Etelaat-e Rouz says Abdul Rashid Dostum, an ethnic Uzbek warlord and former politician in Afghanistan who is a member of the Supreme Council of National Resistance for Salvation of Afghanistan, has proposed to establish a government-in-exile to oppose the Taliban. He made the comments during an online meeting of the Council on September 16.
Dostum suggested that the leader of such a government should be someone capable of standing up to Haibatullah Akhundzada, the supreme leader of the Taliban, though he did not specify a particular name.
Dostum believes that this approach could lead to the overthrow of the Taliban, as he claims they came to power in Afghanistan through a “deal” and that their rule will be short-lived.
Dostum called on all political forces opposing the Taliban to unite and reach a political consensus. He pointed out the existing divisions between political groups and leaders in exile, emphasizing: "We must learn from history, draw lessons from the past. No longer repeat those mistakes and recognize each other. Everyone must accept that our past politics was wrong."
Muhammad Yunus Qanooni, one of the leaders of the Jamaat-e Islami-ye Afghanistan (Islamic Society of Afghanistan) party, speaking at the meeting, echoed Dostum's sentiments, saying that the plan to create a "government-in-exile" is being discussed at most international meetings today.
"The Taliban are doomed to defeat and collapse. Neither their ideology nor their regime is acceptable to our people and the world," Qanooni declared.
The Taliban has not commented on remarks of Dostum and other members of the Supreme Council of National Resistance for Salvation of Afghanistan.
Abdul Rashid Dostum now resides in exile in Turkiye’s capital, Ankara.
It should be noted that since the Taliban came to power in Afghanistan three years ago, at least ten fronts, councils, and parties have been formed in exile, claiming to be fighting against the Taliban. However, according to media reports and experts' opinions, there are significant divisions among these groups.
Afghanistan's military and political figures announced the formation of a coalition called the Supreme Council of National Resistance for Salvation of Afghanistan on October 22, 2021. Its members now operate from outside Afghanistan.
The Supreme Council of National Resistance members include political figures such as Yunus Qanooni, Atta Muhammad Noor, Salahuddin Rabbani, Abdul Rashid Dostum, Muhammad Ismail Khan, and some others.
