K.
Iqbal
Afghan
government and the Taliban are poised to hold face-to-face talks following the
behind the scenes encouragement by Pakistan ,
America Afghanistan
President
Obama held a video conference with President Ashraf Ghani, on March 13, and
discussed the peace process and commended the regime’s efforts to improve
relationship with Pakistan Afghanistan
Debate
is ongoing on the issue of the presence of foreign forces in Afghanistan;
spokesman for Afghan Taliban Zabihullah Mujahid has commented in a message that
no doubt that Afghans want peace, but this is possible after the foreign forces
stop aggression and allow sovereignty to Afghans. The Taliban leadership is not
out-rightly rejecting the prospect of talks with the Afghan government. China ’s foreign minister last month said during
a visit to Islamabad that Beijing
Reportedly,
China New Delhi
The
Taliban side is silent over the Afghan government’s willingness to give share
to them in power and also accept their demands within the constitutional
framework. Taliban are accepting that their members visit certain countries for
various issues and have traditional links with several countries. An Afghan
government official has said that the issues about which Taliban have concerns
could be discussed and sorted out once the talk process starts. The next few
days are very crucial. It is a make-or-break situation. All sides are very much
aware of the fact that the breakthrough has to be achieved before the Taliban’s
spring offensive. All stakeholders are pushing for a formal ceasefire in order
to pave the way for meaningful talks before the Afghan Taliban begin their
spring offensive in May. The first round of talks will focus on striking a deal
on a ceasefire. China Pakistan
and Afghanistan have agreed
to set up a joint committee to work out a mechanism for documentation of
unregistered Afghan nationals in Pakistan
While
talking to Afghan Minister for Refugees and Repatriation, Sayed Balkhi, Prime
Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif has said that building stable and cooperative
relations with all countries of the region including Afghanistan
is part of his vision for a peaceful neighborhood, adding that Pakistan Afghanistan ,
in December 2014, Prime Minister Nawaz called upon the international community
to support Afghanistan Pakistan Afghanistan
With
the change of leadership in Afghanistan Pakistan Pakistan Pakistan
Both
sides—Taliban and the Afghan government—are deeply suspicious of each other.
Taliban representatives have indicated that should talks begin, they would make
demands including the immediate departure of all foreign troops. A senior aide
to Ghani said anticipated Taliban demands, which may also include re-imposing
the harsh interpretation of Islamic law would be unacceptable. The aide said
Pakistani intermediaries were “working to find middle ground”, but so far
reported no change in the Taliban stance. “If these demands are not softened,”
the aide said, “the first day of talks could become the last day of talks.”
Prime
Minister’s Adviser on National Security and Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz has
also confirmed that the Afghan government and the Taliban were preparing to
hold negotiations. Pakistan
The
process of intra-Afghan negotiations is likely to be painstakingly slow, and
progress could be akin to one step forward and two backwards. At this critical
time, caution is due for Pakistan
that it should not get involved in the internal affairs of Afghanistan
The interlocutors of the
Afghan peace and reconciliation process should look for strong guarantors to
the anticipated agreement. No single country could bear such a burden; however
it would be appropriate if all permanent members of UNSC and all six immediate
neighbors of Afghanistan
jointly underwrite the forthcoming political arrangement in Afghanistan America , the real power yielder in Afghanistan
