Justice Minister Abdul Baseer Anwar says he sees no significant shortcomings in Afghanistan’s Constitution which would impact the peace process or impede the Taliban from engaging in peace talks with the Afghan government to end the conflicts in the country.
His remarks come a day after the disclosure of a detailed document that has been prepared as a potential peace agreement between the United States, the Taliban and the Afghan government.
According to the document, the new political arrangements within Afghanistan will include adoption of a new constitution within the 18-month transitional period.
The leaked paper has also predicted the establishment of a transitional government in the aftermath of a possible peace accord between the parties to the conflict.
The transitional government is to be led by a rotating chairman and several vice chairmen, the document suggests.
But the Justice Minister said it is the Afghan government which will make the final decision about a potential constitutional amendment.
All provisions reflected in the Constitution are not creating any hurdles for peace talks or for the Taliban to join government, Anwar told TOLOnews.
“The Constitution of Afghanistan is an advanced document in many ways and I don’t see anything, although I am a medical doctor, at the same time, I am also a law student, a Sharia (Islamic law) student, a student of the Quran and the teachings of the Prophet (Mohammad), so I don’t see anything in it which would prevent the armed opponents, particularly the Taliban and the people who support them to join the peace process. I don’t see anything in this document which creates a barrier on the way of peace,” he explained.
“The removal of provisions from the Constitution which could affect the fundamental rights of the people of Afghanistan must be avoided,” added the minister.
Meanwhile, some members of Meshrano Jirga, the Upper House of Parliament, said Afghanistan and the United States are bound by common interests as they were during the communist regime in Afghanistan.
“If there was the peril of communism in the past, there is the danger of terrorism today, which both threaten and have been threatening humanity; therefore, decisions should be realistic and should be carried out in line with the realities of Afghanistan,” said Mohammad Alam Ezedyar, the first deputy speaker of Meshrano Jirga.
But, other senators have said that the only option which will lead to the restoration of peace in Afghanistan is to mount pressure on Pakistan to ask the resurgent group to stop engaging in further conflict and endorse the way of diplomacy.
“Our expectation from the international community is to increase pressure on Pakistan. As long as Pakistan does not mount pressure on the Taliban, the group will never show its willingness to conduct talks with the Afghan government,” said Muhayuddin Munsef, a senator.
“All Pakistani leaders are living in Pakistan, from where they issue orders. The plan is carried out from there, from there, they travel around the world,” said Nazar Mohammad Faqiri, a senator.
The 49-page document titled “Agreement on a Comprehensive Settlement of the Conflict in Afghanistan” details proposals regarding a final peace agreement for Afghanistan at the end of a negotiating process.
Based on the document, a core bargain involving both the internal and external parties includes a declaration of a ceasefire, Taliban’s complete renunciation of links with terrorist organizations, complete and phased ending of the current US and NATO military mission over an 18-month transitional time period.