"د ځينو سياسيونو لخوا د داعش حضور په افغانستان کې لوى ښودل کيږي"

HERAT CITY (Pajhwok): Representatives from 17 countries and international organizations attended the sixth round of talks --- this time aimed at enhancing cooperation among regional security forces --- in western Herat province on Friday.

On the sidelines of the meeting in Herat City, Daud Muradyan, head of the Afghanistan Strategic Studies office, told reporters that representatives from the US, the UK, France, Holland, Egypt, Turkey, India, Pakistan, Iran, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan and international organizations were taking part in the huddle.

He said the meeting was aimed at enhancing Afghan security forces’ cooperation with security forces of regional countries. He said no meeting on strengthening security cooperation between security forces of regional countries had taken place in recent years.

Muradyan also criticized the Afghan government’s peace policy for giving much chance to Pakistan in, saying the fact was that Afghanistan currently held the keys to peace.

Acting Afghan Interior Minister Wais Ahmad Barmak said today’s meeting was important because regional countries had realized that peace in Afghanistan was in their interest.

He said though the security situation in Herat province had improved, yet officials committing negligence or corruption would be dismissed.

The minister said it was a matter of concern that the Taliban were able to wrest back some areas they were driven from as a result of security operations.

Former spymaster Rahmatullah Nabil at the meeting said the Daesh group in Afghanistan had no connection with the Islamic State based in Iraq and Syria.

He said Daesh were actually Taliban who used to change the color of flag when needed. “Some politicians exaggerate the presence of Daesh in Afghanistan to warn other countries that it is coming to them and this prompted Russia and Iran to support Taliban against Daesh instead of Afghan forces.”

Nabil told regional countries that fighting terrorism with terrorism was not the solution.

Herat governor Mohammad Asif Rahimi said such meetings could positively impact the security situation in Afghanistan.

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