Former foreign minister Mohammad Haneef Atmar and other senior officials of the former government on Saturday announced the formation of a new political movement, the Afghanistan National Movement for Peace and Justice.
It is the second political current that was created by a number of politicians and officials of the previous Afghan government outside of the country after the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan.
Among 223 members of the movement Mohammad Hanif Atmar, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Masoom Stanekzai, head of national security and head of the republic’s negotiating team for talks with the Taliban, Shakir Kargar, chief of staff of former president Ashraf Ghani, General Murad Ali Murad, Jalil Shams, former minister of economy, Mubarez Rashidi and a number of others. Officials of the previous government of Afghanistan are members of this political current.
Addressing an online meeting from Germany, Atmar said that “selfishness” and differences in the leadership of the republic were the main causes for the fall of Afghanistan to the Taliban.
He said that former government leaders, including him, should be investigated and should be accountable.
Atmar said the continuation of the “illegitimate” Taliban administration will lead to more crises in the country, especially terrorist groups’ activities will also pose a serious threat to the world.
He noted that for this new political movement, of which he is a member of the leadership, the continuation of the Taliban rule and another conflict are both unacceptable.
The movement in its declaration said it wants the Taliban to prepare for negotiations and dialogue.
The movement has appointed Jalil Shams, the former minister of economy, as its interim chief.
Members of the movement said its leader will be elected later.
The declaration of the movement states that it has been established to ensure stable peace in Afghanistan and bring about a system born from the will of the people and bound to the rights and freedoms of all the citizens of the country.
Taliban did not immediately comment on the formation of the movement.
Last month, a number of political leaders and officials of the previous government announced the formation of the Supreme Council of National Resistance to Save Afghanistan. The leadership members of the council are also Afghanistan’s politicians in exile.
Figures such as Abdul Rab Rasul Sayyaf, Marshal Abdul Rashid Dostum, Mohammad Yunus Qanouni, Mohammad Mohaqeq and Atta Mohammad Noor are part of the movement.
Afghans within and outside the country showed mixed reactions over the formation of the new political movement.
Some said that many of these figures have failed records and are involved in the fall of the republic government that was established with many investments and sacrifices.
