Death of Taliban Leader Mullah Akhtar Mansoor was setback to peace: Wall Street Journal
Shares
WASHINGTON, June 21 (APP): Death of Taliban Leader Mullah Akhtar Mansoor was setback to peace: Wall Street Journal
The drone strike that killed Taliban leader Mullah Akhtar Mansour in Pakistan was a setback to peacemaking efforts by the a conflict-resolution group which met Taliban representatives in Qatar, a Wall Street Journal report said on Tuesday.
The members of the Pugwash Conferences on Science and World Affairs had engaged the Taliban representatives in Doha, when the strike happened. After the attack Taliban appointed a hardline religious leader who has increased attacks on government targets and has promised more during the ongoing holy month of Ramazan.
"Striking the leadership was a mistake, 'Paolo Cotta-Ramusino, Pugwash's secretary-general was quoted as saying by the report who stressed that there was a need to engage Taliabn's leadership and - not take them out."
The report said that Taliban's political office in Doha believes that strike may have scuttled chances to restart talks. The new leader it says has a record of reconciliation efforts within the group but since appointed he has launched new attacks.
"Unfortunately, this incident has made the atmosphere very tense and has also eroded trust," the report quoted an unnamed person who it said was familiar with the Taliban's position.
The May meeting in Qatar took place without representatives of the Afghan government and The Wall Street Journal was invited by Pugwash to observe the proceedings. Pugwash is Nobel Prize-winning organization dedicated to promoting peace.
The meeting in Qatar was aimed at preparing ground for the Afghan government and the Taliban leadership to discuss peace efforts.
Quoting some Western officials in Kabul, the report said that Pugwash was offering an opportunity to the Afghan government to explore possibility of a ceasefire, without having a pressure of official talks.
"The centerpiece of the gathering was the document that proposed a path to peace, including a timetable for withdrawing U.S. forces, an interim government with Taliban representatives and elections in which Taliban candidates could participate," the report said, adding that the Pugwash document, reviewed by The Wall Street Journal, was drafted after months of consultations among Afghan tribal leaders, warlords and dignitaries.
