Authorities from government and the Taliban negotiating teams confirmed Wednesday the two sides had agreed procedural rules of the intra-Afghan negotiations, paving the way for the next step which is to work out the agenda of the talks.
“The procedure including its preamble of the negotiation has been finalized and from now on, the negotiation will begin on the agenda,” Nader Nadery, Afghan government’s top negotiator took to Twitter.
The Taliban spokesman, Mohammad Naeem Wardak, confirmed on Twitter the negotiating teams have reached the agreement.
Later a joint statement from the two sides of negotiating table read that “a joint working committee was tasked to prepare the draft topics for the agenda.”
Negotiating teams have been meeting in the Qatari capital of Doha since September of the ongoing year to advance the long-delayed Afghan peace talks.
The news of breakthrough deal hits the headlines as the country gripped with decades-long war is still witnessing high levels of violence amid peace efforts negotiators from the government and the Taliban have been putting at the negotiating table.
Afghan government and the international community who have constantly called for ceasefire—the most urgent demand—welcomed the agreement.
“It’s a step forward towards beginning the negotiations on the main issues, including a comprehensive ceasefire as the key demand of the Afghan people for a lasting peace,” Sediq Seddiqi, spokesman for Afghan President Ashraf Ghani tweeted.
The United States welcomed the agreement with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo describing it as “a major milestone.”
U.S. Special Representative for Afghan Reconciliation Zalmay Khalilzad said on Twitter the two sides had agreed on a “three-page agreement codifing rules and procedures for their negotiations on a political roadmap and a comprehensive ceasefire”.
“This agreement demonstrates that the negotiating parties can agree on tough issues,” Mr. Khalilzad said.
Qatar, the host country for intra-Afghan negotiations, and the neighboring Pakistan which has played a key role in Afghanistan’s peace process also hailed the agreement.
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