Peace talks, round-II: Kabul, Taliban may agree on ceasefire

Two sides likely to bring forth a series of CBMs in their July 31 meet-up

ISLAMABAD: Afghan government officials and Taliban representatives are likely to agree on a series of confidence building measures (CBMs), including a possible ceasefire, when they meet for a second round of their crucial peace talks later this week.

“A second face-to-face meeting in less than a month clearly suggests a forward movement,” a senior Pakistani official told The Express Tribune. “A truce and other CBMs will top the agenda when both sides meet on July 31,” he added.

In their first meet-up in the popular tourist resort of Murree on July 7, Afghan government officials had demanded that the Taliban announce a ceasefire. The insurgents agreed to cease fire if Pakistan and China guaranteed a ‘United National Government’ would be formed in Afghanistan. It is believed that both Islamabad and Beijing are willing to go the extra mile if all sides signal their inclination for such a role.

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Since the first round of talks, Afghan government officials and Taliban cadres were said to have been in contact to work out some CBMs for the next round in order to make the atmosphere conducive for more meaningful talks.

The official said Pakistan had been facilitating the process and did not want to dictate terms. “It depends on both sides [Afghan government and the Taliban] how they want to go about it. We want this process to succeed,” said the official when asked about Pakistan’s role in brokering a ceasefire deal.

The official refused to say where the second round of talks would take place. However, some reports suggest it might take place in Pakistan.

The official said China has also shown interest in hosting the talks. When asked, the official disclosed that the next round of talks could take place at a higher level. “If the Taliban send the senior leadership, then certainly all sides will also review the composition of their respective delegates,” he added.

Read: Kabul plans detailed Taliban talks on ending bloodshed

It is believed that talks are likely to be led by the Afghan foreign minister and attended by senior officials from Pakistan, China and the United States.  “We don’t want to speculate at this stage. There are many detractors,” the official said when asked about the possible outcome of the talks.

The Murree Peace Process is the first serious effort in recent years to cut a peace deal between the Afghan government and Taliban insurgents. All sides have been able to sit on the negotiating table after Pakistan successfully persuaded the Taliban to join peace talks.

Army Chief General Raheel Sharif is credited for the first direct talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban. Recently a top US general stationed in Afghanistan also publicly acknowledged the role of General Raheel in this regard.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 27^th, 2015.