KABUL (SW) – The talks between the U.S. and the Taliban in Doha, Qatar for the proposed Afghan peace process entered third day on Wednesday.
Sources close to the Taliban told Salam Watandar the initial agenda for the talks was just meant for two days, but with the U.S. showing some flexibility on the issue of withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan, the talks extended until an initial agreement is reached.
Via a statement, the Taliban have also confirmed the extension of talks.
Waheed Mujda, a former Taliban-era official and analyst on political affairs, said the talks are now focused on the withdrawal of troops and the guarantee of no threats emerging from Afghanistan. He added eight Taliban representatives and 11 U.S. representatives are participating in these talks.
He claimed five more representatives from the Taliban were supposed to join from Afghanistan, but due to the opposition by Pakistan, they could not make it to Doha.
Another former Taliban-era official, Syed Akbar Agha, expressed optimism about the success of the talks.
However, Assadullah Zairi, deputy spokesman for the High Peace Council, said in this regard that the talks are aimed to launch intra-Afghan peace talks. He said Afghanistan has repeatedly called for the talks to begin without any preconditions.
Washington has not commented on the extension of talks yet.
Few days back, the Special U.S. Representative for the Afghanistan Reconciliation, Zalmay Khalilzad, said America would make peace if the Taliban want, and fight with them if they wish to continue with the war.
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