‘Taliban an Afghan phenomenon’

WASHINGTON—Pakistan’s ambassador to the UN Munir Akram has said that problems plaguing Afghanistan, for example, the resurgence of the Taliban were typical Afghan in nature and ought to be resolved through reconciliation and reconstruction.
“We must seek success in Afghanistan through reconciliation and reconstruction, not by bombs and bullets. The Taliban is an Afghan phenomenon. The government should accept its responsibility rather than transfer blame on to Pakistan or others,” said Akram while participating in a debate on the situation in the war-torn country. He said military force was not the answer to the problems of alienation and insurgency. A comprehensive strategy, compromising military, political and economic elements, could be more successful, he said, adding that it would require a painstaking process of reconciliation and reconstruction, especially in the regions afflicted by insurgency and violence. “Reconciliation will involve opening the doors to those who feel they have been excluded from political participation, power and progress.—Agencies