[image: Afghan President Ashraf Ghani has come under fire for a long listof delegates for the so-called intra-Afghan dialogue in Doha. PHOTO:AFP/FILE]
KABUL: An upcoming conference between Afghan representatives and theTaliban appeared on Wednesday to be floundering even before it begins, withthe militants deriding Kabul’s plan to send 250 delegates.
President Ashraf Ghani’s administration announced on Tuesday a list ofpeople from all walks of Afghan life, including some from the governmentthat it wants to send to the ‘so-called’ intra-Afghan dialogue in Doha thisweekend.
But the Taliban poured scorn on the lengthy list, saying it was not“normal” and that they had “no plans” to meet with so many people.
“The creators of [the] Kabul list must realise that this is an orderly andprearranged conference in a far-away Khaleeji [Gulf] country and not aninvitation to some wedding or other party at a hotel in Kabul,” Talibanspokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid said in a statement.
The Taliban – who see Ghani as a US stooge and his government as a puppetregime – also continue to insist they will not be negotiating with Kabul atthe conference, and any administration officials are involved merely in a“personal capacity”.
Further doubts came when some of those Ghani said would attend theconference announced they would not be going.
For instance, Atta Mohammad Noor, a key opposition figure and formergovernor of Balkh province, had been included on the list, which was meantas an inclusive representation of Afghan society.
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But Noor said he would not go, slamming the delegation as politicallybiased towards Ghani.
“We won’t be attending the talks with this running order,” Noor tweetedWednesday, adding he viewed the list as Ghani’s “intentional act tosabotage the peace efforts”.
According to a senior Taliban commander, the mammoth delegation showed thatthe “Americans and their puppet Afghan government are not serious about thepeaceful settlement of the issue”.
The US has been holding separate bilateral peace negotiations with theTaliban in Doha as part of a months-long peace push led by Washington.
The intra-Afghan dialogue comes as part of the push, but the US is notbelieved to be attending.
The militant organisation now controls or influences about half thecountry, and last year was the deadliest yet for civilians. – APP/AFP
