The Afghan government on Monday said that the regional countries’ attempts to engage in rivalry in the peace process in Afghanistan are quite harmful and the issue further complicates the peace process.
Meanwhile, US Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation Zalmay Khalilzad has arrived in Beijing where he is holding talks with senior Chinese officials about the peace process in Afghanistan.
At the same time, Afghan National Security Advisor Hamdullah Mohib has also traveled to Saudi Arabia where he will discuss peace talks with the Taliban with Saudi officials.
“National security advisor, after visiting China, went to Saudi Arabia. He met with the national security advisor of United Arab Emirates in Abu Dhabi before that, and they discussed the Afghan-owned peace process and war against terrorism. It is expected that the advisor, during his trip to Saudi, will hold talks with Saudi officials on cooperation between the two countries,” said Ahmad Tariq Aryan, spokesman for NSC.
“The efforts by the United States and Afghanistan’s neighboring countries deserve appreciation. But the people of Afghanistan will take these efforts seriously at a time when the two sides (Afghan government and Taliban) sit together,” said Chief Executive Officer, Abdullah Abdullah.
“Unfortunately, the kind of rivalry which has started between the regional and countries beyond the region about the peace process has proved harmful to Afghanistan,” said CEO spokesman, Mujiburrahman Rahimi.
But, a number of political commentators have said the efforts by the countries involved in the peace process in Afghanistan has been a barrier to sealing a peace deal in the country.
“It is perilous from two dimensions. First, these countries are likely trying to pursue their own interests in the process, which will unfortunately harm the interests of the Afghans. Secondly, a lack of coordination with the Afghan government prolongs and complicates the process,” said university lecturer, Nasrallah Stanekzai.
