a difficult task.
He said factional fighting inside Afghanistan and political rivalries among the foreign forces are responsible for continued unrest in Afghanistan. "Pakistan is backing Taliban and Iran, Russia Uzbekistan are supporting the Northern Alliance. The United States should put pressure on both Afghan groups and foreign forces."
Khalilzad said the United States should get support of these foreign countries to influence Afghan factions to end fighting. He said these countries would be willing to work for peace if pressurized by the United States as they would be more interested to have cordial relations with the United States rather than serving their interests in Afghanistan. The United States should continuously use the two options-to persuade and pressurize these countries. Khalilzad said there are a number of difficulties in holding talks with foreign powers.
He said the United States cannot hold direct talks with Iran as both the countries have no diplomatic relations. But the possibility for the United States to hold talks with Iran through the United Nations or the "six plus two" grouping on Afghanistan. He said United States is also has strategic economic interests in the Central Asia as the regional countries are willing to export their gas and oil to foreign countries.
These countries cannot achieve the goal as they have no route to sea. They have the best option to export their natural resources to Pakistan via Afghanistan. They could have access to Arabian Sea and other countries through Afghanistan and Pakistan. It is possible if peace is restored in Afghanistan.
He said the United States should come up with a new plan about the future government in Afghanistan. He said there is no sign to put and end to fighting. Reports suggest that rival factions are engaged in preparations for war. Regional countries are also unwilling to broker peace deal. A political solution could be achieved if the United States throw weight behind peace efforts.-NNI
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Last modified on Sunday, 19-Apr-1998 08:14:30 PDT