4 more govt negotiators return to Kabul today

KABUL (Pajhwok): Four more members of the government negotiating team will arrive in Kabul from Qatar for a week, a credible source revealed on Tuesday.

The Qatar-based source, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Pajhwok Afghan News the four negotiators included Sharifa Zurmati, Mohammad Natiqi, Hafiz Mansour and Gen. Ayub Ansari.

They are returning to Kabul in connection with their personal engagements, according to the source, who said the four would travel back to Doha after sometime.

The government’s chief negotiator Mohammad Massoum Stanikzai, who is currently in Kabul, is due to go back to Doha today.

Earlier, another source said Stanikzai, the head of the government delegation, and Abdul Salam Rahimi, the president’s special envoy for peace, had arrived in Kabul.

The purpose of their visit was to consult President Ashraf Ghani on the procedure for talks and seek his consent for the agreement they have reached with the Taliban.

More than two months ago, peace talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban began in Qatar for the first time. The ceremony was attended by 20 foreign ministers and other officials from various countries, including US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.

Also present at the ceremony were Dr. Abdullah, chairman of the High Council for National Reconciliation, and Hanif Atmar, minister of foreign affairs.

sa/mud