KABUL – The Taliban are holding discussions about President Ashraf Ghani’speace offer and the group could possibly respond in a positive manner, saidHakimullah Mujahid, a former member of the insurgent group, on Wednesday.
Mujahid is now a member of Afghanistan’s High Peace Council (HPC).
“The Taliban are conducting consultations and there is the possibility thatthey give a positive response to the Afghan government, at a time that thewar is going on, we hope that the Taliban come up with a positiveresponse,” said Mujahid, TOLO News has reported.
Meanwhile, the minister of borders and tribal affairs, Gul Agha Sherzai,said a plan for a Peace Jirga has been outlined and will soon be sent toGhani.
“We have held discussions with the leaders of the tribes, politicians,teachers and members of civil society institutions about the peace Jirga,we will send the plan soon to the president, I am sure that the presidentwill allow us to convene the Peace Jirga,” said Sherzai.
In addition, Pierre Mayaudon, the European Union’s Head of Delegation toAfghanistan said in a meeting, “The Culture of Afghanistan, The Culture ofPeace”, that the Taliban’s failure so far to reject the offer raises hopesthat the group will act in a positive manner.
“The absence of a response by the Taliban is not a sign of refusal, may beit is a sign that they are debating about what kind of response they cangive to this peace plan which is very complex. So we are not so concernedabout the absence of a response,” said Mayaudon.
In February, Afghanistan held an international conference on peace in a bidto map the way forward to get the Taliban to denounce violence, endorse theAfghan constitution and enter into purposeful peace negotiations withgovernment.
Ghani said the peace process, and a ceasefire must be agreed upon with theTaliban.
He also called on Pakistan to hold government to government talks and said:“We will be ready to starts talks with Pakistan and forget the past andstart a new chapter.”
Ghani sent a strong message to the Taliban when he made the offer and saidpeace is now in their hands. He called on the group to accept the offer andto join the peace process and together with Afghanistan “save the country”.
He also announced the Afghan government will provide passports to Talibanmembers and their families and will issue visas, open an office for them -even in Kabul – and will work to remove sanctions against Taliban leaders.