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Afghan Taliban resume peace talks with US envoy in Qatar

33 19
The Newspaper's Staff Reporter | Updated January 22, 2019

Afghan Taliban spokesperson says talks have resumed after US agreement to "end invasion of Afghanistan". — File photo

ISLAMABAD: The United States and the Taliban on Monday

resumed their talks in Doha aimed at ending the stalemate
over participation of Afghan government in negotiations for a
political settlement of the conflict.

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid in a statement said: “Following

American acceptance of the agenda of ending invasion of Afghanistan
and preventing Afghanistan from being used against other countries in
the future, talks with American representatives took place today in
Doha.”

The talks would continue on Tuesday.

Doha meeting happened as the Taliban fighters attacked an Afghan

intelligence agency — National Directorate of Security — installation in
Maidan Shahr, Kabul, killing and wounding dozens of security
personnel.

ARTICLE CONTINUES AFTER AD

The two sides — US and Taliban — had last met in December 2018 in
Abu Dhabi in a meeting facilitated by Pakistan and observed by Saudi
Arabia and UAE. It had been agreed at the meeting that the engagement
process would be continued. But, arranging the next round of talks
became difficult due to the Taliban’s inflexibility over negotiating with
the Afghan government. The Taliban have, meanwhile, been insisting
that US should instead withdraw its forces and release Taliban
prisoners.

There was no word from the US side on the Taliban claim after the latest
meeting in Doha that US had agreed to discuss withdrawal plans.

US Special Envoy for Peace and Reconciliation Ambassador Zalmay

Khalilzad had earlier on Saturday hinted at flexibility in the American
position. He had said: “Let me be clear: the US wants peace. … To
achieve peace, we are ready to address legitimate concerns of all Afghan
 sides in a process that ensures Afghan independence and sovereignty,
and accounts for legitimate interests of regional states. Urgent that
fighting end.”

He had made these comments while clarifying his statement from Kabul
in which he talked about maintaining military pressure while engaging
in peace talks. This was seen as an indication that the US was pursuing a
talks and fight strategy.

Amb Khalilzad last week made an extensive trip to Pakistan spanning

over five days during which intensive behind the scenes efforts were
made to end the impasse in the ongoing contacts.

The special envoy appeared hopeful as he left Islamabad on Sunday.

“We’re heading in the right direction with more steps by Pakistan
coming that will lead to concrete results,” he had tweeted after
concluding Pakistan trip.

Published in Dawn, January 22nd, 2019

‹ 33 19 ›
Read more

Row over Kabul’s US o ers safety and PM hopes Pak-aided

participation delays job security to Taliban US-Taliban talks
US-Taliban talks further peace process,
end Afghan su ering

On DawnNews

‫ ﺷﻭﮨﺭ ﻧﮯ ﺳﺎﺗﻬ ﻣﺭﻧﮯ‬،‫ﺑﻬﺎﺭﺕ ﭼﺎﻩ ﺑﮩﺎﺭ ﭘﺭ ﮐﯽ ﮔﺋﯽ ﺳﺭﻣﺎﻳﮧ ﮐﺎﺭﯼ ﮈﻭﺑﺗﺎ ﮨﻭﺍ ﺳﺎﻧﭖ ﻧﮯ ﺷﻭﮨﺭ ﮐﻭ ﮈﺳﺎ‬ ‫'ﻣﻳﺭﺍ ﺑﺭﻳﮏ ﺍﭖ ﺯﻧﺩﮔﯽ ﺑﺩﻝ ﺩﻳﻧﮯ ﻭﺍﻻ ﺗﺟﺭﺑﮧ ﺛﺎﺑﺕ‬
‫ﮐﻳﻠﺋﮯ ﺑﻳﻭﯼ ﮐﻭ ﮐﺎﭦ ﻟﻳﺎ‬ ‫ﮐﻳﻭﮞ ﺩﻳﮑﻬ ﺭﮨﺎ ﮨﮯ؟‬ ' ‫ﮨﻭﺍ‬

Comments (19) Closed

Oldest Newest Popular

Gordon D. Walker
Jan 22, 2019 07:46am

Keep talking. Keep walking toward peace...

Gordon D. Walker

Canada

Recommend 12

Fastrack
Jan 22, 2019 07:51am

Taliban demands are simple. A, get out of my country yesterday, and B, let the Pukhtoon majority
and not US puppets rule Afghanistan. Cleary that would be game over for the terror financers across
our border.

Recommend 24

Prateik
Jan 22, 2019 08:22am

Taliban will have to fight elections and win people's confidence if it wants US withdrawal.

Recommend 11

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