The Government of Afghanistan and the Taliban start talks in Doha on Saturday (12 September) in an effort to end fighting in the country which has lasted for nearly two decades.
These intra-Afghan talks were envisaged in the US-brokered peace deal signed by the Taliban in February 2020. The agreement also promised a complete withdrawal of the roughly 12,000 US troops stationed on Afghan territory by April 2021 if the Taliban committed to not attacking the US or its Allies. This process is already underway, with America having reduced its presence to around 8,600 in June.
However, the talks, originally scheduled to begin in March, were delayed due to continued disputes surrounding prisoner swaps. This week the deadlock was finally broken when an agreement was reached that six Taliban members held by the Afghan government would be transferred to Qatar and held in custody there. Shortly after the prisoners arrived, both sides formally announced that they would be attending the peace talks.
"The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan would like to declare its readiness to take part in the inauguration ceremony of the intra-Afghan negotiations that shall be held in Qatar on September 12," the Taliban said in a statement.
There remains a long way to go in the negotiation process given the history of violence and mistrust between both groups and their opposed views on issues such as women's rights. Nevertheless, these talks offer a rare chance at peace and mark a historic step in the right direction of dialogue, mediation and compromise - Saturday will be the first time since 2001 that the Taliban and the Afghan government have officially sat down together.
US Forces led an international coalition in overthrowing the Taliban rule in Afghanistan in 2001 following the deadly 9/11 al-Qaeda attacks in the United States. The Taliban, who protected al-Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden, had refused to hand him over.
President Trump announced on Thursday (10/09) that Mike Pompeo would also attend the talks. The U.S. secretary of state added, "This opportunity must not be squandered... I urge the negotiators to demonstrate the pragmatism, restraint, and flexibility this process will require to succeed."
source: commonspace.eu with agencies
photo: Taliban prisoners about to be released after a deal with the United States in March (archive picture)
