JK Not Afraid Of The Taliban's Victory In Afghanistan

Jusuf Kalla (Screenshot from Najwa Shihab's YouTube channel)

JAKARTA - Former Vice President Jusuf Kalla (JK) said the Taliban's victory in Afghanistan will not affect terrorism sleeper cells in Indonesia. He said that when asked by Najwa Shihab in the Mata Najwa program which was broadcast live on Trans 7, Wednesday, August 25.

"I'm not worried about that, because it was proven 20 years ago (when the Taliban took control of Afghanistan) was there any influence? There wasn't, right. When the Taliban won the first time, was there any influence? What was there with ISIS and Al-Qaeda, it wasn't from there (Afghanistan) ," said J.K.

JK said the Taliban are different from ISIS and Al Qaeda. JK considered that the Taliban was engaged in internal issues (Afghanistan), regarding the power of the country. This is different from ISIS and A-Qaeda who want to rule the world.

He believes the Taliban will not leave Afghanistan because of economic factors. Therefore, JK believes, the Taliban will be busy to arrange it in front of the international community.

"The Taliban are internal affairs, their country, domestic problems. Not trying to influence other people. Its history from 1996 to 2021, the Taliban has never left anywhere. (If you leave) it will experience economic difficulties. It finances its troops and government," he said. .

"That's why he wants to improve international relations. Why has (the Taliban) changed? Because if there is no such relationship, the economy will not work, if the economy does not work how to finance the government. He is busy not talking about ideology but how to run his country," said JK.

He explained that Afghanistan is a country full of conflicts for the past 50 years, in fact it has changed its head of state and state system 16 times, ranging from royal, secular, communist, mujahideen and democracy. JK continued, what was great about this country was that it defeated all major countries, such as Britain, the Soviet Union and America.

However, JK assesses, the current victory of the Taliban is not because he is strong in war. The factor of the Taliban being able to control Afghanistan is because the United States left -- after 20 years of vigil there -- and government troops did not want a civil war to occur.

"One wants to go home, one doesn't want civil war. This is peace, meaning there is no conflict," he said.