JK: The Taliban Are Now Changing, Not Like They Used To Be Stiff And Tend To Be Tough

Jusuf Kalla (Photo: Instagram @jusufkalla)

JAKARTA - The 10th and 12th Vice Presidents of the Republic of Indonesia, Jusuf Kalla, assessed that currently the Taliban group that controls Afghanistan is undergoing a transformation to become more moderate at this time.

This was conveyed in a virtual public discussion on the Future of Afghanistan and the Role of Indonesia's Peace Diplomacy which was held by the Center for Reform. Jusuf Kalla assessed that the Taliban was eager to change, which was different from the old government of two decades. And now when there is political change, so far there has been no civil war. "The current Taliban has changed, unlike the past two decades, which were rigid and tended to be violent," said JK on Saturday, August 21.

Before the change in political leadership, there were three parties in power in Afghanistan, namely the United States, the Afghan government, and the Taliban group.

JK views that the confrontation that took place actually took place on two sides, namely the Taliban and the United States. And when the United States left Afghanistan the Taliban quickly took control of Afghanistan.

He considered that the purpose of the United States holding a war in Afghanistan was to arrest Osama Bin Laden, the former leader of Al Qaeda.

"That's why the US is fighting in Afghanistan. The goal is unclear, confused about what he is for, a person who has no goals. The goal is only one, capture Osama bin Laden," he said.

Furthermore, JK assessed that there was a desire for peace between the old government and the Taliban before the takeover of power last August 16. This belief is believed by JK based on four meetings with the Taliban leadership during peace talks in Jakarta and Qatar when he was the first vice president.