Indonesia could serve as a mediator for peace talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban, but we need to await their request first to mediate them
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Indonesia could facilitate peace talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban if requested, according to the University of Indonesia's international law expert Professor Hikmahanto Juwana.

"Indonesia could serve as a mediator for peace talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban, but we need to await their request first to mediate them," Professor Juwana stated here, Saturday.

If no sides request Indonesia's assistance, he suggested the country to refrain from being involved and mediating the conflict.

"In the context of this conflict, we should not take the initiative ourselves since by doing so, we could be seen as a eleventh-hour hero that is clearly not good," Juwana pointed out.


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According to Professor Juwana, Indonesia was experienced in mediating international conflicts, and several national figures could be urged to lead the mediation process if requested.

He believes that former vice president Jusuf Kalla and former foreign minister Hassan Wirajuda were two competent figures deemed fit to lead the mediation efforts if requested later. Both figures were experienced in acting as mediators between conflicting sides in the past, Juwana added.

Professor Juwana also drew attention to an ethnic conflict element in the Afghan conflict. Hence, a careful approach should be taken into account if Indonesia is called to mediate the conflict.


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Before the Taliban successfully captured the Afghan capital Kabul and other major cities, its major opponents were the United States and the US-backed Afghan government that enjoyed international recognition, he stated.

President Biden's decision to withdraw US troops from Afghanistan reinvigorated the Taliban, as they were no longer hindered by the sophisticated US troops in their operation, Juwana stated.

He noted that after garnering victory, Taliban’s current potential opponents were the competing internal factions and anti-Taliban groups uniting under a single goal to defeat it.


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Translator: M Zulfikar, Nabil Ihsan
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
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