The Taliban has targeted Afghan government and security officials since an American-led invasion ousted the insurgent group in 2011, but the situation has become increasingly dire as the Islamic State militant group gains ground across both countries.
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The talks have been hailed as a “breakthrough” by Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.
But it was far from clear whether the budding peace process could end an escalating conflict that kills hundreds of Afghans every month. “There’re some Taliban who still don’t want peace”.
The United States welcomes talks between the Afghan government and Taliban, the White House said on Tuesday after Afghanistan announced it had sent a peace delegation to Pakistan for talks.
Well-placed sources privy to the development told Business Recorder that a nine-member Afghan government delegation is in capital for initial talks with the representatives of the Afghan Taliban with a view to negotiating of a formal and meaningful dialogue process for restoration of peace. According to the Western officials said that, “They were expected to attend a follow-up session”.
“When they sat down for the sehri meal, it was as if they were celebrating Eid”.
Both sides even chose to meet once again after the ending of the holy month of Ramadan.
“Before this, Pakistan has been accused of double dealing, but this time there can be no doubt about our sincerity”, he added.
North Atlantic Treaty Organisation ended its combat mission in the wartorn country in December, maintaining a smaller residual force for training, leaving Afghan troops and police to face their first “fighting season” battling the Taliban on their own.
Elements of the Afghan Taliban have chafed at their dependence on Pakistan and sought to keep it at a distance from its worldwide outreach efforts.
Sayed Zafar Hashemi, Ghani’s deputy spokesman, confirmed the announcement and said the delegation was being led by deputy foreign minister Hekmat Khalil Karzai.
The Pakistan and the Afghan government statements did not mention any of the participants by name.
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. After one such meeting in Qatar, the Taliban released a statement saying that it “should not be misconstrued as peace or negotiation talks”. That will be hard because fighters are spread across Afghanistan and Pakistan, he said.
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There was no comment on the planned talks from Pakistani officials, but the choice of venue has some significance.
