Divisions within the Taliban movement, particularly between young battle commanders in Afghanistan and older leadership figures overseas, have helped to hamper peace efforts over the years.
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It was unclear how the restructuring related to the talks in Pakistan. After the first round of direct peace talks was completed, the two sides reportedly agreed to continue negotiations after Ramadan.
The first session was held Tuesday night near the Pakistan’s capital of Islamabad.
“There may be differences among the Taliban, but they will have to discuss that themselves”, Jalil said, adding he hoped to meet with representatives from all factions of the Taliban.
“[The Secretary-General] reiterates his support for an Afghan-led and Afghan-owned peace process”.
Several analysts told the Afghan media, not all factions of the Taliban were present in the meeting, especially representatives from its Qatar wing. “Isil has now requested the TTA to return the bodies”, the official said, referring to the acronym of the Afghan Taliban.
In recent months, too, the Taliban have faced an unanticipated threat that could intensify their risk of splintering: the emergence of the Islamic State in Afghanistan.
Last year, the militant group expelled its spokesman Shahidullah Shahid after he along with five other group commanders announced their allegiance to the Islamic State (IS).
Sheikh Maqbool, whose nom de guerre was Shahidullah Shahid, was targeted along with 24 other jihadists in aerial bombing in Nangarhar province, eastern Afghanistan.
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“The Taliban strategy of patiently fighting may no longer work, with ISIS here”, said a Western diplomat, who spoke on the condition of anonymity.
