DOHA – The US and the Taliban have paused negotiations in Doha, with thediplomatic push aimed at ending the war in Afghanistan set to restart overthe weekend following “solid” talks between the adversaries.
The latest meetings follow marathon talks last month that saw the US andthe Taliban walk away with a “draft framework” focused on a potential UStroop withdrawal and a pact to prevent Afghanistan from harbouringterrorists.
“Emerging from three solid days of talks with the Taliban in #Doha.Meetings were productive,” tweeted US special envoy Zalmay Khalilzad, whois leading the American side during the negotiations, on Thursday.
“We continue to take slow, steady steps toward understanding and eventually#peace,” he said.
“Both sides will take the next two days for internal deliberations, withplans to regroup on Saturday,” Khalilzad added.
Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid confirmed the pause, adding theinsurgents were “committed to the current peace process along with peace”.
The US has continued to push for a ceasefire in the war-torn country andthe opening of negotiations between the Taliban and the Kabul government.
The Taliban however have repeatedly refused to meet with officials of theAfghan government, whom they dismiss as “puppets”.
Khalilzad hinted that headway was being made on the issue, tweeting “thereis also progress on forming a national team in #Kabul ready to engage inintra-Afghan dialogue and talks with the Taliban”.
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Afghanistan´s President Ashraf Ghani indirectly addressed the ongoing talksThursday afternoon, saying only an Afghan-led peace process would providelasting stability.
“Afghanistan wants cooperation and collaboration, but Afghans and thelegitimate government of Afghanistan should own the peace process,” Ghanisaid during a women’s peace summit in Kabul.
Earlier in the week the special envoy met with the Taliban’s top politicalleader Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar in Doha, in what has been touted as thehighest-level engagement between the two sides in the months-longdiplomatic thrust.
Khalilzad welcomed the presence of Baradar — a cofounder of the Islamistmovement — at the table, calling the militants’ negotiating side a “moreauthoritative Taliban delegation”.
Baradar is believed to be widely respected by the Taliban´s variousfactions and analysts said his participation would help garner support forany deal from insurgents on the frontlines.
General Scott Miller, the top US and NATO commander in Afghanistan, is alsoattending the talks. – APP/AFP
