US committed to Doha deal, Taliban told

The Biden administration has established first direct contact with the Afghan Taliban, who claimed that the new US government expressed its commitment to the Doha agreement that Washington had earlier indicated it would revisit.

Zalmay Khalilzad , the US special envoy for Afghanistan, held talks with Taliban political chief Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar in Doha on Saturday, confirmed both sides. He was accompanied by the US general currently leading troops in Afghanistan. Although Khalilzad – retained by the Biden administration at least until May –had frequently met the Taliban and is the architect of the Doha deal, this was his first meeting with the Taliban under the new US administration, which is currently reviewing the February 29, 2020 deal.

A statement issued by the Taliban spokesperson suggested that the Biden administration backed the Doha agreement the Trump administration had signed with the insurgent group. “Both sides expressed their commitment to the Doha agreement and discussed its full implementation. Likewise, the current situation of Afghanistan and the rapidity and effectiveness of the intra-Afghan negotiations were discussed,” the Taliban statement read. The landmark deal provides a road map for the US troop withdrawal from the war-torn country in return for the Taliban agreeing not to allow the Afghan soil to be used again by terrorist groups and entering into the intra-Afghan talks.

The deal envisages that all foreign forces will leave Afghanistan by May this year. However, since President Biden took charge, the US and even Nato countries indicated that they might not stick to the deal, insisting that the withdrawal is conditionsbased and that the Taliban are not fulfilling the requirement of the peace agreement.

Also read Taliban says met with US envoy Zalmay Khalilzad in Doha

The Taliban have rejected the allegations and claimed that they were fully implementing the deal. The insurgent group warned the US and other foreign forces against extending their stay. Pakistan, which has facilitated and brokered the Doha agreement as well as the intraAfghan talks, has suggested the US government to speak directly to the Taliban if it had any reservations.

The US was told that it was better to negotiate directly with the Taliban if any extension needed in the drawdown for any logistical reasons. The US apparently accepted Pakistan’s advice as Khalilzad finally met the Taliban in Doha. Khalilzad went to Doha after spending time in Kabul where he held talks with the top leadership there to find a way out of the current impasse. He is likely to visit Pakistan where he would discuss the priorities and strategy of the Biden administration.

Meanwhile, Afghanistan’s President Ashraf Ghani categorically rejected rumours of plans to set up an extra-constitutional interim or transitional government in the country, saying on Saturday the constitutional transfer of power through elections remained an “uncompromised principle”. Addressing a joint parliament session, Ghani urged the Taliban to end violence and make sincere efforts for a political agreement. He also called on Pakistan to embrace this opportunity and strive for genuine peace in Afghanistan. “We are ready to talk about free and transparent countrywide elections under the supervision of the international community.

We can discuss and agree on a date,” he said, describing the rejuvenated Afghan peace process as an “unprecedented” achievement. “Afghans are tired of war, but they do not want the peace of the graveyard,” he said. “This is an important opportunity for Pakistan to quit the politics of past decades and acknowledge an independent, free, and proud Afghanistan,” he added.

WITH ADDITIONAL INPUT FROM ANADOLU AGENCY