ISLAMABAD: After more than a month of delay, escalating violence and aflurry of diplomatic activity peace talks between the Taliban and Kabulhave resumed in Qatar, with Pakistan seen as critical to pushing theAfganistan-based insurgent group to reduce violence and eventually, agreeon an outright ceasefire.
Taliban spokesman Dr Mohammad Naeem tweeted Monday night that talks hadresumed in Doha, where the insurgent movement maintains a political office.There were no details other than the atmosphere was “cordial”, a commitmentthat negotiations should continue and an announcement that the first itemof business will be setting the agenda.
When talks ended abruptly in January, just days after beginning, both sidessubmitted their wish lists for agendas. The task now is for the two sidesto sift through the respective wish lists, agree on items to negotiate andthe order in which they will be tackled.
The priority for the Afghan government, Washington and NATO is a seriousreduction in the violence leading to a cease-fire. The Taliban have said itis negotiable, but until now have resisted any immediate cease-fire.
Washington is reviewing the February 2020 peace deallinktheprevious Trump administration signed with the Taliban that calls for thefinal withdrawal of international forces by May 1. The Taliban haveresisted suggestions of even a brief extension, but a consensus is mountingin Washington for a delay in the withdrawal deadline.
Read Top Stories
There is even a suggestion of a smaller intelligence-based force stayingbehind that would focus almost exclusively on counter-terrorism and anincreasingly active and deadly Islamic State affiliate, headquartered ineastern Afghanistan.
But neither Washington nor NATO has yet to announce a decision on the fateof an estimated 10,000 troops, including 2,500 American soldiers, still inAfghanistan. The Biden administration has emphasized a political solutionto the protracted Afghan conflict, retained Zalmay Khalilzad, the man whonegotiated the US peace deal with the Taliban and until now avoided anydefinitive statements about the road forward.
The resumption in talks in Doha follows on the heels of a blizzard ofdiplomatic activity including a steady stream of officials to Pakistan andArmy Chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa.
