Afghan government disagrees with certain pre-conditions put forward by Taliban. PHOTO: REUTERS/FILE
US Special Envoy to Afghanistan and Pakistan James Dobbins met President Karzai in late May and “informed him about the Taliban’s willingness to talk” to the Afghan High Peace Council in the near future, the official told The Express Tribune on Sunday.
Dobbins, who later visited Islamabad, is believed to have discussed the Taliban proposal with Pakistani officials.
“The Afghan government has not agreed with certain pre-conditions put forward by the Taliban and discussions are underway to find out a solution,” the source said.
The Afghan government wants the Taliban to publicly denounce al Qaeda and hold direct talks with the Afghan peace council in Qatar, where the Taliban have their “political office.” The office has not yet been officially recognised by the US and Afghan government.
“The Taliban however offered that they would publicly condemn all act of terrorism but would not mention al Qaeda. The Taliban also suggested that they would not publicly mention the Peace Council but will say that they are willing to talk to all Afghan sides,” the Afghan source said.
“The Afghan government disagreed with the Taliban suggestions. However, efforts are underway to remove differences to pave way for the urgently-needed talks,” he said.
The Taliban spokesperson Qari Muhammad Yousaf rejected the claim as false and part of a propaganda to create doubts.
“It is a white lie and aimed at misleading Afghans,” the Taliban spokesperson told The Express Tribune over a phone call. He said the Kabul regime spreads such rumours as it has failed on military and political fronts.
The Afghan official said that the government is now engaged in serious debate over how to proceed and is ready to show “flexibility” and expects the Taliban negotiators will also respond in the same way.
Taliban have ruled out talks with the Afghan government so far, saying that the Kabul regime is powerless and a US puppet.
Karzai’s Qatar visit
President Karzai, leading a high-level delegation, left for Qatar on Sunday where he will “discuss Afghanistan’s peace process” and bilateral relations between the two countries, presidential palace said.
Karzai will attend the 10th annual US-Islamic World Forum in Doha and is scheduled to deliver a speech today at the Forum about Afghanistan’s vision on regional and international issues.
The Afghan official said that President Karzai, who is also accompanied by Head of High Peace Council Salahuddin Rabbani, will get more information about the Taliban’s talks offer during his visit.
The Taliban spokesperson ruled out any possibility of talks with Karzai during his visit to Qatar.
COMMENTS (15)
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@Hashmi
"Afghan Shia dominant government" Good one! You bring comic relief to this thread. You suffer from delusions of grandeur and your dream of Sunni domination is a pipe dream. The Taliban will definitely come to power but in Pakistan not in Afghanistan. Pakistan is a paper tiger that can no longer control its non-state actors let alone impose its will on the unruly Afghans. Good luck with your dreams and fantasies, be careful of what you wish for because this dream has the potential to turn into a nightmare.
What ever these Afghan says, peace in Afghanistan is only possible when Pakistan wishes, not Afghan Shia dominant government, Taliban will come to power soon and then Pakistan will teach some lesson to all those to oppose sunni domination...;
There are only minimal aerial resources required to keep the Taliban at bay at their best. The same thing that toppled them is all the support that would be needed from the west afterward.
One single American B52 over head.
One thing is sure and proven that peace has been necessary for Afghanistan and Pakistan by restarting peace talks and negotiations with Taliban to secure the upcoming next generations from war and Taliban,Pakistani and Afghani officials must have to sincerity,honesty and practicability in the peace talks and peace talks' implementation practically in the region and for this purpose US has never to interfere in the peace talks in any forms and manifestations for the successful peace talks......
@syed baqar ahsan: Lol! What about the neighbor who matters the most and whose people have been running around in Afghanistan for last three decades - Pakistan?
If the Taliban manages to break down the institutions and security apparatus of the Afghan central government. Do you think this is the same North they will face? How are the Taliban going to carry out a mass infiltration or militant movement on Kabul. I'm a Kandahar Pashtun and I am telling you to stop hoping for more civil war in my country. I don't wish for civil war in yours. Its not good to wish such hardship on other Muslims.
Even if the Taliban ever control over 90 percent of Afghanistan again which is impossible. They should consider themselves lucky if they establish a foot hold in Paktika. For you consider that regional instability in the interests of Pakistan? I think you should be more concerned about energy, industry, currency and economic growth. There's also the 1.5 billion dollars in annual American aid and the possibility of economic sanctions.
I see Pakistan having more to lose than Afghanistan. That has always been the irony hasn't it?
The Taliban will continue to play cat and mouse games with both US and Karzai till 2014 and thereafter mount final offensive on Kabul. The so called peace talks by Taliban is a ploy to gain time and avoid confrontation for the time being. The civil war after 2014 is inevitable which Taliban hopes to win without much difficulty.
@Syed Beqar Ahsan Indian soldiers in Afghanistan, that is the height of ignorance and absurdity. Peace will only come to the region when Pakistan stops its futile proxy games. Taliban are Pakistanis and Afghans abhor them and they will eventually annihilate them with or without Pakistan's help. Mullah Omar, Haqqani family and Hekmatyar are perceived as Pakistani stooges by all Afghans and making peace with them is a Faustian Bargain that Afghans are not willing to make.
we cant blame one side ....
@ashar:
Your dreams of a Taliban ruled Afghanistan aren't even realistic to the Taliban themselves. The ignorance of meddling neighbors sometimes intrigues me.
@syed baqar ahsan:
Oh yes, that's what Afghanistan should be reassured with. The eventual responsible actions of its neighbors for its stability. Stay out of our affairs.
@Syed A. Mateen: Talking to Taliban in Afghanistan is a need of US and the US backed government at Kabul. Both need a respectable exit.
The taliban will wreak havoc in Qatar
Talks or no talks confusion will remain there till the last USA/UK/NATO/Indian soldiers is there on Afghan soil.All countries around Afghanistan are very un comfortable with the mess created by these foreign troops.On withdrawal their will be complete peace in the region because it will be the responsibility of every neighbor of Afghanistan to ensure peace and trade in each other interest.
Talking with militants who have guns and bullets is very unusual, when Taliban do not want to denounce Al-Qaeda.
How can one expect that a militant organization will become a "peace-maker"?
Taliban should first disarm themselves and then talk about peace.
Talking peace with Taliban is something as if one is trying to clap with one hand.
Despite trust deficit, if one want to talk peace, let him do the futile effort.