Afghanistan|News & Discussions

SHOX · Aug 25, 2020

A six-member delegation of Taliban political office in Qatar arrived in Pakistan on Monday to discuss the ongoing peace process in Afghanistan.
The delegation was led by Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, deputy political chief.

“The delegation has been invited to Pakistan to discuss the way forward in the Afghan peace process,” foreign office spokesperson, Zahid Hafeez Chaudhri, said.

The delegation will hold talks with senior Pakistani officials “about recent developments in Afghanistan’s peace process, relaxation and facilitation of peoples’ movement and trade between the two neighbouring countries, issues related to the Afghan refugees in Pakistan and other related topics,” Taliban spokesman Suhail Shaheen posted on Twitter.

According to Shaheen, the visit is part of Taliban’s policy to “pay visits to regional and world’s countries from time to time for furthering positive relations and conveying its views and stance to the world about the peace process.” He said the visits had been postponed due to the Covid-19 but had now resumed and the trip to Pakistan would be followed by “more visits to other countries in the near future as well”.

Foreign minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi said that a discussion will be held with Taliban on Tuesday which will focus on the intra-Afghan peace talks. “You remember that last time ahead of the Doha agreement, Taliban came to Islamabad and we held a long and constructive meeting. You saw that after that, Taliban came to the negotiations table,” Qureshi told reporters on Monday. “It was not an easy task,” he remarked.

Qureshi said the next step after the agreement should be the start of the intra-Afghan negotiations, if the goal is to reach stability and reconciliation.
Referring to the possible instability in Afghanistan, Qureshi said “There is a group in Afghanistan that is causing a rift to develop and hinder peace talks.”

The visit comes ahead of the much delayed intra-Afghan peace talks that were part of the accord signed between the insurgents and the US in February. Initially delayed over Kabul’s refusal to do a prisoner swap, the barrier was removed after the government released 400 Taliban prisoners earlier this month followed by 80 others.
The Taliban chief, Mullah Haibatullah Akhunzada, according to sources, has finalised a 20-member negotiating team that will have decision-making powers in the upcoming intra-Afghan negotiations.

Taliban delegation arrives in Pakistan to discuss Afghan peace - Times of India

Pakistan News: ISLAMABAD: A six-member delegation of Taliban political office in Qatar arrived in Pakistan on Monday to discuss the ongoing peace process in Afghanis.

timesofindia.indiatimes.com

Kartal1 · Aug 26, 2020

SHOX said:
A six-member delegation of Taliban political office in Qatar arrived in Pakistan on Monday to discuss the ongoing peace process in Afghanistan.
The delegation was led by Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, deputy political chief.

“The delegation has been invited to Pakistan to discuss the way forward in the Afghan peace process,” foreign office spokesperson, Zahid Hafeez Chaudhri, said.

The delegation will hold talks with senior Pakistani officials “about recent developments in Afghanistan’s peace process, relaxation and facilitation of peoples’ movement and trade between the two neighbouring countries, issues related to the Afghan refugees in Pakistan and other related topics,” Taliban spokesman Suhail Shaheen posted on Twitter.

According to Shaheen, the visit is part of Taliban’s policy to “pay visits to regional and world’s countries from time to time for furthering positive relations and conveying its views and stance to the world about the peace process.” He said the visits had been postponed due to the Covid-19 but had now resumed and the trip to Pakistan would be followed by “more visits to other countries in the near future as well”.

Foreign minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi said that a discussion will be held with Taliban on Tuesday which will focus on the intra-Afghan peace talks. “You remember that last time ahead of the Doha agreement, Taliban came to Islamabad and we held a long and constructive meeting. You saw that after that, Taliban came to the negotiations table,” Qureshi told reporters on Monday. “It was not an easy task,” he remarked.

Qureshi said the next step after the agreement should be the start of the intra-Afghan negotiations, if the goal is to reach stability and reconciliation.
Referring to the possible instability in Afghanistan, Qureshi said “There is a group in Afghanistan that is causing a rift to develop and hinder peace talks.”

The visit comes ahead of the much delayed intra-Afghan peace talks that were part of the accord signed between the insurgents and the US in February. Initially delayed over Kabul’s refusal to do a prisoner swap, the barrier was removed after the government released 400 Taliban prisoners earlier this month followed by 80 others.
The Taliban chief, Mullah Haibatullah Akhunzada, according to sources, has finalised a 20-member negotiating team that will have decision-making powers in the upcoming intra-Afghan negotiations.

Taliban delegation arrives in Pakistan to discuss Afghan peace - Times of India

Pakistan News: ISLAMABAD: A six-member delegation of Taliban political office in Qatar arrived in Pakistan on Monday to discuss the ongoing peace process in Afghanis.

timesofindia.indiatimes.com

They are probably discussing new smuggling routes which will deliver new batches of sophisticated civilian and military grade equipment from which there is a big part also in the inventory of the Pakistani security forces. The equipment which the Taliban have put hands on in the recent years is becoming more modern and critical and we are seeing a state where thermal optics and anti-material rifles are being sold like hot bread on the black market. Apart from the incompetence of the ANA and the Afghan institutions corruption Pakistan is playing a big role here and it is a well known fact.

Unfortunately as long as the people of that region are denied education and the chance to know that the life is more than the sheep you have it will not get better. Lack of national unity, corruption, a security force which is consisted of drug addicts and the external influence is playing its role here. I really don't have hope for Afghanistan. The mentality is just not there.

Saiyan0321 · Aug 27, 2020

We can urge them as much as we can whether we urge the taliban or the Afghan government remains irrelevant because the biggest problem in Afghanistan, that is standing in the way of peace is the war economy which is now the central back of the economy of many groups and war lords that run Afghanistan. This economy brings them more money then we can imagine and the price is lives of common afghans and that price has always been cheap. The taliban are no different and they will also continue with their hostility since their economy is also driven through war. End the war and half the warlords would lose their income sources and the income source isnt the US. That is naive thinking but the economy they raise from the people they enslave. One of the examples of such is the drug trade another example is the prostitution ring which has all genders and is not barred by elements of age. Another example is Tax collection which is a huge revenue for the warlords. All of them take taxes from the people for personal benefit like Khoms and protection and funds for the brave warriors fighting the evil foreign invaders ( In this case it works both ways). The people are suffering and farmers have little to no option but to grow Cash crops which in this case is poppy.

All in all we have the worst situation a conflict could have which is a stalemate where all sides claim peace but none is willing to enter into actual peace. A ceasefire is not an end to a conflict. The conflict in Afghanistan would end when the administration of the war lords end. I am seeing them only strengthened day by day

Saithan · Aug 27, 2020

We will and must do what we always do, build schools, and help people. Build Mosques where it's needed and sow the seeds to the future. Afghanistan has never had a chance to grow as they liked. First Sovjet and then US, Afghans are a fighting ppl too, and they will change when they want to change or are ready.

Saithan · Sep 9, 2020

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