UN chief calls for dialogue with the Taliban

The United Nations:

UN chief Antonio Guterres pleaded for nations to continue dialogue with the Taliban, in an interview with AFP on Thursday, as he expressed fears that the return of die-hard Islamists to power in Afghanistan does not embolden the jihadists in the Sahel.

“We must maintain a dialogue with the Taliban, where we affirm our principles directly – a dialogue with a sense of solidarity with the Afghan people,” he said.

“Our duty is to extend our solidarity to a people who suffer greatly, where millions and millions of people risk dying of hunger,” added the secretary general.

Guterres said the world must avoid an “economic collapse” in Afghanistan.

Without calling for the lifting of international sanctions or the release of Afghan funds frozen in the world, the UN chief predicted that “financial instruments” would allow the Afghan economy to “breathe”.

Guterres said there was “no guarantee” of what might come out of the talks but that the talks are essential “if we want Afghanistan not to be a center of terrorism, if we want women and the girls do not lose all the rights acquired during the previous period, if we want the different ethnic groups to feel represented. “

“So far, in the discussions we have had, there is at least a receptivity to talk,” added Guterres, who does not rule out going to Afghanistan one day if the conditions are right.

What the UN wants is “an inclusive government”, where all components of Afghan society are represented, and “this first preliminary government” announced a few days ago “does not give that impression”, a- he added, with regret.

He said Afghanistan must be governed “in peace and stability, with respect for the rights of the people”.

Guterres added that the Taliban want recognition, financial support and sanctions abolished.

“It gives some weight to the international community,” he said.

Asked about the risks of an Afghan-type scenario occurring in the Sahel, the secretary general said he feared “the psychological and real impact” of what has happened in recent weeks.

“There is a real danger. (Some) terrorist groups may feel excited about what has happened and have ambitions beyond what they thought a few months ago,” he warned. .

He said he was concerned about fanatic groups where death “is desirable”, with armies “disintegrating in front of” such fighters.

“We saw that in Mosul in Iraq, in Mali during the first push towards Bamako, we saw it in Mozambique.”

He said it was “essential to strengthen security mechanisms in the Sahel”.

Counterterrorism Force for Africa

“It’s not just Mali, Burkina or Niger. Now we have infiltrations in Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana,” Guterres added.

He noted that France will reduce its presence in the region and cited reports that Chad wishes to withdraw some troops from border areas around Burkina Faso, Niger and Mali.

“I fear today that the response capacities of the international community and the countries of the region are not sufficient in the face of the threat,” he lamented.

“This is why I am fighting for there to be an African counterterrorism force with a mandate under Chapter Seven (which provides for the use of force) of the Security Council and with dedicated funds, which can guarantee a response at the threat level, “he added.

The UN chief has been trying for several years to give the force of the G5 Sahel – Chad, Mauritania, Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso – a UN mandate accompanied by collective funding from the global body.

France supports Guterres but the main financial contributor to the UN, the United States, has rejected the decision.

“This blockage must end. It is absolutely essential,” said the secretary general.

(Except for the title, this story was not edited by NDTV staff and is posted from a syndicated feed.)