Taliban refuse direct talks with Afghan government in March
By Agha Iqrar Haroon
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: Taliban have refused to hold direct talks with the Afghan government in March and talks may not be held in Islamabad, claim diplomatic circles.
Taliban leadership indicates talks can be held in Doha Qatar but not immediately and may be in April-May, indicated diplomatic circles.
According to details, diplomats from the United States, Afghanistan, Pakistan and China tried to pursue Taliban leadership to hold direct talks with Afghan government to resolve their issues for establishing peace in war beaten Afghanistan.
Quadrilateral Coordination Group — including Afghanistan, Pakistan, China and the United States held a meeting in Kabul on February 23 a statement by the four-nation group issued after the meeting gave no specific dates but said the meeting would be held in Pakistan’s capital of Islamabad and possibly in the month of March.
“The (four) member states invite all Taliban and other groups to participate through their authorized representatives in the first round of direct peace talks with the Afghan government expected to take place by the first week of March 2016,” said a statement by Quadrilateral Group released at the end of the one-day meeting in Kabul.
According to Dispatch News Desk (DND) news agency, the first round of peace talks in Pakistan last summer was suspended just two days before the scheduled meeting when Taliban leadership gave a surprising revelation that Chief of Taliban Mullah Mohammad Omar had died two years earlier and delegation that was announced for talks had no legitimate powers to deal on behalf of Taliban unless new leadership takes place and announces delegation for talks.
When asked to comment, senior journalist and analyst who had been covering Afghan war Agha Iqrar Haroon said that the process of negotiation and decide peace in Afghanistan was very difficult.
“I doubt any success in direct talks between Afghan government and Taliban leadership. Taliban wish to impose Shariah and Quran as constitution while sitting Afghan government wishes to retain prevailing system and constitution. I believe talks are possible with Taliban only after announcement of disbandment of current political structure by Afghan government. China and USA want a stable Afghanistan and push Pakistan to arrange talks as a “go between” but Pakistan has lost that balancing power long ago and now Taliban are gaining grounds so why they should listen Pakistan or anybody else?. I think talking about Talks may be useful for Taliban once they get ground successes in provinces where they are engage already”, comment Haroon
