Peace talks with Taliban likely in near future: HPC

KABUL, but they will be soon negotiating with the group.

Khalil was speaking at the launch of a five-day workshop in the presence of high-ranking government officials, HPC representatives and German ambassador in Kabul. Khalili said at the ceremony that discussions would take place at the seminar on issues such as peace dialogue.

German Ambassador to Kabul Peter Prugel said the five-day workshop launched by the Behrouh foundation would help the HPC effectively lobby for peace talks.

According to Khalili, the HPC was trying to pave the way for talks with the Taliban as an independent institution. Previously he said, there had been mistrust between the HPC and the Taliban, but it had decreased now.

The HPC head also announced the departure of a joint HPC-ulema, saying the delegation was in talks with Pakistani scholars to pave the way for major bilateral talks.

On Friday, an Afghan ulema and HPC delegation arrived in Pakistan for talks with Pakistani ulema.

The German diplomat reaffirmed his country’s support for intra-Afghan talks with Taliban. “The Afghans shouldn’t be frustrated because peace talks need long time and patience,” he added.

A global and regional consensus has emerged for Afghan peace talks and the international community wanted an end to the war in Afghanistan.

sa/ma