KABUL (SW): Analysts believe contacts between the top security officials and the Taliban are not out of question considering the emerging geostrategic situation in the country.
The government on Wednesday rejected media reports saying the country's intelligence service had regular contacts with the Taliban leaders about the country's constitution and political future. A day earlier, the Associated Press claimed to have seen documents describing the conversations between the Afghan officials — namely intelligence chief Mohammad Masoum Stanikzai as well as National Security Advisor Mohammad Hanif Atmar — and the Taliban leadership in both Pakistan and the Gulf state of Qatar, where they have an office.
Rejecting this report as "baseless", the National Security Council said in a statement that all efforts for a peaceful settlement of the conflict are executed by the High Peace Council (HPC). The statement has underlined that the National Unity Government (NUG) welcomes all efforts towards realizing this.
Analyst on political affairs Ishaq Atmar told Salam Watandar contacts between the top security officials and the Taliban are not out of question considering the emerging geostrategic situation in the country. He said the new U.S. strategy might have compelled the Taliban to seek truce and talks.
Taliban have also reportedly called for setting up special courts to oversee thousands of cases over land that was allegedly taken illegally in the post-Taliban era. Many of the landowners are reportedly former warlords who are now in the government. The Taliban say they want the land returned to those from whom it was taken.
Ishaq Atmar said some of the demands made by the Taliban are not legitimate, and the government should not accept them.
Jafar Mahdawi, a member of the Wolesi Jirga (lower house) said in this regard that the appointment of Masoum Stanikzai as Chief of the National Directorate of Security (NDS) was aimed at successfully pursuing a peaceful settlement with the Taliban. He said peace cannot be reached without practical moves on the ground. He said some demands by the Taliban raise hopes about the resumption of the stalled peace talks.
ENDS
