KABUL (SW): Afghanistan’s High Council for Peace has told Salam Watandar they have finalized a list of recommended Taliban leaders to be taken off the United Nations Black List.
This development followed an informal interaction between the Taliban and the AHCP officials in Doha, Qatar earlier this month. The move is seen vital in developing confidence for more serious and concrete peace talks.
The U.N. blacklist subjects Taliban members to an asset freeze and travel ban. There are more than 450 people on the U.N. committee's sanctions list, including roughly 140 with direct links to the Taliban
Qazi Muhammad Amin, member of the AHCP said the move would enable Taliban leaders to take part in peace talks. “They (Taliban) would name their delegation as soon as the peace talks are officially launched and then those people will no longer be in the black list”, he said.
Sher Mohammad Abbas Stanikzai, the former Taliban health minister headed the Taliban delegation in Doha on May 2nd. He too demanded taking off Taliban leaders names from the UN Blacklist.
Considering the internal divide among the Taliban, there are doubts about chances of a permanent ceasefire even after some names are to be taken off the list.
ENDS
