KABUL (SW) – The Afghan government and the Taliban have expressed contrasting views on the delegates for the thorny peace process.
On Sunday, Mohammad Umer Daudzai, spokesman for the recently established Leadership Council for Reconciliation, said a decision has been reached to send an inclusive delegation for talks with the Taliban in Qatar. The Leadership Council for Reconciliation would decide about the delegation that would hold talks with the Taliban, he said.
However, the Taliban made it clear via a statement late on Sunday they view the proposed talks in Doha differently. “The meeting is a conference in which the participants will only be clarifying their views and policies and sharing their stance with others. The said conference is not a negotiations summit or meeting”, the statement said.
It added no one will partake in the conference as a representative of the Kabul administration. “Just like the previous Moscow Conference, any individual who is part of the Kabul administration and is listed as a participant will only participate in a personal capacity and share personal views”, it added.
Meanwhile, Waheed Mujda, an analyst on Taliban affairs, has said the Afghan government’s position in these talks is fragile. He said the delegation that is going to hold talks with the Taliban has internal rifts, and lacks capacity.
However, Assadullah Zahiri, spokesman for the High Peace Council, has asserted the Afghan delegation comprising of officials and politicians would attend the talks in Doha from a unified position.
Initially, the government proposed an official delegation led by Salam Rahimi, head of Office of the President. But, the Taliban rejected to hold talks with this delegation forcing the government to include former Jihadi figures and political figures in the proposed peace delegates.
President Ghani told the maiden session of the Leadership Council for Reconciliation on Sunday that this body has been established after extensive consultation process over the past two months.
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