KABUL – The Afghan government and the Taliban are expected to attend theintra-Afghan negotiations by March 10, according to terms in the US-Talibandeallink,which says up to 5,000 Taliban prisoners should be released from thegovernment’s custody by the same date.
Amir Khan Motaqi, a Taliban negotiator, who appeared with other members ofthe group in a video report by nunn.asia – a pro-Taliban website–said heis almost sure that an agreement will be achieved by the intra-Afghantalks, TOLO News has reported.
“We will reach a conclusion with Afghans in a better way – of course withAfghans who consider other Afghans’ interests and do not considerforeigners’ interests,” Mottaqi said.
Another senior member of the group, Anas Haqqani, who was released fromBagram prison last November, called the release of 5,000 Taliban prisonersimportant but criticized “uncertainty” around the formation of thenegotiating team from Kabul.
“They (the government in Kabul) expressed their opposition to peace andabout the prisoners’ release and now the people of Afghanistan should judgefor themselves,” Haqqani said.
The Presidential Palace has not provided details of the negotiating team.But President Ghani last week suggested that the delegation should belimited in number and that it should be effective. On Saturday during theinauguration of the new year of the Afghan parliament, Ghani reiteratedthat the team will be ready by March 10.
Read Top Stories
A Taliban commander for the north, Mullah Suleiman Bahir, also speaking onthe video, insisted that this was an opportunity for peace.
“We are happy about this decision. The enemy should make a good use of thisopportunity,” Bahir said.
In Kabul, there are concerns among Afghans–both elites and everydaycitizens–about the fate of rights and achievement made over the last 19years if the Taliban returns to Afghanistan as part of a peace deallink. This matter was alsoraised by two analysts who also talked in the video report published bynunn.asia on Sunday.
“The Taliban should not tamper with improvements on the freedom of speechand political activities… They should accept them,” said Faiz MohammadZaland, a university professor.
