Afghan opposition leader doesn't believe in national reconciliation

Abdullah, the main challenger in the last Afghan elections, supports the military initiative in Helmand, but told NRC Handelsblad the war can only be won with good governance.

"A necessary step," is how Abdullah Abdullah described the offensive that was launched by international coalition troops in the Helmand province last Saturday. But, he added, it would only work as part of a broader strategy. In an interview with NRC Handelsblad, the main challenger to president Karzai in the last Agfhan elections and the de facto leader of the political opposition had his say about the ongoing military operation and the future of his country.

Abdullah was in the Afghan capital Kabul at the time of the long awaited offensive by American, British and Afghan forces against Taliban insurgents in the south of the country. He supports operation Helmand, which aims to capture the Taliban stronghold Marja, but wants the establishment of an adequate and incorruptible government in the region to follow in its wake.

As a former insurgent - he was a member of the Northern Alliance that fought against the Soviet occupation and the Taliban - Abdullah knows Pakistan is crucial as a safe haven for militants. That is where they recuperate and regroup. A military offensive can only be sustained if this sanctuary for the Taliban is addressed, Abdullah said.

'Broader reconciliation is an illusion'

Abdullah is skeptical, to say the least, about the new strategy of reconciliation with armed opposition groups, including the Taliban, embraced by the international community. He doubted that the Taliban leadership was now ready for a compromise, when they have made gains in the past five years. “Ideologically they are not part of the system," Abdullah said. “They want to destroy the system, bring it down and replace it. That has not changed.There is a lack of memory [in the international community] about who the Taliban were and who they are. Or perhaps they have no choice but to say this. This is one way to say there is a solution.”

"The door has to be open for reconciliation," Abdullah continued. But “in reality this will be only local,” based on agreements arrived at in specific areas. Asked if he thought talks with the Taliban leadership would work he said “I don’t think so” adding that thoughts about a “broader reconciliation” were an “illusion”.

“The Taliban have chosen violence” he said. “What are the choices for those not using violence if the international community does not do anything?”

Violence lurking below the surface

Abdullah condemned the lack of democratic structures in Afghanistan. Those were apparent during the last presidential elections, when Karzai's government ignored the call for an independent election committee. Now the government neglects the representation of ethnic minorities, as the international community looks on, according to Abdullah. He said all the attention goes to "the thousands who are fighting" instead of to "the millions who have other priorities".

The opposition leader voiced concern about the alienation of non-Pashtun groups within the government, pointing to the lack of non-Pasthun ministers in the new cabinet and other key positions. The ministers of defence, finance, foreign affairs and home affairs, as well as the chief justice and attorney general are all Pashtuns. “This is not right for the country," he said

While Abdullah does not command enough support to be able to overthrow the Karzai administration, he has sufficient numbers to emerge as a spoiler and may also be able to stymie political initiatives. He admitted Karzai’s difficulties in forming the government were, in part, his doing, as he had asked the members of parliament loyal to him to “block the cabinet formation”. Abdullah said he has the support of 50 of the lower house's 249 members.

Abdullah said he was launching a political campaign to address his issues of concern. At a time when the international community is seeing inclusion of the armed opposition as a way of ensuring political stability, Abdullah’s moves could signal a new challenge and even tap the violence lurking below the surface amongst his supporters