‘Intra-Afghan conference in Qatar postponed due to poor management’

KABUL (SW) – Chief Executive Officer, Abdullah Abdullah, has said the proposed intra-Afghan conference in Qatar got postponed due to poor management.

He said this addressing the council of cabinet ministers here on Sunday. He said this hampered the opportunity created for peace talks. However, Abdullah did not make his point clear if he was blaming the Taliban or the government for poor management in this case.

He added the government is ready and willing to better represent the people of Afghanistan if opportunity is granted. He defended the High Consultative Council for Peace, and stressed the consultations he held with politicians and government officials suggest this council can still prove in reaching a peace deal.

Meanwhile, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has called Afghan President Ashraf Ghani to express disappointment over the postponement of talks with the Taliban. The State Department said in a statement that Pompeo called Ghani on April 21 and condemned the Taliban's announcement of starting another offensive in the spring.

Pompeo also said that the talks present an important opportunity to advance peace. “The secretary encouraged all sides to seize the moment and reach an understanding on participants, so that an inclusive intra-Afghan dialogue can be convened in Doha as soon as possible,” the State Department said.

ENDS