Following lengthy stalemates in the peace talks between the delegations of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan and the Taliban in Qatar, both sides have recently held several meetings.
Some members of the negotiating team of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, who did not want to be named, said that in these meetings, both sides discussed important issues. According to them, the talks focused on the future Afghan constitution, ceasefire, a political roadmap, political participation and the transition period.
Najia Anwari, a spokeswoman for the State Ministry for Peace Affairs, said that peace talks had begun in earnest and expressed hope that the talks would reach a favorable conclusion as soon as possible. “These meetings are held overnight, between the two sides, and the most basic issues are discussed,” Anwari added.
The Taliban so far has not said anything about the topic.
It is worth mentioning that the peace talks between the delegations of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan and the Taliban started in September of last year. Since then, these talks have been suspended several times due to sharp differences between the parties.
Afghanistan peace talks have resumed amid escalating fighting between government forces and the Taliban, with the Taliban claiming the group has been able to seize control of more than 140 districts in the past two months. Meanwhile, the US Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation Zalmay Khalilzad said he was “surprised” by the Taliban’s recent progress on the battlefield.
Khalilzad, who has facilitated the Afghan government’s peace process with the Taliban, recently, told the BBC: “Because the parties want to have a better or stronger position in the negotiations. I am not surprised by the escalation of the conflict, but by the progress of the Taliban. “I hope that Afghan forces, with the help of their friends, will repel the Taliban, but I emphasize that there is no military solution and a political solution is needed.”
The Taliban have stepped up their attacks on districts in the wake of US and NATO announcements in May that they would withdraw their forces from Afghanistan by September 11 this year. Taliban also claims to have taken control of dozens of districts. But the Afghan government does not accept the Taliban’s claim. Rohullah Ahmadzai, a spokesman for the Afghan Ministry of Defense, said that Afghan security forces had temporarily withdrawn tactically from some areas and districts, and they try to regain control of the lost areas soon. “Unfortunately, the enemy has recently increased its attacks in some provinces, despite their commitments, but the Afghan forces are defending their people and country in full force. Afghan forces have recently withdrawn tactically from some areas, but our commitment is to retake the lost areas.” said Ahmadzai.
The US President Joe Biden said three days ago, that the US military mission in Afghanistan would end on August 31 this year.
Members of the Afghan parliament are also concerned about the current situation in their country and stress that the international community should not leave the country alone in the fight against terrorism after the withdrawal of its troops from Afghanistan. “One of the reasons we had this fate today, I think, was the unconditional withdrawal of foreign troops from Afghanistan, but our request to the international community is that they not to leave Afghan forces alone in the fight against terrorism and continue to support the Afghan security and defense forces.” said Mir Haidar Afzali, the head of the parliament’s defense committee.
Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken spoke with his Pakistani and Qatari counterparts about peace in Afghanistan and stressed the need for their continued cooperation to bring peace to Afghanistan.
As violence escalates in Afghanistan, people are concerned about the security of provincial capitals as well as Kabul. “The Taliban have taken control of most of the districts, they may attack the provincial capitals, the Taliban have increased their activities in Kabul districts, we are also concerned about the security situation in Kabul,” said Ahmad Sultani, a resident of Kabul.
But Zalmai Khalilzad, the US special envoy for peace in Afghanistan, answered the question of whether the US would intervene if the Taliban wanted to take Kabul. He says the Taliban have pledged not to attack provincial capitals: “The Taliban know they need to be accepted as part of Afghanistan’s future, not hated. The quest for a military victory and an attack on Kabul and the imposition of government will jeopardize everything international they want. “We will not recognize a government imposed by force in Afghanistan.”
As violence escalates in various provinces, the Taliban continue to claim control of some important trading ports near the Afghan-Tajik and Afghan- Iranian borders.
