Institute for Defense Studies and Analysis\Gulbin Sultana
Senior officials from Afghanistan, Pakistan, China and the United States held talks in Islamabad to finalise the roadmap to the Afghan reconciliation dialogue on February 6. Pakistan has offered to host the first round of direct talks between the Afghan Government and Taliban representatives following the conclusion of the fourth round of Quadrilateral Coordination Group (QCG) meeting. The QCG has given a task to Pakistan to bring 10 influential Taliban figures for the upcoming direct peace talks with the Afghan Government. An Afghan government official privy of the development told Radio Free Europe (RFE) that the 10 influential Taliban figures have been identified by the Afghan Government. The official speaking on the condition of anonymity further added that leaders of the Haqqani network were also among those influential leaders. Responding to the development, the representatives of Taliban in Qatar have said that they are “unaware of plans for talks” and that they had not changed its preconditions for joining the peace process. However, according to another media report, two senior Taliban leaders Sher Mohammad Abbas Stanikzai, head of the Taliban’s political office in Qatar, and Qari Din Muhammad travelled to Islamabad and held informal discussions with senior officials from the four countries and shared a list of their representatives for formal talks with the Afghan Government. The Afghan Government said on February 28 that it will hold negotiations only with Taliban factions that denounce violence. Meanwhile a representative of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that Moscow does not want to participate in the US initiatives aimed at establishing stability and peace in Afghanistan. However, Russia is ready to set up a negotiation process independently, if requested.
Senior officials from Afghanistan, Pakistan, China and the United States held talks in Islamabad to finalise the roadmap to the Afghan reconciliation dialogue on February 6. Pakistan has offered to host the first round of direct talks between the Afghan Government and Taliban representatives following the conclusion of the fourth round of Quadrilateral Coordination Group (QCG) meeting. The QCG has given a task to Pakistan to bring 10 influential Taliban figures for the upcoming direct peace talks with the Afghan Government. An Afghan government official privy of the development told Radio Free Europe (RFE) that the 10 influential Taliban figures have been identified by the Afghan Government. The official speaking on the condition of anonymity further added that leaders of the Haqqani network were also among those influential leaders. Responding to the development, the representatives of Taliban in Qatar have said that they are “unaware of plans for talks” and that they had not changed its preconditions for joining the peace process. However, according to another media report, two senior Taliban leaders Sher Mohammad Abbas Stanikzai, head of the Taliban’s political office in Qatar, and Qari Din Muhammad travelled to Islamabad and held informal discussions with senior officials from the four countries and shared a list of their representatives for formal talks with the Afghan Government. The Afghan Government said on February 28 that it will hold negotiations only with Taliban factions that denounce violence. Meanwhile a representative of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that Moscow does not want to participate in the US initiatives aimed at establishing stability and peace in Afghanistan. However, Russia is ready to set up a negotiation process independently, if requested.
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