Taliban Reject Peace Talks: Decision for talks lies only with Mullah Mansur Akhtar
By Agha Iqrar Haroon
Islamabad, Pakistan: Bygone the days when Afghan Taliban were in the pockets of Foreign Office of Pakistan. The situation is altogether changed since new Amir Mullah Mansur Akhtar took over the charged from “already dead Mullah Omar”. Now Taliban are not ruled by a mythical dead leadership rather a real living leadership is there to decide what is in the interests of Taliban. It could be a stupidity of Taliban to hold advances from north to south and engage in peace talks with Afghan government that is loosing war due to sheer corruptions within its ranks and no control over rural Afghanistan where Taliban are real reality from dusk to dawn.
Diplomatic circles in Kabul believe that Taliban will not sit on negotiating table unless they finish ongoing onslaught on Afghan security agencies and gain maximum grounds before America is compelled to send more troops back to Afghanistan. This is also expected that Taliban may prefer to hold talks directly with Afghan government only in Doha Qatar.
United States, China, Pakistan and Afghanistan are trying to hold peace talks with Taliban when they are in action to gain grounds while Russia has also contacted Taliban leadership suggesting them to give a chance to peace but Taliban are not ready for negotiation unless United States leaves Afghan soil or at least stop carrying out airstrikes and night raids on residential compounds.
Pakistani newspapers published story of refusal of talks a day before the official announcement of Taliban to reject talks.
Refusal of talks is a bitter message to Quadrilateral Coordination Group (QCG), telling USA, Pakistan, China and Afghanistan that they are non-entities in deciding the fate of war in Afghanistan and decision lies only with Taliban.
It may be mentioned that QCG held a meeting in Kabul on February 23 and released a statement after the meeting that direct talks between Afghanistan and Taliban would be held in Islamabad and possibly in the month of March. This fixing of venue and week of talks was done without taking Taliban into confidence. In a harsh response, spokesman of Taliban Zabihullah Mujahid on Saturday called reports about peace talks and participation of Taliban into talks just “rumors”.
Mujahid further added that the Amir (Chief) of Afghan Taliban Mullah Akhtar Mansoor had not given any order to take part in talks and that the “leadership council of the Islamic Emirate” had not even discussed the matter.
Analysts who follow Afghan development already doubt such talks in March and believe that Taliban wish to impose Shariah and Quran as constitution while sitting Afghan government wishes to retain prevailing system and constitution and talks are possible only when Afghan government disbands current political structure and asks foreign troops to leave Afghanistan.
Experts believe that China and USA 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 they should not listen Pakistan or anybody else and talks may be held once they (Taliban) get ground successes in provinces where they are already engage. Taliban are gaining grounds from Paktika province to Farah province, control almost all areas bordering to Pakistan and Iran.
Former diplomat and former Director of Afghan Affairs of Foreign Office of Pakistan Ayaz Wazir said that talks are only possible when QCG talks with leadership of Taliban before announcing any date, release leadership of Taliban from jails and allow senior commanders to move freely. He believes that Taliban will stay reluctant to talks unless they believe that foreign forces are in mood to leave Afghan soil.
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The views and opinions expressed in this article/Opinion/Comment are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Dispatch News Desk. Assumptions made within the analysis are not reflective of the position of Dispatch News Desk.
