UNS — Taliban Intended to establish an Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan after taking control of Kabul. They also claimed that currently responsible for the safety of Afghans after their President; Ashraf Ghani, flees to Tajikistan. The success of this armed militant group is the peak of military and political conflict with the legitimate Afghanistan government. Previously, the Taliban keep targeting their attacks toward Afghanistan’s security forces and quickly attack several regions in the country.
As a country with the largest Muslim population globally, Indonesia could take a role in peacefully solving the Afghanistan-Taliban conflict. Indonesia has a history of receiving a visit from the Taliban Delegates of the Taliban Political Office in Doha, Qatar, in 2019, who visited Indonesia’s Vice-President Jusuf Kalla at his official residence to discuss peace efforts.
According to Indonesia’s potential position in the conflict, the faculty members of the International Relations Program (HI) Faculty of Social and Political Sciences (FISIP) Universitas Sebelas Maret (UNS) Surakarta, Dr. Leni Winarni, mentioned that Indonesia has a great opportunity to act as a mediator because Indonesia has started similar effort before. “It means Indonesia has an opportunity as a third party trusted by both conflicting parties as a mediator,” Dr. Leni Winarni stated on Wednesday (18/8/2021).
To uns.ac.id, Dr. Leni Winarni, an Observer of Political Islam Studies and International Conflict Resolution FISIP UNS, also stated that Indonesia could build a friendly diplomatic relationship with Afghanistan under the Taliban government by considering the situational development in the country. “It is better that Indonesia wait and see for the development first because Afghanistan President, Ashraf Ghani’s statement that handed the power to Taliban, followed by Taliban leader’s announcement, such as, Ghani Baradar, that they have won and control the government is still illegal under the constitution,” she added.
Regarding Indonesia’s offer to peacefully solve the Afghanistan-Taliban conflict, she mentioned that it is challenging if Indonesia wants to make Afghanistan a democratic country because Indonesia is an external party in the conflict. However, if diplomacy is conducted and a peace mission is established in the country, it will positively affect the country. But, to return the peace in Afghanistan depends strongly on the country’s government, factions, and community components. “No country will be peaceful unless for their own efforts,” Dr. Leni Winarni stated.
Concerns Over Taliban’s Power
Besides discussing Indonesia’s opportunity as a mediator, Dr. Leni Winarni also discussed her concerns over Afghanistan if the Taliban indeed take power. She stated that the Taliban’s success in seizing Afghanistan is surprising because, according to the US prediction, the armed militant group could control Afghanistan after three months. “This situation was surprising because US estimate was missed, which stated that Taliban would seize Afghanistan in three months, turned out Taliban could do it in a few weeks,” she added.
Further, Dr. Leni Winarni stated that the Taliban’s success in controlling Afghanistan would spark concerns for the international community if the Taliban’s statement on building a moderate government is not implemented. The failure to enforce this statement will bring Afghanistan to its condition 20 years ago. Therefore, she suggests everyone waits and sees and witness if the Taliban could implement a different government than 20 years ago, as claimed in the press conference on Tuesday (17/8/2021). In their statement, the Taliban claimed that they would give freedom for women to work and enter the government, not implement the ultra-orthodox conservative government, and respect civil rights.
“If these statements are consistent and Taliban could prove to the international world, trust will grow towards the country under Taliban’s rule,” she added.
However, Dr. Leni Winarni also expressed her concern that this situation requires international and domestic analysis. At the international level, the Taliban could pose a danger for regional threat and cause a wave of refugees to other countries. This success could also bring the Taliban into an idol for other extremists’ movements worldwide.
“At the domestic level, the discussion on human rights future in the country, especially the increasing violations of women’s and children’s rights, humanism, and other acts of violence,” she added.
Dr. Leni is also concerned that if the Taliban hold power for a long time, they could also launch a revenge attack toward everyone who works or collaborates with the previous government, including NATO, journalists, human rights activists, and people expressing their opinion openly.
“Maybe (Taliban could govern), but maybe not. Because usually, when they could not manage the follow up of such victory, it could start discord in the militant group itself because of the struggle for influence and power,” Dr. Leni Winarni said. Humas UNS
Reporter: Yefta Christopherus AS
Editor: Dwi Hastuti