Taliban unlikely to open new political office for talks

KABUL are unlikely to open a formal political office for peace negotiations with the Afghan government, a media report said on Monday.

The Taliban closed their bureau in Qatar after the Karzai administration raised objections to the hoisting of the movement’s flag and installation the of the “Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan” plaque at the building.

Pakistan, Afghanistan and the United States are reportedly moving close to finalising a new arrangement, where the Taliban will have no formal office in any country.

“The idea behind the new mechanism is to preempt any controversy that may prove to be a deal breaker,” the Express Tribune quoted an unnamed Pakistani official as saying.

The Qatar initiative had been mishandled, the official said, believing the Taliban should not have used the Doha office to project the image that it was their embassy or foreign mission.

He said: “Under the new plan, discussions will probably take place in Saudi Arabia but without giving Afghan Taliban any formal office.”

The sources have revealed that during his visit last month, President Karzai had requested Pakistan to host talks between the Taliban and his administration. But Islamabad rejected the proposal, saying it did not want to be held responsible for any failure.

PAN Monitor/mud

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