Intra-Afghan talks after peace accord with US: Taliban

DOHA (Pajhwok): Taliban’s spokesman for their Qatar office, Sohail Shahin, says they would start intra-Afghan talks after reaching agreements on all issues with the United States.

Talking to Pajhwok Afghan News on the sidelines of the two-day all-Afghan talks in Doha, the capital of Qatar on Sunday, Shahin said most of problems in their talks with the US were resolved during the six round and the ongoing seventh round of negotiations.

“Progress is made in this round of negotiations, but it had to be suspended to allow for the two-day intra-Afghan dialogue”, he added.

He said discussions would resume with the US side on Tuesday and hoped there would be a positive outcome.

After agreements on all issues, an accord would be signed in presence of all international observers and media, he added. However, he did not provide information about the progress made on specific issues.

“We hope the talks would conclude soon, and it would become clear in next discussions how long it lasts,” he added. He did not provide further information on the regard.

However, US Special Representative for Afghanistan Peace Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad said that progress was made on counter-terrorism assurances, troops’ withdrawal, participation in intra-Afghan dialogue and permanent and comprehensive ceasefire.

The Taliban’s spokesman in Qatar says they also wanted the ongoing war to end as it killed people in bombardments, night raids and other attacks on a daily basis.

Shahin said they would enter intra-Afghan talks after all issues were resolved with the US.

In response to a question about national foundations after peace agreement, he said that basic foundations were the need of a country but they would need reforms.

About women’s rights, Shahin said they in Moscow meeting had also insisted that women had the right to work but they had to respect Islamic values.

mds/ma