Afghan peace talks: Taliban reject ‘futile, misleading negotiations’

Insurgents say Mullah Mansoor has not authorised group to participate

ISLAMABAD:

The Afghan Taliban have rejected what they called ‘futile, misleading negotiations’, causing a serious setback to ongoing diplomatic efforts by Pakistan, Afghanistan, China and the United States for brokering peace between the Afghan government and the insurgent group.

Last month’s Quadrilateral Coordination Group (QCG) meeting in Kabul had invited Taliban groups to join direct talks with the Afghan government by the first week of March. Pakistan had accepted the offer to host the unprecedented meeting.

The powerful Taliban leadership council claimed the quartet process had not shared anything about their discussions with the group’s political office in Qatar, the only authorised body to deal with the political process.

“We once again reiterate that unless the occupation of Afghanistan is ended, black lists (United Nations’ sanctions on Taliban leaders) eliminated and innocent prisoners freed, such futile, misleading negotiations will not bear any results,” stated the council.

A statement issued by the council denied rumours Taliban delegates would be participating in the upcoming meetings with the permission of Taliban supremo Mullah Akhtar Mansoor.

“We reject all such rumours and unequivocally state that the leader of the Islamic Emirate (Afghan Taliban) has not authorised anyone to participate in this meeting and neither has the leadership council of the Islamic Emirate decided to partake in it.”

Defending their rejection of the peace talks, the Taliban said the US was ‘deploying fresh troops’ to Afghanistan, carrying out airstrikes in various areas and participating in night raids.

“And on the other hand, the Kabul administration has expanded operations in multiple provinces, displaced thousands of families from their homes in this cold winter and at the same time intensified propaganda about negotiations and the QCG meetings,” said the Taliban council. The Taliban’s decision is a public rejection of the appeal by the QCG, which had also reached an understanding to take action against ‘irreconcilable’ elements.

The announcement could mount some pressure on the Taliban under Mansoor, amid serious concerns regarding possible intensification in fight as the weather warms up.

The Taliban might step up attacks with the announcement of their traditional Spring Offensive either by the end of March or early April. Commanders of the foreign forces and the Afghan military predict intensification in fighting this year.

Afghan security analysts believe Taliban fighters have expanded their fighting from their Pashtun-dominated areas in the south and the east to the northern parts of the country.

People familiar with the Taliban’s political office have told The Express Tribune that the group has planned a meeting of known Afghan personalities to consult with them about the peace process at an unofficial level.

Hizb-e-Islami (HeI), the second largest resistance movement in Afghanistan, led by former prime minister Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, is also undecided about joining the talks. However, HeI sources say a formal announcement could be made in the coming days.

Diplomatic sources say some ‘background’ efforts are under way to contact the Taliban for persuading them to soften their stance about the talks.


Published in The Express Tribune, March 6^th, 2016.