Elusive peace: Dr Abdullah’s disclosure irks Afghan Taliban

Say Afghan govt official should not play politics on ‘sensitive issue’

ISLAMABAD: The Afghan Taliban are upset with the way some Afghan officials are dealing with the ‘highly sensitive issue’ of peace talks. “We do not favour the other side playing politics on the sensitive issue,” a Taliban official told The Express Tribune on the condition that he would not be named in the report.

The Taliban have never officially confirmed they would hold talks with the government in Kabul. However, insiders say the ultraorthodox militia does not publicly comment on any issue unless ‘substantial progress is made’ on it.

Days after President Ashraf Ghani avoided direct comments on the status of the peace process, Chief Executive Dr Abdullah Abdullah’s statement that the talks would begin in coming days has not been received well by the Taliban, sources said on Wednesday.

Dr Abdullah told the cabinet ministers that Afghanistan’s interest would be ensured in the dialogue process and that the people would also be on board from where the talks begin and how the process proceeded.

This conflicting approach towards the rare peace process has created an impression that the leaders of the national unity government are not on the same page and gives credence to the Taliban suspicion that there is no convergence of views among the leaders on how to carry the reconciliation process forward.

After a flurry of statements and diplomatic initiatives on the part of stakeholders involved in pushing for elusive peace in Afghanistan, there is a mysterious silence on all sides now.

But sources close to the Taliban said the break in spell of diplomatic initiative is temporary because former Taliban leaders say a delegation has reportedly been formed for the possible dialogue.

Akbar Agha, one of the Taliban founding members, says the Taliban have selected their seven representatives from their Qatar-based ‘political office’ to attend peace negotiations with the Afghan government. “The Taliban powerful central council has suggested seeking guarantees from the major players who have offered mediation,” a source privy to the Taliban internal debate told The Express Tribune.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 26^th, 2015.