Ceasefire Next to U.S. Troops Withdrawal: Doha Talks Struggle

Doha talks kept on beating around two controversial and high-demanded expectations: The Taliban dun an urgency of the United States troops withdrawal still in Afghanistan, while the Afghan government insist on a comprehensive ceasefire.

In a bid to pave the way for intra-Afghan dialogues and trustworthy negotiations between the Afghan government and Taliban representatives in Doha, Qatar, the High Peace Council in a statement Monday called on both parties to declare ceasefire during Ramadan Month.

But the Taliban delegates insist on a precise timeline for foreign troops withdrawal still in Afghanistan before any agreement come around a comprehensive ceasefire in the war-raged country.

“They [the US and Taliban] once again discussed those issues which they had failed to reach to a conclusion about them in the five-round of the talks,” said Wahid Muzhda, a political analyst, as local media quoted.

Here is a bit of the previous round of talks on Afghan peace in Doha:

·        U.S.-Taliban Talks Wrapped with ‘Agreement in Draft’

·        Doha Talks Continue Behind the Curtain

·        Doha Talks Give Heads-up on U.S. Troops Withdrawal

“The reasons that they did not reach to a settlement about them is that these issues are quite sensitive and complicated, for instance, the issue of troop withdrawal, when the debate is driven towards the troops, then some other issues come ahead which need to be answered that how long it will take to make it possible,” he added.

According to sources, the Taliban in a statement on Friday rejected the call for a ceasefire which was the main demand of the Grand Consultative Jirga on Peace of almost 3,200 Afghan delegates nationwide. The group said “Jihad” will have more “rewards” during Ramadan.

Meanwhile, President Ashraf Ghani in a video message on Ramadan reiterated his call on the Taliban to respond to the long lasting desire of Afghans for peace, as he dubbed the month a period of reconciliation.

“I once again call on the Taliban to respect this holy month and address the demand of Afghans for peace and reconciliation which was reflected at the Grand Consultative Jirga for Peace,” Ghani said, as local media quoted.

Doha talks are due to continue Tuesday after a day break, as Muslim communities around the globe marked the first day of Ramadan month Monday.

United States Special Envoy Zalmay Khalilzad is expected to join the group in Doha in an attempt to push further through the process.