While the ink on the Kabul statement by four-nations charting the course to a meeting between the Afghan government and Taleban has not dried, the next meeting is scheduled for Feb 6 in Islamabad, another initiative to restart the peace negotiations was launched in Qatar.
While the ink on the Kabul statement by four-nations charting the course to a meeting between the Afghan government and Taleban has not dried, the next meeting is scheduled for Feb 6 in Islamabad, another initiative to restart the peace negotiations was launched in Qatar.
The Jan 23-24 Pugwash-led talks in Doha on Peace and Security in Afghanistan was a “non-official (academic) exploration of current issues and not an official negotiation”, the organisers were at pains to affirm.
Some 55 participants “from a wide range of backgrounds”, according to the organisers, discussed “shared concerns” including the urgent need for peace and end the confrontation. “All agreed that the Taleban should have an office and an address,” a report by Pugwash secretary general Paolo Cotta-Ramusino says.
The Afghan government was not represented in Qatar. Neither has the meetings of senior-level officials from Afghanistan, Pakistan, China and the US been thrown open as yet to the Taleban.
The absence has raised questions about the point of meetings in which the “main side” is missing. Asghar Eshraq, journalist-cum-political analyst, thinks the current peace initiatives – he calls them “one-sided talks” – will be futile like in the past. The Kabul government declined to join saying it saw no reason for parallel discussions but Pugwash reiterated, “… the Doha dialogue and its follow-ups do not interfere with the current quadrilateral talks”.
The secretary general’s statement says, “The hope is that the points discussed in these non-official meetings be considered by all official negotiations”.
Among the 18 concerns raised in Doha, on which there will be further dialogue to determine steps forward are the need to uphold the rights of women and accountability for human rights abuses; health and education issues; and protection of public properties.
According to a participant, the Taleban not only support these national rehabilitation plans, they would assist in their development.
Lecturer Faiz Mohammad Zaland says, “The Taleban are not against the national projects, schools, the health centres and staff … They want to help Afghan people; raise the literacy level and develop health services.” He believes the Doha talks serve a very useful purpose. “It is a positive step and increases hopes for peace,” he adds.
Setting conditions
The Taleban’s preconditions for talking are reflected in the Doha meeting’s list of concerns. “Blacklists should be eliminated and freedom of movement should be guaranteed. Visas should be facilitated for those to attend such discussions.”
There is no change in the Taleban’s stated position that war would continue as long as foreign troops are present. Help from the international community is sought for rebuilding Afghanistan, including its roads and schools.
Shahzada Shahed, spokesperson of the High Peace Council, told the media that the Taleban concerns are not a problem. But that is contrary to the position of the Ashraf Ghani government. The government says talks will be held only with those who leave the fighting and violence. Zafar Hashemi, deputy spokesperson in the president’s office says, “We would negotiate with the groups that leave the violence, leave terrorist actions and accept the international norms as main principle in peace talks… The Afghan people will not talk to groups that set conditions.”
Political analyst Ekram Andeshmand thinks the government may be forced to be more accommodating. “The four-nation talks due on Feb 6 are leading to engagement with the Taleban. Saying no to Taleban conditions may be harder than accepting the conditions.”
Andeshmand has no doubts about Pakistan’s influence with the Taleban. A situation in which Kabul agrees to Taleban conditions would be in Islamabad’s favour. “Taleban will transform from an insurgent group to political with more open support from Pakistan,” he reckons.
Optimistic public
Afghans who have waited 14 years for an end to the fighting have not given up hope but are worried. Bashir Ahmad, a resident Ghazni province says, “For the past three weeks, high-ranking authorities of Afghanistan, Pakistan, China and the US have met in Islamabad and Kabul. There is apparent seriousness and cooperation among the four nations. Yet, Taleban are intensifying their assaults.”
In Ghazni’s Nawer district the Taleban cut off roads in an area where there was no fighting. Eventually the national army and national police repossessed the area. Fighters of Daesh, supporting the Islamic State (ISIS), have emerged in the Zana Khan district, and are urging families to give them two soldiers each. “When the security situation in Ghazni, and other parts, is so worrying, what can we expect from peace talks?” says Bashir Ahmad. But he has not given up hope. “I am an optimist (about peace talks). I hope our government takes practical steps and the talks are positive and fruitful for people.” But he cautions the government on Daesh. “The government sees the ISIS as weak. It should take serious action against the ISIS and prevent their growth.”
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