United States special envoy and the Taliban delegations have reached to some level of agreement on modality of US troops withdrawal from Afghanistan, close sources to Doha talks said.
In recent days, both parties have negotiated mainly on foreigner forces withdrawal and guarantee that Afghanistan will not be used against any other nation, Taliban sources familiar with the talks said. There is a possibility to extend the talks for a precise outcome.
Meanwhile, the Presidential Palace urges final agreement on any topic concerning peace in the country will be determined by the Afghan government.
“Whatever is agreed, it is agreed only between the Afghan government and the Taliban and then the document becomes implementable,” said President Ashraf Ghani’s spokesman Haroon Chakhansuri, local media quoted.
It comes after the negotiating teams took off the weekend amid “extensive” discussions and consultations on issues relevant to Afghan peace process, as both sides reportedly bargained on topics to withdraw non-Afghan forces from the country and assurance that Afghanistan will not be sued a threatening ground against other nations.
However, no decision has so far been put on the negotiating table as to agree on precise timetable for foreign forces withdrawal.
“The talks have diverted to minor issues from general matters and of course discussions about the details will take some time,” local media quoted political analyst Wahid Muzhda as saying.
“The agreements have been finalized,” said Hassan Haqyar, an analyst. “Now they (US and the Taliban) are working on the text (of an agreement). We hope that the agreement will be finalized in the near future.”
Meantime, the Taliban on a statement on Sunday evening cited, Doha talks are progressing gradually because of its “crucial and delicate” nature.
“The current round of talks in Doha are advancing on a step-by-step basis. As the issue at hand is immensely crucial and delicate, its progression is taking place with that much care and vigilance,” the Taliban wrote in a statement on Sunday. “The talks in January saw an agreement regarding the withdrawal of ‘occupying’ forces and preventing Afghanistan from being used against others, but this round of talks is about the details and nature of these two issues.”
United States special envoy Zalmay Kahlilza and the Taliban representatives in Doha, Qatar are mainly discussing on US forces withdrawal from Afghanistan, ensuring that Afghanistan’s territory is not used as a threat to any other country, a comprehensive ceasefire and direct talks with the Afghan government.
This comes after the Taliban repeatedly refused to seat on a round table with Afghan government for discussing peace process in the country. Thus, as both sides of the talks agreed, Afghan politicians and people from different layers of the society came up to introduce an inclusive team, which will represent Afghan government in the peace process.
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