Professor of UIN Jakarta: Indonesia has the opportunity to encourage the Taliban government to take a middle ground

Rectorate, UIN News Online – The Indonesian government has a great opportunity to encourage the Taliban government to take a middle middle ground to create an inclusive governance and a stable lives for its citizens. Various Islamic organizations can also increase their active role by voicing religious moderation messages for local Afghan Muslims.

This was said by Professor of UIN Jakarta Azyumardi Azra in his speech during a webinar, organized by IKALUIN titled “Taliban, Radikalisme Global dan Masa Depan HAM Perempuan Indonesia” on Saturday (09/11/2021).

Reflecting on the current conditions, he continued, the world is still waiting for the Taliban government to adopt an inclusive government by accommodating women and other ethnic groups to join the new government. Moreover, Afghanistan is also projected to face extraordinary economic difficulties in the form of poverty.

“In this context, Indonesia has fairly good access. For example, I suggested to Mrs. Retno (Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno L. Marsudi, ed.) that Indonesia has the opportunity to encourage the Taliban government to take a middle ground, including the issue of women's rights,” said Azra.

One of the accesses that can be optimized is by appointing a figure that can be accepted by all groups, including the Taliban. Through this figure, it is hoped that Indonesia can help encourage the Afghan rulers to change their image.

Based on Azra’s perspective, one of Indonesia's national figures is the former Vice President of the Republic of Indonesia, HM. Jusuf Kalla. Through his experience, Jusuf Kalla is considered to have good communication access with Taliban leaders so he is worthy of being trusted to bridge this matter.

“For example, by appointing Jusuf Kalla as a Presidential Special Envoy for Peace to Afghanistan,” he said.

Furthermore, Azra also sees the same opportunities as Indonesian Islamic organizations such as Nahdlatul Ulama (Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), Muhammadiyah, and others have the same opportunity to promote the wasathiyah religious attitudes to local communities in Afghanistan.

On the same occasion, Expert Staff of the Presidential Staff Office, Siti Ruhaini Dzuhayatin, revealed the importance of paying attention to the fate of Afghan women.

“Women are the main targets of 'social and moral panics' because they tend to be positioned as the main instrument in forming an exclusive Islamic symbol, and at the same time being shackled in the name of protection and to maintain their chastity,” he said.

Meanwhile, Senior Journalist and Lecturer of International Relations department at FISIP UIN Jakarta, Teguh Santosa, assessed the importance of the Indonesian people to take lessons from Afghan conflict. According to Teguh, the conflicts in this country can be seen from the internal and external perspectives of the country itself.

Internally, the low legitimacy of Afghanistan's transitional government itself creates problems in majority-minority ethnic relations. Externally, the conflict cannot be separated from the US withdrawal after almost two decades of being present in Afghanistan.

“In addition, the factor of geo-political interests with the expansion of China's political influence to the South Asian region to balance India and other global political superpowers is an important factor in Afghanistan's current political instability,” he said. (usa/zm)