Afghanistan, Taliban to Resume Peace Talks After July 16

Previous attempts to engage Kabul and Taliban in negotiations have fallen flat, including the opening of a Taliban office in Qatar in 2013 which was shut down after ex- Afghan President Hamid Karzai sharply criticized the move, arguing that Kabul would only engage in inter-Afghan talks. China encourages and supports the Government of Afghanistan to have peace talks with Tehreek-e-Taliban Afghanistan, and always maintains close contact with the concerned parties. Still, Islamabad’s hosting of the talks raises suspicion among some Afghan politicians, who believe Pakistan is aiming to wield dominance over their country. For months, it appeared that Pakistan wouldn’t be able to play a meaningful role, which triggered criticism from Afghans who questioned Ghani’s strategy.

US Senator John McCain of Arizona, visiting Kabul on Saturday, told reporters that Taliban attacks had increased and USA troops should stay longer than planned to prevent the militants from making gains. On Wednesday, there were conflicting accounts about what had been accomplished.

Another delegation member Mohammad Nateqi emphasized on the importance of the meeting, saying that the meeting was attended by senior Taliban and Haqqani network members.

In a statement, Ghani described the talks as a “first step towards reaching peace”.

“We believe that if there is a good and strong intention in the peace process, there will be good results”, the statement said. “We are hopeful that the negotiations result in ensuring dignified peace and permanent stability in the country”.

During his visit to Kabul earlier this year, Gen Raheel had assured the Afghan leadership that Pakistan would convince the Taliban for a peace deal.

The head of the United Nations’ political mission in Afghanistan also welcomed this week’s talks. That group, though not yet thought to pose a significant threat in Afghanistan, has managed to attract a wide array of disaffected Taliban leaders and other insurgents who doubt that the Taliban’s reclusive leader, Mullah Muhammad Omar, is even alive.

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The Foreign Ministry in Islamabad said the one-day talks ended with both sides agreeing to meet again.

However the White House hailed the talks and praised the Pakistani government for helping facilitate the meeting.

Several informal meetings have been held in recent months between Taliban representatives and Afghan officials and activists. Pakistanis also felt they had been bypassed at the Doha talks.

Yousufzai said his understanding was that three Pakistan-based Taliban cadres took part. But those attitudes are thought to have been in flux since December, when the Pakistani Taliban, an offshoot of the Afghan group, carried out a gruesome attack against a school in Peshawar.