While several rounds of negotiations between Americans and Taliban representatives spurred hopes for a peaceful settlement of Afghan conflict, the postponement of the second intra-Afghan conference is a bad tidings. Taliban representatives and a large number of Afghan delegates representing a cross-section of society, including some government officials were due to meet for two days (April 19-20) in the Qatari capital, Doha, to discuss ways to end the long war in Afghanistan. But unfortunately, the conference, the first of its kind to include Afghan government officials, was delayed indefinitely on Thursday for the wrong decisions of Afghan government and Taliban. Taliban sources have said they had become tired of failed attempts for intra-Afghan talks, and that there was no possibility of resuming such a dialogue in the near future.
The Doha conference, which could serve as a platform for initiation of direct peace talks between Afghan sides of the war, was unfortunately scraped for the wrong stances of Afghan government and the Taliban. At first, the government announced a 250-member delegation that included opposition figures and civic leaders from across Afghan society besides government officials under the pretext of inclusivity. Negotiating with such a huge delegation seemed impossible from the time it was announced, and the Taliban even ridiculed the delegation saying that the meeting in Qatar was not a wedding party in which such a large number of participants should attend. Additionally, the government especially President Ghani tried to portray the conference as official dialogue between Afghan government and the Taliban, despite the fact that the Taliban’s stance in that regard was clear.
Besides the government, the Taliban’s interference and proposed changes in the list of delegates from Afghanistan also contributed to the cancellation of the conference. Since they had already made it clear that the meeting was not official talks, but could still meet the delegates and exchange views with them. Apart from negotiations branded as being official, mere exchange of views was not in contradiction with Taliban’s redlines. The Taliban would have shared their views with Afghan delegates as they did in Moscow conference.
The problem is that Afghan government leadership is not serious about peace for fear of losing power, while the Taliban see an opportunity for taking over power by use of force so that is why they refuse to show flexibility in peace talks with the government. But it is very unfortunate to say that it is the ordinary Afghans who are paying the price for the actions of both sides. Government leaders better control their thirst for power, while the Taliban should also agree to a political arrangement instead of thinking about military victory that can protect the lives and interests of all Afghans, including them.