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President Ghani seeks Saudi government’s support for Afghan-led peace process
President Ashraf Ghani during his meeting with Saudi King Salman ibn Abdul-Aziz on Sunday
BY ZARIZA CORRESPONDENT PUBLISHED 2015-03-16 | 15:33:00 101 Print | Email
President Ashraf Ghani, who is on a two-day visit to Saudi Arabia, on Sunday held wide-ranging talks with King Salman bin Abdul-Aziz.
According to sources, the Afghan-led peace process figured prominently in the talks between the two leaders.
President Ghani sought Saudi government’s support for the peace process.
Sayed Ahmad Omarkhil, Afghan envoy to Saudi Arabia, admitted that the peace process was one of the “key issues” discussed by the two leaders.
Mr. Omarkhil said the two leaders discussed many issues of mutual concern and pledged to bolster ties between the two countries.
A report by Saudi Press Agency (SPA) stated that the talks dealt with “bilateral relations between the two brotherly countries as well as the latest developments in the Islamic and international arenas”.
President Ghani’s visit to Saudi Arabia comes at a time when the national unity government (NUG) in Kabul is preparing for peace negotiations with Taliban
Those who were present during the meeting include President Ghani’s adviser on national security, Mohammad Hanif Atmar; first deputy to chief executive officer (CEO), Mohammad Khan; Minister of Haj and Religious Affairs, Faiz Mohammad Osmani; acting Minister of Education Shafiq Samim; Head of High Peace Council (HPC) Masoom Stanikzai and President Ghani’s spokesperson Ajmal Abidi.
President Ghani’s visit to Saudi Arabia comes at a time when the national unity government (NUG) in Kabul is preparing for peace negotiations with Taliban.
President Ghani also met Iyad bin Amin Madani, secretary general of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).
Jeddah-based IOC, experts believe, can play a critical role in mediating between the Afghan government and Taliban.
It is President Ghani’s third visit to Saudi Arabia since the establishment of new government in Kabul late last year.
On Sunday, President Ghani performed Umrah on the sidelines of his visit and prayed for peace, stability and national unity in Afghanistan, said a statement issued by his office.
Next week, President Ghani, Chief Executive Dr. Abdullah Abdullah, and some members of the cabinet are expected to visit the U.S.
President Barack Obama will host the Afghan government delegation for meetings and a working lunch at the White House on March 24, 2015.
Next week, President Ghani, Chief Executive Dr. Abdullah Abdullah, and some members of the cabinet are expected to visit the U.S.
During the visit, President Ghani is expected to discuss the contours of peace process and nature of the dialogue the new government intends to start with the armed opposition groups in Afghanistan.
The new Afghan government recently extended an olive branch to armed opposition groups. To evolve a consensus over Afghan-led peace process, President Ghani has held a series of meetings with various political leaders, civil society activists and former jihadi leaders.
As he said with great emphasis at the London Conference on Afghanistan in December last year, peace is Afghanistan’s national priority and the government is determined to bring political disagreements to end politically.
* The Saudis are important but perhaps that not important.
Yes, they rule over the homeland of Islam, the Hejaz region of Arabia, and are wealthy with billions of dollars to spend on friends, proxies and against enemies.
However I don't think they've ever been interested too much in Afghanistan besides viewing it from a limited security prism as a location that militants of Saudi origin (e.g. Bin Laden) have been staying in.
Their main interest in the region is Pakistan, whose religious scholars have good ties with the Wahabi/Salafi scholars of Saudi Arabia.
The Saudis gave $1.5 billion to the Nawaz Sharif regime in Pakistan last year and many suspect the main reason for doing that was for Nawaz to end the much needed Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline deal, which in fact is what happened.
The Saudis are not confident of their military and view third world Pakistan as a good way to secure their "defence needs".
The Saudi military and intelligence have close links with the Pakistani army and ISI and the Saudi regime was one of only 3 regimes on earth to recognize the Taliban government, the other two being the UAE and of course Pakistan.
What are Saudi interests in Afghanistan?
- "No real interest as long as there is no terrorism that reaches over to Saudi."
?
- "Co-ordinate all policy with Pakistan, whatever Pakistan wants is what Saudi will support"
?
I doubt it's the latter as beneath the rhetoric of eternal brotherhood the main interest that the Saudis have in Pakistan is using its army to protect their state.
The Saudis in themselves may not be of any real importance and the key players in the Afghan conflict maybe:
- China
- India
- Russia (to a lesser extent)
- USA
[MENTION=1444]Azmal[/MENTION] [MENTION=1201]Toramana[/MENTION] [MENTION=17582]Al-Afghani[/MENTION] [MENTION=5723]Kushan Prince[/MENTION]
President Ashraf Ghani during his meeting with Saudi King Salman ibn Abdul-Aziz on Sunday
BY ZARIZA CORRESPONDENT PUBLISHED 2015-03-16 | 15:33:00 101 Print | Email
President Ashraf Ghani, who is on a two-day visit to Saudi Arabia, on Sunday held wide-ranging talks with King Salman bin Abdul-Aziz.
According to sources, the Afghan-led peace process figured prominently in the talks between the two leaders.
President Ghani sought Saudi government’s support for the peace process.
Sayed Ahmad Omarkhil, Afghan envoy to Saudi Arabia, admitted that the peace process was one of the “key issues” discussed by the two leaders.
Mr. Omarkhil said the two leaders discussed many issues of mutual concern and pledged to bolster ties between the two countries.
A report by Saudi Press Agency (SPA) stated that the talks dealt with “bilateral relations between the two brotherly countries as well as the latest developments in the Islamic and international arenas”.
President Ghani’s visit to Saudi Arabia comes at a time when the national unity government (NUG) in Kabul is preparing for peace negotiations with Taliban
Those who were present during the meeting include President Ghani’s adviser on national security, Mohammad Hanif Atmar; first deputy to chief executive officer (CEO), Mohammad Khan; Minister of Haj and Religious Affairs, Faiz Mohammad Osmani; acting Minister of Education Shafiq Samim; Head of High Peace Council (HPC) Masoom Stanikzai and President Ghani’s spokesperson Ajmal Abidi.
President Ghani’s visit to Saudi Arabia comes at a time when the national unity government (NUG) in Kabul is preparing for peace negotiations with Taliban.
President Ghani also met Iyad bin Amin Madani, secretary general of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).
Jeddah-based IOC, experts believe, can play a critical role in mediating between the Afghan government and Taliban.
It is President Ghani’s third visit to Saudi Arabia since the establishment of new government in Kabul late last year.
On Sunday, President Ghani performed Umrah on the sidelines of his visit and prayed for peace, stability and national unity in Afghanistan, said a statement issued by his office.
Next week, President Ghani, Chief Executive Dr. Abdullah Abdullah, and some members of the cabinet are expected to visit the U.S.
President Barack Obama will host the Afghan government delegation for meetings and a working lunch at the White House on March 24, 2015.
Next week, President Ghani, Chief Executive Dr. Abdullah Abdullah, and some members of the cabinet are expected to visit the U.S.
During the visit, President Ghani is expected to discuss the contours of peace process and nature of the dialogue the new government intends to start with the armed opposition groups in Afghanistan.
The new Afghan government recently extended an olive branch to armed opposition groups. To evolve a consensus over Afghan-led peace process, President Ghani has held a series of meetings with various political leaders, civil society activists and former jihadi leaders.
As he said with great emphasis at the London Conference on Afghanistan in December last year, peace is Afghanistan’s national priority and the government is determined to bring political disagreements to end politically.
* The Saudis are important but perhaps that not important.
Yes, they rule over the homeland of Islam, the Hejaz region of Arabia, and are wealthy with billions of dollars to spend on friends, proxies and against enemies.
However I don't think they've ever been interested too much in Afghanistan besides viewing it from a limited security prism as a location that militants of Saudi origin (e.g. Bin Laden) have been staying in.
Their main interest in the region is Pakistan, whose religious scholars have good ties with the Wahabi/Salafi scholars of Saudi Arabia.
The Saudis gave $1.5 billion to the Nawaz Sharif regime in Pakistan last year and many suspect the main reason for doing that was for Nawaz to end the much needed Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline deal, which in fact is what happened.
The Saudis are not confident of their military and view third world Pakistan as a good way to secure their "defence needs".
The Saudi military and intelligence have close links with the Pakistani army and ISI and the Saudi regime was one of only 3 regimes on earth to recognize the Taliban government, the other two being the UAE and of course Pakistan.
What are Saudi interests in Afghanistan?
- "No real interest as long as there is no terrorism that reaches over to Saudi."
?
- "Co-ordinate all policy with Pakistan, whatever Pakistan wants is what Saudi will support"
?
I doubt it's the latter as beneath the rhetoric of eternal brotherhood the main interest that the Saudis have in Pakistan is using its army to protect their state.
The Saudis in themselves may not be of any real importance and the key players in the Afghan conflict maybe:
- China
- India
- Russia (to a lesser extent)
- USA
[MENTION=1444]Azmal[/MENTION] [MENTION=1201]Toramana[/MENTION] [MENTION=17582]Al-Afghani[/MENTION] [MENTION=5723]Kushan Prince[/MENTION]