Afghan rivals continue talks in Qatar

Published July 9, 2019
Members of Afghan delegations gather during the second day of the Intra Afghan Dialogue talks in the Qatari capital Doha on July 8, 2019. - Dozens of powerful Afghans met with a Taliban delegation on July 8, amid separate talks between the US and the insurgents seeking to end 18 years of war. — AFP
Members of Afghan delegations gather during the second day of the Intra Afghan Dialogue talks in the Qatari capital Doha on July 8, 2019. - Dozens of powerful Afghans met with a Taliban delegation on July 8, amid separate talks between the US and the insurgents seeking to end 18 years of war. — AFP

DOHA: Dozens of powerful Afgh­ans resumed talks with the Taliban on Monday in Doha, where a possible ceasefire is on the table along with key issues such as women’s rights.

Stakes are high for the talks which follow a week of US-Taliban negotiations with both sides eyeing a resolution to the bloody 18-year conflict.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo tweeted that the Afghan gathering “has been a long time coming” and praised the country’s “government, civil society, women, and Taliban” for coming together.

Washington has said it wants to seal a political deal with the Taliban ahead of Afghan presidential polls due in September to allow foreign forces to begin to withdraw.

Around 70 delegates are attending the two-day gathering which has been organised by Germany and Qatar.

“History will remember those who were able to set their differences aside for the sake of the country,” said German envoy Markus Potzel as he opened the gathering on Sunday.

A German source confirmed the second day of talks got under way just before 0600 GMT.

Delegate Asila Wardak, a member of the High Peace Council established by former president Hamid Karzai to engage with Taliban elements, said “everybody is emphasising on a ceasefire” during Sunday’s session.

The Taliban spoke about “women’s role, economic development, (and) the role of minorities” in a future settlement, she added.

Qatari Foreign Minister Moham­med bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani said on Twitter that he looked “forward to a constructive dialogue”.

The so-called intra-Afghan meetings follow six days of direct US-Taliban talks that have been put on hold for the two-day Afghan conference and are set to resume on Tuesday, according to both sides.

US lead negotiator Zalmay Kha­lilzad said on Saturday that the latest round of US-Taliban talks “have been the most productive of the rounds we’ve had with the Talibs”.

The Taliban said they were “happy with progress”.

The United States is not participating directly in the two-day Afghan summit, which is being attended by political heavyweights, government officials and at least six women.

The Taliban, who have steadfastly refused to negotiate with the government of President Ashraf Ghani, have stressed that those attending are only doing so in a “personal capacity”.

Ghani’s administration, which the Taliban consider a puppet regime, has also been excluded from the direct US-Taliban talks.

Sunday and Monday’s gathering is the third such meeting following landmark summits in Moscow in February and May.

Published in Dawn, July 9th, 2019

Opinion

Editorial

‘Source of terror’
Updated 29 Mar, 2024

‘Source of terror’

It is clear that going after militant groups inside Afghanistan unilaterally presents its own set of difficulties.
Chipping in
29 Mar, 2024

Chipping in

FEDERAL infrastructure development schemes are located in the provinces. Most such projects — for instance,...
Toxic emitters
29 Mar, 2024

Toxic emitters

IT is concerning to note that dozens of industries have been violating environmental laws in and around Islamabad....
Judiciary’s SOS
Updated 28 Mar, 2024

Judiciary’s SOS

The ball is now in CJP Isa’s court, and he will feel pressure to take action.
Data protection
28 Mar, 2024

Data protection

WHAT do we want? Data protection laws. When do we want them? Immediately. Without delay, if we are to prevent ...
Selling humans
28 Mar, 2024

Selling humans

HUMAN traders feed off economic distress; they peddle promises of a better life to the impoverished who, mired in...