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Afghan FM to Asharq Al-Awsat: A Ceasefire Would Clear ‘Taliban’ from Responsibility for Violence

Afghan Foreign Minister Mohammed Haneef Atmar, Asharq Al-Awsat (PHOTO TAKEN BY: Bashir Saleh)
Afghan Foreign Minister Mohammed Haneef Atmar, Asharq Al-Awsat (PHOTO TAKEN BY: Bashir Saleh)
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Afghan FM to Asharq Al-Awsat: A Ceasefire Would Clear ‘Taliban’ from Responsibility for Violence

Afghan Foreign Minister Mohammed Haneef Atmar, Asharq Al-Awsat (PHOTO TAKEN BY: Bashir Saleh)
Afghan Foreign Minister Mohammed Haneef Atmar, Asharq Al-Awsat (PHOTO TAKEN BY: Bashir Saleh)

Afghan Foreign Minister Mohammed Haneef Atmar stressed the importance of the role played by Saudi Arabia in advancing peace efforts in his country, and has requested from his Saudi counterpart that the Kingdom weighs in on achieving a ceasefire in Afghanistan.

The top diplomat had recently held comprehensive talks with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan on expanding bilateral cooperation in the political, security, economic, and development sectors.

“We are very grateful for the special attention received from the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, and their eagerness to strengthen the relationship with our country,” Atmar said in an interview with Asharq Al-Awsat.

Reaffirming that the Afghan government has met all commitments it made to the Taliban, Atmar said it was the party’s turn to comply with its obligations and prove its good intentions.

“We have released over 6,000 detainees and met all the demands made by the Taliban,” he said.

“Now the Taliban must prove to the Afghan people and the international community that they are fulfilling the promises and obligations they signed,” he added.

The foreign minister explained that peace talks held in Doha were a good start for reaching reconciliation with the Taliban, but remain insufficient without international and regional participation.

“It is an important initiative that opens the doorway to negotiations,” he said about the Doha talks, asserting that a second round of them is coming up.

Atmar hoped for regional and international support to underpin Afghan negotiations, noting that holding the talks alone is not enough to overcome the difficulties lying in the path of achieving desired goals.

Invoking Taliban’s recent attempts to dodge blame for violence in Afghanistan, Atmar said that the best way for the group to demonstrate that it does not want violence is for it to agree to a ceasefire.

He also added that it would clear the Taliban from responsibility for recent aggression levels in Afghanistan.

“The Afghan government sees that a ceasefire agreement would serve as the best evidence on the Taliban not seeking violence and that they are not responsible for the current level of violence in the country,” said Atmar.

Expressing optimism about the new US administration, Atmar said that the joint security talks with Washington are vital to supporting international stability.

“The US and Afghanistan have common interests, especially in achieving security,” he told Asharq Al-Awsat, adding that Washington has “signed binding agreements in Afghanistan.”

Atmar emphasized that Afghanistan does not want to be involved in regional conflict, and highlighted the significance of the support the South Asian country receives from the Muslim World League.

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Mashhadani to Asharq Al-Awsat: Regional Coordination Needed to Prevent Syria’s Division

Mashhadani during a parliamentary session (Iraqi Parliament website)
Mashhadani during a parliamentary session (Iraqi Parliament website)
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Mashhadani to Asharq Al-Awsat: Regional Coordination Needed to Prevent Syria’s Division

Mashhadani during a parliamentary session (Iraqi Parliament website)
Mashhadani during a parliamentary session (Iraqi Parliament website)

Iraqi Parliament Speaker Mahmoud al-Mashhadani has called for high-level coordination among key regional players—including Iraq, Saudi Arabia, and other nations—to avert one of the most dangerous scenarios facing Syria: the threat of division, which he described as “one of Israel’s objectives.”

In an interview with Asharq Al-Awsat, Mashhadani discussed the Syrian crisis and its impact on Iraq and the broader region. He explained that the current Syrian situation has unfolded with unforeseen tools, timing, and external support, yet remains controlled and deliberate.

According to the Iraqi official, Syria faces three possible outcomes: stability, chaos, or division.

“Who supports the division of Syria?” he asked, saying “Israel alone, while key nations in the region—such as Iran, Türkiye, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, and Jordan—oppose it.”

He urged these nations to overcome their differences and coordinate to prevent Syria’s fragmentation and maintain its stability, saying: “We must prioritize the unity of Syria over our disputes.”

Mashhadani emphasized Iraq’s efforts to mediate and foster understanding among these countries, saying “Iraq has a unique historical opportunity to reclaim its regional role.”

He explained that Iraq’s strategic position as a crossroads between major nations enables it to facilitate dialogue and cooperation. He also stressed the importance of high-level security coordination, citing shared concerns over threats such as the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) and ISIS.

“We all share common fears regarding the spread of extremist groups,” he said, “and Iraq can act as a coordinator to address these concerns.”

Additionally, he called for Iraq to collaborate with Gulf countries to address legitimate fears regarding Syria’s future governance and potential domination by extremist groups.

“We must ask: who will govern Syria, and how do we prevent the rise of radical forces like the Muslim Brotherhood?”

Mashhadani highlighted the unified rejection by Iraq, Jordan, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia of plans to forcibly relocate Palestinians from the West Bank to Sinai, Jordan, or Iraq.

“This displacement scheme is unacceptable to us and to the region,” he affirmed.

On Iraq, Mashhadani confirmed that the parliamentary elections are set to take place in October, in line with agreements among political blocs. He also emphasized the need for national unity, saying: “Iraq needs a leadership umbrella that represents the entire nation, and parliament is best suited to fulfill this role.”

He further stated that his political agenda centers on rebuilding and uniting Iraq’s Sunni community, which has faced significant challenges since 2014.

“My mission is to bring together the different Sunni factions, despite their rivalries and conflicting interests,” he said. “I aim to serve as an umbrella figure—a stabilizing presence to guide them toward cohesion and cooperation.”

Revisiting his 2014 proposal for “national reconciliation,” Mashhadani stressed the importance of transitioning Iraq from a system based on sectarian divisions to one grounded in citizenship, where merit and competence prevail.

“We asked ourselves: what kind of Iraq do we want?” he recalled. “The answer was clear—an Iraq that transitions from a state of components to a state of citizenship.” However, the initiative was sidelined due to political events, including the 2018 protests. “The need for reconciliation is more urgent than ever,” he concluded.

Mashhadani dismissed recurring calls for the creation of a Sunni federal region as “political immaturity.” Reflecting on a similar proposal for a nine-province Shiite federal region in 2006, he reiterated his opposition to dividing Iraq.

He distinguished between federalism and division, saying: “Federalism is a promising concept, but it requires deep understanding and experience. Division, on the other hand, would be disastrous.”

“Iraq’s diversity makes unity our only viable path forward. Citizenship must be the foundation of our state," he added.