KABUL (SW) – Following signing of the US – Taliban peace deal, Afghan government has a little over a week to dispatch an inclusive negotiating team for talks with the insurgents.
Talks between the U.S. and Taliban continued for some 18 months, yet the Afghan politicians seem failed in reaching consensus on forming a delegation for talks with the insurgents.
On Saturday, minutes after peace deal between the U.S. and Taliban was inked, Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah rushed to his office, and expressed opposition through a press conference towards a ‘basic contact team with the Taliban’ dispatched by the presidency to Doha, Qatar. Abdullah warned if the negotiating team was not inclusive, the execution of peace parley would not be possible.
This clearly indicates lingering differences despite the U.S. warning to resolve them, and the shortage of time in dispatching the negotiating team.
Syed Akbar Aagha, a former Taliban official, said unless foreigners intervene, the Afghan politicians are not likely to reach an agreement on this matter.
In a clear sign of softening of stance, the presidency has now said it would ensure the delegation is indeed ‘inclusive’ while as previously it has asserted that an official delegation would lead the talks.
President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani has suggested to form an eight-member team with knowledge of management, legal and military affairs. Ghani has also expressed readiness to consider a 14-member delegation to champion the cause of democracy in proposed talks with the Taliban.
ENDS
