The Afghan peace talks should be restarted, believe both the US and Taliban. As Andalou Agency reports, both sides have brought new demands to closed-door meetings and ready to find a path to resume talks.
On Wednesday, the Afghan Taliban political office welcomed a 12-member delegation that arrived in Pakistan’s capital Islamabad on Wednesday at the invitation of the government. Since 2013 when Taliban established their political office in Qatar, it is first-ever visit of the insurgents to Doha.
Zalmay Khalilzad was appointed the special U.S. envoy for Afghan reconciliation. His delegation had arrived in Islamabad on Tuesday before the Taliban delegation.
“At least one meeting” took place this week in Islamabad, a senior Pakistani foreign ministry official confirmed. Mr Khalilzad and the Taliban delegation had “to discuss different ways to resume the talks.”
Despite both two sides haven’t reached any decision, the most important result of the meeting was both sides have vowed to break the deadlock.
According to the Pakistani ministry of foreign affairs, another meeting is expected in a day or two after both sides complete their homework on different formulas discussed in the first meeting.
The US and Taliban come up with new demands
The Taliban have refused to accept the two US demands, and want the process to be resumed from right where it broke off. However, Washington wants a fresh start, particularly with respect to its two demands.
Both Taliban and American delegations had come up with new demands, with Washington demanding a “total” cease-fire in the war-wracked country.
At the same time, the Taliban continue to insist on the inclusion of the fragile Kabul government in the peace process. Despite the deadlock of the peace talks, mant political observers believe that negotiations have bright chances for the resumption of the process despite the rigid stances of both Washington and the Taliban.
In fact, the next round of the peace talks will be a test of each other’s nerves. But ultimately, both sides will agree on the resumption of talks as they have realized the fact that there is no other solution.
Meanwhile, Washington is not so positive about the future of talks, the US looks more “rigid” and wants “something extra” from the Taliban to justify resuming the talks. Probably, it is because of more pressure on the White House this time. After all, the United States has to justify its readiness to revive the broken-off process not only before its own people but the whole world, including Kabul.
Eventually the talks will resume. It’s just a matter of time, the experts said. Otherwise, the U.S. will remain entangled in Afghanistan, which it does not want to.
