Afghanistan Peace CampaignTaliban spokesman says the agenda will be made in agreement of both sides.
He said in a tweet that the agenda will be made in agreement of both sides.
“A ceasefire upon which the Afghan government insists and the establishment of an Islamic system that the Taliban urge could be there (at the talks),” said Sayed Akbar Agha, a former Taliban commander.
This comes a day after the US Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation Zalmay Khalilzad said that he is heading back to the region to gather international support for the Afghan peace negotiations.
In the first leg of his trip, the US envoy landed in Ankara where he met senior Turkish officials on the current developments in the Afghan peace talks.
“The modality of the participation of the Taliban in the structure of Afghanistan’s power structure will be transferred to the next US administration,” said Shukria Barikzai, a former diplomat.
“The talks will enter a new phase very soon. Considering the demand of Afghan people for a calm, our priority is to reach a comprehensive ceasefire,” said Ghulam Farooq Majroh, a member of the republic’s peace negotiating team in Doha.
“We are in support of peace and ceasefire. We want an end to the war,” said Ghezal, a resident in Kabul.
Despite calls for a ceasefire inside and outside the country, violence continues to grip Afghans across Afghanistan.
In the latest incident of violence, at least three members of the National Directorate of Security (NDS) were killed and 19 civilians were wounded in a blast that targeted a security patrol in Gardez city.
“Reports by our intelligence agencies indicate that it was a remote-controlled car bomb that was detonated on a market,” said Mohammad Halim Fedaee, the governor of Paktia.
The Afghan government has accused the Taliban of killing 134 civilians and wounding 342 more over the past one month. But the Taliban has hit out over the allegations, saying the Afghan government forces have killed 68 civilians just in the past one week.
The breakthrough reached in Doha between the two sides was greeted positively in Afghanistan and within the international community.
The peace negotiations between teams from the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan and the Taliban started on September 12; however, talks had been delayed because of disagreements over procedural rules.
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Doha Breakthrough: Afghan Negotiators Agree on Procedural Rules
The international community and and Afghan leaders have responded positively to the news.
Negotiators from both sides in Doha have agreed on procedural rules for the peace negotiation talks, the Taliban and the delegation of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan confirmed on Wednesday.
Nader Nadery, a member of the republic’s negotiating team in Doha, said: “Today (Wednesday), the plenary meeting was held between two Intra-Afghan negotiation teams. In this meeting, a joint working committee was tasked to prepare the draft topics for the agenda.”
“The current negotiations between both teams show that there is a willingness among Afghans to reach sustainable peace and both sides are committed to continuing their sincere efforts to reach a sustainable peace in Afghanistan” said Nadery.
Taliban spokesman Mohammad Naeem stated that a general meeting of the two sides was held in Doha on Wednesday, and the joint committee was tasked with preparing the topics for the agenda of the talks.
“The current talks between the delegations from the two sides indicate that there is a will for peace among Afghans,” said Mohammad Naeem.
The international community and Afghan leaders have responded positively to the news.
UNAMA head Deborah Lyons says the UN welcomes the progress achieved by both negotiating teams in the Afghan Peace Process. “Moving on to the agenda is a positive development. This breakthrough should be a springboard to reach the peace wanted by all Afghans,” UNAMA tweeted.
US peace envoy Khalilzad tweeted: “I welcome the news from Doha that the two Afghan sides have reached a significant milestone: A three-page agreement codifying rules and procedures for their negotiations on a political roadmap and a comprehensive ceasefire. The people of Afghanistan now expect rapid progress on a political roadmap and a ceasefire. We understand their desire and we support them. As negotiations on a political roadmap and permanent ceasefire begin, we will work hard with all sides for a serious reduction of violence and even a ceasefire during this period. This is what the Afghan people want and deserve,” Khalilzad said.
The British Embassy in Kabul welcomed the breakthrough in Doha, saying: “This is an important step in the Afghan-owned and led process and we encourage both sides to continue the positive momentum.”
“The biggest obstacle remaining is the current unacceptable level of violence: this must stop. Peace is the only solution for lasting stability, security, and peace in Afghanistan,” the UK embassy tweeted.
Abdullah Abdullah, Reconciliation Council chairman, welcomed the “initial major step” of both sides’ agreement in Doha on the procedural framework, and thanked the “republic’s negotiation team, all facilitators and the host Qatar for their valuable support.”
US Embassy Chargé d’Affaires Ross Wilson on today’s developments in Doha talks: “Welcome news from the Afghanistan Peace Negotiations.”
Presidential Palace spokesman Sediq Sediqqi: “The president of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan welcomes the finalization of the negotiation procedures in Doha. It’s a step forward towards beginning the negotiations on the main issues, including a comprehensive ceasefire as the key demand of the Afghan people for a lasting peace.”
Meanwhile, Pakistan’s ministry of foreign affairs in a statement welcomed the breakthrough in Doha.
“Pakistan welcomes the announcement regarding the agreement reached on rules and procedures by the Afghan parties in Doha. This is another significant step forward,” Pakistan’s foreign ministry stated.
“The agreement reflects a common resolve of the parties to secure a negotiated settlement. It is an important development contributing towards a successful outcome of Intra-Afghan Negotiations, which we all hope for,” said the statement.
The negotiating teams of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan and the Taliban recently agreed to include the US-Taliban deal, UN endorsements for the Afghan peace process, commitments of the negotiating teams and the will of the Afghan people as the base for upcoming negotiations, sources said.
Both the Kabul and Taliban teams had formed small groups called “contact groups” on the opening day of the talks on September 12. The contact groups have held five meetings so far to discuss rules and regulations as well as the agenda of the negotiations.
Qatar, which hosts the talks between the two sides, hailed the breakthrough reached on Wednesday, calling it a “milestone in the Afghan peace negotiations that began on September 12, 2020.”
The statement also said: “The State of Qatar will continue, in collaboration with the international community and its strategic allies, to support the peace process in pursuit of reaching lasting and comprehensive peace in Afghanistan.”
“What has been achieved today raises hope that they will succeed in reaching a political settlement to this conflict that has lasted for more than forty years,” the Qatari statement said.
NATO Chief Jens Stoltenberg said: “I welcome the breakthrough in Doha, which brings us one step closer to peace in Afghanistan. It is now critical to see rapid progress on a political roadmap and a comprehensive ceasefire. Afghans deserve peace and NATO fully supports the Afghanistan peace process.”
The peace negotiations between teams from the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan and the Taliban started on September 12; however, talks had been delayed because of disagreements on the procedural rules.
This comes as pressure from Afghanistan’s international partners had increased on both sides of the talks to compromise and show flexibility during the talks.
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Negotiators in Doha Hold Meeting to Discuss Agenda of Talks
The working committees from the peace negotiating teams of the Islamic Republic and the Taliban on Saturday held their first meeting to discuss issues around the agenda of the potential formal peace negotiations.
The Afghan Republic and the Taliban’s negotiating teams said in statements that their next meeting will be held on Sunday.
The meeting comes after prolonged delay in the start of the negotiations over differences in procedural rules for the talks.
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in reference to the ongoing violence in Afghanistan has said that the current scale of violence at a time that peace negotiations are underway is not acceptable for Washington.
“I made clear to them that the violence levels can’t continue while these negotiations go on. It won’t work. And so, we’ve asked all of them to stand back and indeed stand down. In that respect, I hope we can begin to start to address some of the front-end issues about a cease-fire here before too long,” Pompeo said.
Alongside the US, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani, Foreign Minister of Qatar has also said that he hopes that 2021 will be the year of peace and stability for Afghanistan.
“On the peace talks between the Afghans, His Excellency expressed hope that there will be some progress in the next two days between the two negotiating delegations, and that it will witness some progress so that 2021 will be a good year for Afghanistan that brings peace and stability as it is the main purpose of Qatar in hosting this dialogue,” Qatari Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
The Qatari Foreign Minister hoped that peace and stability would be achieved for the Afghan people as soon as possible, and affirmed that the State of Qatar would continue its efforts in that direction.
President Ashraf Ghani meanwhile on Saturday once again called on the Taliban to agree on a ceasefire and recognize the difference of their agreement with the US and with the Afghan government.
“The people of Afghanistan, the government and our entire partners are committed to talking to you (Taliban) in a serious way, so do not hesitate from a ceasefire,” said Ghani.
The peace negotiations between teams from the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan and the Taliban started on September 12; however, talks had been delayed because of disagreements over procedural rules.