Backchannel efforts: Kabul, Taliban set to hold face-to-face talks

Crucial talks held between US official and senior Pakistani authorities

ISLAMABAD:

The Afghan government and the Taliban are poised to hold face-to-face talks within the next few days following behind-the-scenes nudging by Pakistan and other foreign stakeholders.

The two sides were in contact with each other for some time but this is the first time they will sit across the table to discuss the future of Afghanistan, officials said.

Ahead of the much-anticipated talks, US President Barack Obama’s point-man for the region travelled to Islamabad and held crucial talks with senior authorities on Tuesday.

Daniel F Feldman, special representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan, met army chief General Raheel Sharif at the General Headquarters in Rawalpindi.

According to military’s media wing – Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) – the regional situation was discussed during the meeting. The ISPR chief Major General Asim Saleem Bajwa said the US special envoy appreciated Pakistan’s positive role for peace and stability in Afghanistan.



A source, familiar with the backdoor efforts to bring the Afghan Taliban to the negotiating table, disclosed that Feldman’s visit was aimed at discussing the prospects of a peace deal in the backdrop of the latest initiative.

Although the US will not be part of the upcoming talks, it has fully backed the fresh moves for the political solution, said the source.

The source would not provide details of the venue for the upcoming talks. However, it was reported earlier that Islamabad, Beijing, Kabul and Dubai were shortlisted as possible venues.

Efforts are being made to arrange the talks in Kabul in an effort to show that the process is Afghan-led and Afghan-owned.

“The next few days are very crucial. It is a make-or-break situation,” said another source. “All sides are very much aware of the fact that the breakthrough has to be achieved before the Taliban’s spring offensive.” All stakeholders, including Pakistan, are believed to be pushing for a 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,” said the source.

Prime Minister’s Adviser on National Security and Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz also confirmed on Tuesday that the Afghan government and the Taliban were holding negotiations.

He informed the Senate Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs that both sides have already formed committees to pursue the peace talks.

Aziz, however, clarified that there were no talks taking place between the Afghan Taliban and the US.

The Senate panel headed by Senator Haji Adeel cautioned the government against getting involved in the internal affairs of Afghanistan unless officially asked to do so.

Islamabad has played a major role in persuading the Taliban leadership to come to the negotiating table with the Afghan government.

China is to act as a ‘guarantor’ for any peace deal between the insurgents and the Afghan government.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 11^th, 2015.