Qatar, Iran take practical step for Afghan settlement

KABUL (Pajhwok): Qatar and Iran have practically started efforts for a breakthrough in the stalled peace talks between the Afghan government and Taliban, reports say.

These efforts come as Taliban captured more than hundred districts across the country in the past two months, with clashes in various provinces ongoing.

The government of Iran has invited a Taliban delegation from Doha and a number of Afghan politicians to a meeting between them in the country today morning.

The meeting was chaired by Iran Foreign Minister Jawad Zarif and the 6-member Afghan delegation led by Salam Rahimi and Younis Qanoni, while the Taliban delegation was led by Sher Mohammad Abbas Stanikzai.

On the other hand, Qatar’s special envoy for Afghanistan, Mutlaq bin Majed Al Qahtani, has arrived in Kabul on an unannounced trip.

Qahtani has met with former President Hamid Karzai, second vice president Sarwar Danish and a number of other politicians.

In a statement, Karzai’s office said that the former president had discussed effectiveness and progress of the peace process with the special envoy of Qatar.

In a statement, Sarwar Danish’s office said that the second vice-president also talked peace process with the Qatari envoy.

The Qatari diplomat also met with Hizb-i-Islami leader Gulbaddin Hekmatyar and discussed peace process and ongoing efforts for effectiveness of the process.

The Qatari official was scheduled to meet President Ashraf Ghani and High National Reconciliation Council chairman Dr. Abdullah Abdullah.

A source, speaking on the condition of anonymity, told Pajhwok Qahtani’s trip to Afghanistan was aimed at mediating between government and Taliban to resume intra-Afghan talks.

Hidayatullah Hamdard, political affairs expert, said those who wanted to end the conflict in Afghanistan and advance peace process should be welcomed.

He said the government must have an upper hand in the conflict and should recapture collapsed districts to have leverage in peace talks.

Nasratullah Haqpal, another political affairs analyst, said a number of other countries in addition to Qatar and Iran were striving for peace in Afghanistan.

He said that the US might be behind this because Pakistan and Qatar did nothing without consulting the US.

sa/ma