KABUL (SW) – The contact groups of the Taliban and the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan have resumed intra-Afghan negotiations in the Qatari capital Doha.
A member of the Afghan government’s delegation told Salam Watandar the talks, which were suspended over differences, resumed on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, members of the Wolesi Jirga (lower house) in Kabul have criticized these talks over secrecy surrounding the agenda. Taking part in debate over the matter, Ghafar Khan, a member of the house, said the persistent delays in these talks indicate the negotiations are faced with deadlock.
This comes as U.S. President Donald Trump has said that Washington is working to end the war in Afghanistan. He told the United Nations General Assembly that his administration was focused on achieving “peace through strength” in Afghanistan and Middle East.
Meanwhile, US Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation Zalmay Khalilzad has said women’s rights and minority rights were a top priority for the United States, and insisted that the administration had not abandoned their cause. During a congress hearing, he acknowledged that the country’s political future would be determined by talks between the Taliban militants and an Afghan government-led delegation.
“At this hearing, I want to assure the Afghan women that we will be with them,” the Afghan-born diplomat said. He added that the administration “will express ourselves forcefully” on the issue.
The peace talks that got underway on Sept. 12 followed a U.S-Taliban agreement signed in February. Under that deal, Washington agreed to withdraw American troops by May 2021 in return for the Taliban renouncing terrorism and agreeing to direct peace talks with their foes in the Afghan government. The U.S.-Taliban agreement did not address women’s rights, the AP reported.
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