Hopes emerge intra-Afghan talks to resume soon

KABUL (Pajhwok):  Reliable sources in Qatar say the code of conduct for intra-Afghan talks is being hopefully finalized soon as contact groups of both the sides have resumed meetings and discussions on the agenda are expected to start next week.

The hopes emerge after the talks that began on Sept 12 failed to reach an understanding on the working principles.

A senior person, who wished to go unnamed, told Pajhwok Afghan News that discussions on the agenda of negotiations in Doha were expected to start next week.

“The negotiating teams would probably agree on the agenda for talks next week,” the source said, without giving further details.

About a week ago, the same source said that an effective plan had been prepared by the government’s negotiating team for finalization of the procedural rules before being shared with the Taliban by Qatari officials.

A member of the Afghan negotiating team, who did not want to be named, said that meetings between the contact groups of the Taliban and the Afghan teams had increased. “There is high hope to find a way to finalize the principles”, the source said.

An official of the High Council for National Reconciliation (HCNR), who wished to go unnamed, also said that the procedural rules would be agreed by both sides, but he did not give more details.

Former Taliban member, Mullah Abdul Salam Zaeef in a tweet said, “It seems that after a long wait, the negotiating teams have agreed on procedural rules.”

A number of other sources also said that differences between the government and the Taliban’s contact groups have been resolved.

The Taliban's political office in Qatar has not yet commented on the regard.

A day earlier, Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani talked with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani on the phone and both discussed the Afghan peace process.

Earlier, Qatari foreign minister in a meeting had said that there would be some progress in intra-Afghan negotiations in Qatar by the end of this year.

Peace talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban representatives officially started in Doha on September 12.

mds/ma