Oslo is the latest city to host informal talks between “independent” representatives of the Afghan government and the Taleban.
There has been a meeting in Qatar, talks in Dubai and Iran. A follow-up to the Qatar meeting
Oslo is the latest city to host informal talks between “independent” representatives of the Afghan government and the Taleban.
There has been a meeting in Qatar, talks in Dubai and Iran. A follow-up to the Qatar meeting organised by Pugwash Conferences is likely to be held after the end of Ramadan.
At least five female Members of Parliament (MPs), including Fawzia Koofi, Hawa Alam Nuristani, Sidiqa Balkhi and Shukria Barakzai, took part in the two-day Oslo meeting, June 3-4, part of a long-term Norwegian initiative to end conflict in Afghanistan, attending as “independent representatives” from Parliament. It was the first such meeting of Afghan women with the Taleban. “This meeting with the opposition is not a formal peace dialogue,” the Taleban said in a statement distributed to the media.
Barakzai told the press that safeguarding the constitutional rights won by women was their primary demand in Oslo. There was agreement that the war was not in the interest of either side and talks for peace should be the way forward.
Two days later, Afghan officials and Taleban representatives met in Dubai for two days at another “informal” meeting. The delegation included Shahabuddin Delawar, Sohail Shaheen, Sayed Rassoul, Abdul Salam Hanafi and Mawlawi Naik Mohammad.
The officials who represented Afghanistan in the meeting were Mirwais Yasini, Qayum Kochai, Qutbuddin Helal, Wahidullah Shahrani, Mawlawi Saleem and Sayed Eshaq Gailani.
Mullah Sayed Akbar Agha, who left the Taleban ranks, believes such meetings serve a purpose, and can help in clearing differences of views. However, there are enough critics who doubt these can lead to positive results, and are merely delaying tactics.
Jamal Fakoori Beheshti, MP from Bamyan says, “I am not an optimist about the peace talks with Taleban and don’t see it as practical.” He thinks the Ashraf Ghani government does not have a clear strategy for peace, and neither are its armed opponents ready to join hands in government.
In his opinion, peace can only be realised through arming security forces and preventing neighbouring countries from equipping “terrorist groups”. “The strengthening of security forces would lead to peace and stability in the country – peace should be sought this way,” he is emphatic.
According to Behesti, the recent meetings are not official – each time the government has announced it has not sent an official delegation. “The two sides should first agree on a draft (plan) and proceed therewith,” he says.
Tribal interests
Who would be the likely winner of the talks? Will the government be able to safeguard rights under the Constitution?
Wahid Muzhda, a political analyst with reported Taleban links, thinks the US has behind-the-scenes influence on the meetings. “There is a change in Taleban policy, and it has roots in US policy of withdrawing troops by end-2016. It is as if the US has told Taleban it is up to you to solve problems,” he says.
The stumbling block yet is that the government of national unity, representing diverse tribal interests, has left no space for the Taleban. “With President Ghani is Pashtun, Dr (Chief Executive Abdullah) Abdullah is Tajik , (Mohammad) Mohaqiq (the second deputy chief executive) and General (Rashid) Dostum (vice president) representing the Uzbeks, the question is which tribe would the Taleban come to government to represent?” he says.
Hamdullah Mohib, deputy chief of staff to the president, says the government is “cautiously optimistic” about peace. “Peace is for all Afghans, and we are cautiously optimistic about progress,” he says. When he took over power from his predecessor last year, President Ghani had been decisive about peace.
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