Progress made on issues stalling Doha talks

PESHAWAR (Pajhwok): Afghan government and Taliban negotiators have made progress on several issues stalling their peace talks in Doha.

After wrestling with differences for more than two months, the negotiating teams are believed to have agreed on the US-Taliban peace pact as the basis for talks.

Familiar with the much-awaited breakthrough, a Peshawar-based diplomat told Pajhwok Afghan News the two sides had been under pressure to step up the parleys.

“Now that the dialogue is expected to gain steam, we may see the parties arriving at an understanding on more divisive points in coming days,” hoped the source, who did not want to be named.

“Several countries, including the United States, Pakistan and Qatar, have been trying frenetically to break the gridlock,” the envoy acknowledged, saying both Kabul and Taliban had demonstrated flexibility.

Meanwhile, A Kabul-based TV channel reported UN’s endorsements of the peace process, commitments of the negotiating delegations and the will of the Afghans would serve as the basis for parleys.

Mohammad Massoom Stanikzai, Kabul’s chief negotiator, and presidential advisor on peace Salam Rahimi have been in Kabul to get President Ghani’s approval for the agreement with the Taliban.

On Sunday, negotiators from both sides met US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in Doha. Ways of ending violence and preserving Afghanistan’s achievements came up for discussion.

In their meeting with Pompeo, the Taliban said, they stressed the implementation of the Doha agreement, the removal of their leaders’ names from the UN blacklist and the release of their prisoners.

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