Taliban Is Considered To Have Changed And Indonesia Is Expected To Provide Support

Civilians await evacuation at Kabul airport, Afghanistan. (Twitter/@DeptofDefense)

JAKARTA - Minister of Foreign Affairs (Menlu) Retno Marsudi has not yet conveyed Indonesia's stance on the rise of the Taliban in Afghanistan. However, she is expected to give support to groups that are now considered to be more moderate.

The 10th and 12th Vice Presidents of the Republic of Indonesia, Jusuf Kalla, said that the Taliban currently in power in Afghanistan had transformed and became more moderate. He said this group is different from the previous one.

"The Taliban has changed now, unlike the past two decades, which were rigid and tended to be tough," he said during a public discussion on Afghanistan's Future and the Role of Indonesia's Peace Diplomacy which was held virtually by the Center for Reform, Saturday, August 21.

JK assessed that the Taliban also wanted to make peace with the old government in Afghanistan before the takeover of power that occurred earlier this week.

Similarly, Deputy Chairman of the Shura Council, Hidayat Nur Wahid, also said that changes had occurred within the Taliban group. This is evident from the attitude of those who say they will respect the rights of women and children, will not tolerate acts of terrorism, and will implement the government in a moderate manner.

Thus, he said that the international community, including Indonesia, should be able to provide an opportunity for the Taliban to lead Afghanistan.

"The most rational choice for the Indonesian government is to accompany the process of change that is taking place in Afghanistan. We give the Afghan people the opportunity to compromise to determine their own destiny," he said.

Moreover, HNW considers the Taliban to have proven that they will not tolerate acts of terrorism because they have executed ISIS leaders who have been caught. In addition, they also adhere to the Hanafiah school whose culture and religious traditions are the same as Nahdatul Ulama (NU).

"So all the negative accusations that have been directed at the Taliban are no longer relevant," said the Deputy Chairman of the MPR RI.

Furthermore, HNW reminded that Indonesia could not help but act and should give Afghanistan a chance to determine its own destiny. This, he said, was in accordance with the mandate of the 1945 Constitution.

"Indonesia must also play an active role in realizing world peace as mandated," he said.

The Foreign Minister's Hope for the Taliban after taking over Afghanistan

Indonesia's attitude towards the Taliban who is now in power in Afghanistan has not been conveyed by Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi. However, she hopes that with this incident peace and stability in the country can be created soon.

She conveyed this when welcoming the arrival of Indonesian citizens (WNI) and the evacuation team from Afghanistan at Halim Perdana Kusuma Airport, Jakarta, Saturday, August 21 in the morning.

"I convey that Indonesia continues to hope that peace and stability can be created in Afghanistan. Indonesia continues to hope that an inclusive political process in which Afghan life, Afghan owns, still has the opportunity to be carried out for the good of the Afghan people," she said.

She also hopes that the rights of women in the country will be respected. "Indonesia continues to be committed to helping create peace in Afghanistan, especially through cooperation in empowering women," said Foreign Minister Retno.

She also explained that Indonesia's mission in Kabul is now being run from Islamabad which is the capital of Pakistan. This step was taken after seeing the latest conditions in the country after being occupied by the Taliban group.

Retno said that currently, one Temporary Charge d'Affaires and three home staff would carry out the Kabul mission from Islamabad. "This small team will continue to assess the situation in Afghanistan every day and determine the next steps," she said.

As previously reported, the Taliban succeeded in entering the capital Kabul and occupying the presidential palace on Sunday, August 15, making President Ashraf Ghani flee and foreign countries trying to evacuate diplomats, foreign missions, and civilians in Afghanistan.

The successive attacks carried out by the Taliban made it much faster for them to take control of Afghanistan. This is a far cry from US intelligence estimation that the Taliban will besiege Kabul within 30 days and capture the city in 90 days of successive attacks.