Representatives of United States, China, Pakistan and Afghanistan have agreed on a plan to facilitate direct peace talks between the Kabul government and the Afghan Taliban.

Senior officials of the four countries who met in Islamabad Saturday issued a joint statement calling on all Taliban factions to join the peace talks, expected to begin before the end of this month.

Members of the Quadrilateral Coordination Group said their “roadmap” for peace in Afghanistan has stipulated “the stages and steps in the process” toward a political settlement and an end to violence.

The Taliban were not at Saturday’s meetings, and they have not indicated whether they will join full peace talks. Insurgent leaders criticized the effort to organize peace talks, most recently after an unofficial conference in Qatar organized by Nobel Peace Prize winners from the Pugwash group of international peace advocates.

“Unfortunately, foreigners and the Kabul administration are [now] engaged in these activities and do not have a real intention for peace,” a Taliban statement said at the time of the Qatar meetings last month. 

Afghan Taliban leaders have listed their own preconditions for bringing hostilities to an end: the release of their prisoners, including those held by the United States; exempting senior Taliban leaders from United Nations sanctions lists; and withdrawing all foreign troops from Afghanistan.

The head of Afghanistan’s delegation in Islamabad, Deputy Foreign Minister Hekmat Khalil Karzai, said in Germany a few days ago that his government is committed to observing the “values enshrined in Afghanistan’s constitution” - particularly regarding women’s rights - once talks with the Taliban commence. He also promised a woman would be part of Kabul’s negotiating team.

Although local Taliban officials have been notorious for suppressing women’s rights in villages they control, insurgent leaders contend they are flexible on social policy.

“The Islamic Emirate is committed to civil activities; to the freedom of speech and to the women’s rights in the light of Islamic rules, national interests and values,” the Taliban said in a statement at the time of the Pugwash meeting in Qatar.

The QCG group, launched in December in Islamabad on the sidelines of a regional conference on Afghanistan, is comprised of senior diplomats from the U.S., China, Pakistan and Afghanistan.

For this third meeting of the group, the American delegation was led by the U.S. sspecial representative on Afghanistan and Pakistan, Richard Olson. China’s delegation was led by special envoy for Afghanistan and Pakistan Deng Xijun. Pakistan’s foreign secretary, Aizaz Chaudhry, hosted the meeting and led his country’s team at the talks.

The next meeting of the group will be in Kabul on February 23.

 

 

 

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Source: VOA News: Top Stories