HPC in talks with UN on blacklisted Taliban

KABUL leaders from its blacklist.

The development comes after representatives at a recent two-day conference in Qatar demanded the removal of Taliban leaders’ names from the UN blacklist, re-opening of their political office in Doha and withdrawal of foreign troops from Afghanistan.

The HPC in a statement said it had been making every effort since its inception to enter direct peace negotiations with the Taliban militants for the sake of peace and stability in Afghanistan.

The statement said withdrawal of foreign could help every Afghan play his/her part in the peace process.  “Afghans are capable to resolve their problems themselves through dialogue and negotiations”, the statement added.

It said issues raised by Taliban at the Doha conference were the same the HPC had been trying to solve for the last few years. “We should not only confine our efforts to meetings and dialogues, but we should take practical steps for peace and stability in Afghanistan”.

“There may be hurdles and issues in dialogue but these hurdles should not halt the peace process.” the statement said. “We should reach a solution in the larger interest of Afghanistan.”

“Afghans from both the sides die in the conflict since most of foreign troops have left Afghanistan. Illegal armed groups are fueling the conflict to prolong it and kill Afghans, loot their belongings, kidnap them and derail the peace process”, the statement said. 

The High Peace Council said it had started negotiations with a UN delegation on dropping the names of some key Taliban leaders from the blacklist. The council wanted every party to be involved in the peace process since every individual had the constitutional right to live a peaceful life in Afghanistan. 

The council stressed unity among Afghans against threats to peace and stability in Afghanistan. It said there were no such issues which could not be resolved through dialogue.

shah/ma

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