KABUL (Pajhwok): The Afghan government and Taliban delegations met with foreign representatives on the sidelines of the extended Troika meeting in Doha on Wednesday to make their positions clear on peace in Afghanistan.
The extended Troika meeting was attended by representatives from US, Afghanistan, China, Russia and Pakistan on Wednesday in Qatar.
On behalf of Afghanistan, Dr. Abdullah Abdullah, chairman of High Council of National Reconciliation (HCNR), attended the meeting.
HCNR spokesman FeraidonKhwazon told Pajhwok Afghan News that Abdullah met with the US special envoy for Afghan peace, ZalmayKhalilzad on the sidelines of the Troika meeting on Wednesday.
He said that the two sides talked about present obstacles facing the peace process and stressed that negotiations were the only solution to the Afghanistan crisis.
Abdullah said Taliban’s attacks on districts and provincial capitals would not help the peace process as they caused huge casualties to Afghans and forced many others to leave their homes, Khwazon said.
He said that all political and jihadi leaders in Afghanistan supported Afghan security forces.
Khalilzad expressed his concern over increased violence in Afghanistan and stressed that war was not the solution.
Abdullah also met with the UN special envoy for Afghan peace, Jean Arnault in Doha. Arnault urged immediate cease to the ongoing war in Afghanistan and said that current obstacles to peace should be eliminated.
He said that they were worried about the growing insecurity in Afghanistan and called for ceasefire to pave way for a political solution in the country.
Abdullah thanked Arnault and said that the time had arrived for a united position of the international community for peace in Afghanistan.
Abdullah also met with Turkish, Iranian, Iraqi, Australian and Pakistani representatives.
On the other hand, Mullah Abdul GhaniBaradar, Taliban’s head for its Qatar office, also met with representatives of a number of countries.
Dr. Mohammad Naeem, spokesman of Taliban, in a tweet said that Baradar and his team met with Turkmenistan deputy foreign minister, HajifWafa on Wednesday.
He said that the two sides talked on bilateral relations, border affairs, economic projects and security of Turkmenistan’s diplomatic centers in Afghanistan.
Naeem said that they assured the neighboring country of security from their side about the country’s diplomatic centers and economic projects and hoped that relations between the two countries would further strenghen.
He said that Baradar also met with ZamirKabulov, Russia’s special envoy for Afghanistan, about the current situation of the country and recent developments.
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