ISLAMABAD The first official peace talks between the Afghan Taliban and the government in Kabul concluded with an agreement to meet again after the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan, officials said on Wednesday.
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The talks were held on Tuesday at Murree, a hill resort on the outskirts of the Pakistani capital, Islamabad, and were observed by both the United States and China, a statement from Pakistan’s foreign ministry said.
When the US-led invasion ousted the militants in 2001 many of their leaders took refuge in Pakistan and still live there, closely monitored by intelligence agencies.
“The next meeting would be held at a mutually convenient date after Ramadan”, Xinhua quoted a Pakistan foreign ministry spokesman as saying.
On Tuesday, a suicide auto bomber slammed into a vehicle carrying foreign forces in eastern Kabul, wounding at least two people. For its part, the Afghan government has long feared that Pakistan would scuttle any peace talks in hopes of using the Taliban, its traditional ally, as a proxy force to maintain its influence over Afghan affairs.
The remarks come after reports emerged that the Pakistani helicopters were dropping weapons to Taliban in the Barmal district of the province.
The growing presence of fighters loyal to Islamic State, mostly made up of disgruntled members of the Taliban, is an added concern.
The Taliban’s spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid would not confirm however who had represented the Taliban at the talks but has previously denied that the main Taliban group had met with the government. But those attitudes are thought to have been in flux since December, when the Pakistani Taliban, an offshoot of the Afghan group, carried out a gruesome attack against a school in Peshawar. Last month on 25 June, Pakistan said it is ready to facilitate dialogue between the Afghan government and Afghan Taliban which is expected to start in the upcoming weeks.
Although the first official acknowledgement, Tuesday’s announcement follows several rounds of unofficial contact between prominent Afghan figures and Taliban representatives.
Kaswar KlasraWednesday, July 08, 2015 – Islamabad-Amid serious efforts from Pakistan’s side, government of Afghanistan and Talban have agreed to hold talks in a bid to give peace a chance in Afghanistan.
White House spokesperson says talks are important step in advancing prospects for durable peace in Afghanistan.
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The US combat mission in Afghanistan ended a year ago, leaving the Afghan military to lead the fight against the Taliban.
