AFGHANISTAN: Afghan MP Shukria Barakzai: The Taliban Can Join the Political Process

Shukria Barakzai is a prominent Afghan lawmaker and journalist who has campaigned for media freedom and women's rights in Afghanistan in recent decades. As a journalist, she launched Aina-e-Zan, a newspaper for women's rights, and founded the Afghan Women Journalists Association. During the 1990s, Barakzai stood as a voice of dissent in Afghanistan against the fundamentalist policies of the Taliban regime.

In a recent interview, Barakzai spoke about a range of issues, especially with regard to the Afghan government's initiatives for reconciliation with the Taliban. In the interview, she ruled out any possibility of the Taliban returning to power amid the changed realities of Afghanistan, stating: "I can assure you that there is no chance that the Taliban will become the regime again. They will not, because they are not the same Taliban as before, and today's Afghanistan is not the same Afghanistan…"

Barakzai also backed the Karzai government in its bid for peace talks with the Taliban, stating: "Today, we must turn to dialogue and negotiations within the framework of the Afghan constitution."

Interviewer: "With regard to your personal experience with the Taliban – you suffered violence and beatings at the hand of the Taliban, and then you established the secret schools of those times. You are perhaps the best example of the suffering of the Afghan woman in those days. Today, people are talking about the possible return of the Taliban, its inclusion in the government, and dialogue with it. What will be the condition of Afghan women if the Taliban returns to power in Afghanistan?"

Shukria Barakzai: "What do you think – that life was easy during the Soviet regime, or during the days of the mujahideen, when the country was in civil war, or in the days of the Taliban? Life was not easy in any of these times.
"Today, we need security and peace. Security is our number one demand. What's the difference between me and the Taliban? We are all Afghans. I am speaking about the Afghans among them. They can come and join the political process. I am no better than them, but nor am I any less than them. Responsibility lies on the shoulders of all of us Afghans. We are tired of war. We want peace.

"With regard to women, do you think that the mujahideen, who are part of the government, accepted us easily? No. We had a really difficult time when they were leading the country, and we did with the Taliban, as well.

"I can assure you that there is no chance that the Taliban will become the regime again. They will not, because they are not the same Taliban as before, and today's Afghanistan is not the same Afghanistan, worn out by civil war, which would welcome the Taliban. Today, we must turn to dialogue and negotiations within the framework of the Afghan constitution." [...]

Interviewer: "Your approach is an optimistic one. If the Taliban is refusing to engage in dialogue with you or the government, how can you possibly cooperate with those who used to beat you, and with whom you used to accuse of being against women's rights and human rights? How can such a dialogue possibly take place? How can the future of Afghanistan be built, given these differences?" [...]

Shukria Barakzai: "As a mother, I lived and worked for five years under one roof with those who are responsible for the killing of my children. I lost a son and a daughter. Do you think it is easy for any mother to sit down at the same table with them, with the painful memories always coming to mind? But I have to protect my other children. Today, we are all at the same stage.
"Do you think that I've never talked to any Taliban member? Of course I have. They too came to this house, and I received them. Whenever they face a problem which I can solve in my capacity, they come to me and ask for my help.

"What do you think – that it was easy for me to become a chairwoman, and the only woman on the tribal peace council in Afghanistan? The notions of the Taliban were uttered by all parties, but even so, I gained the confidence of the council. I have experience in how to bring my enemy over to my side.

"What do you think – for how long should we continue the conflict and the killing? For how long should we see mothers, daughters, and sons crying? How long should we continue to see our country burning? How long should we see bloodshed? We have had enough. When I say that the nation is tired, this means a lot to us. We have grown tired. We want to teach the Afghans to be, first and foremost, Afghans, to defend the country, and to make sacrifices for the nation.

"The Taliban is not a people that has come from a different continent. [...]

"In my view, talk about jihad is talk about past history. It has become history. Today's generation has different demands. They want to build a new value system of a new Afghanistan. They have a new approach. If you encounter a boy or girl, 18 or 19 years old, around the country, they are asking for the same things: No violence, an education, job opportunities, and [a chance] to work for the sake of the country. That is the message of the new generation. I am very optimistic about this new generation, because it is not repeating the mistakes of its predecessor." [...]