Moscow and Ankara mediate “peace”: the resumption of negotiations in a week

Washington is moving towards a comprehensive review of its strategy in Afghanistan, in light of the many difficulties facing the road to peace; The understandings reached within the “Doha Agreement” face a deterioration in security that reflects the complications that hamper efforts to halt the cycle of violence in the country. And since the question revolved around the plans to be followed by the new US administration to resolve the crisis, after reviewing the agreement signed by the previous administration, some answers came in a letter sent by US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken both Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and the Chairman of the ‘Committee. Supreme Council for Reconciliation in Afghanistan »Abdullah Abdullah urges them to reactivate the peace talks, proposing that they take place in Turkey and accept a draft agreement that specifically provides for the formation of an” inclusive government “. in which the “Taliban” movement will participate. Despite its promise to study the ideas raised, the Kabul government quickly rejected the proposal as it reduces its room for maneuver. In light of the United States’ determination to support a “just and lasting” political solution, and its retransmission to resolve the issue of its withdrawal or not until a new governance mechanism has been established, the countries concerned in the Afghan dossier, led by Russia, have joined forces to push for Afghan reconciliation.

As part of the diplomatic push, Moscow adopted the US proposal to form an interim government in which the “Taliban” would be represented, according to Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova. The latter considered that “the formation of an inclusive interim administration would be a logical solution to the problem of including the Taliban in Afghan political life.” These statements came less than a week before the holding of the talks in the Russian capital, in which both parties to the crisis are participating, in the presence of several international delegations, including a US one, while China and Pakistan are expected to participate. in them. At the March 18 conference hosted by Moscow, Zakharova explained that Qatar will be a guest of honor and that the talks aim to “encourage negotiations between the Afghan parties in Doha”, reduce violence and end the armed conflict in Afghanistan. , highlighting that the objective of the conference is to support the peace talks, the current one in Doha, which did not result in any significant progress. A four- to five-member team representing the Taliban political bureau in Doha will attend the conference, a source close to the movement told Reuters. Invitations were sent to former Afghan President Hamid Karzai, his deputy Karim Khalili and Islamic Party leader Gulb al-Dadi Hekmatyar, while the offices of Ashraf Ghani and Abdullah Abdullah announced that the latter two are studying whether to participate in the Conference. .

Moscow has adopted the US proposal to form an Afghan interim government in which the “Taliban” movement will be represented.

In parallel to the Moscow conference, Istanbul will host the Afghan peace talks next April, as announced by Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu, who made it clear that Afghan officials, “Taliban” and members of the negotiating team asked to Turkey before I could. The host speaks, and that his decision came after the suggestion of Anthony Blinken. However, he stressed that the Istanbul talks “will not be a substitute, but will support” the ongoing process in Doha, where peace negotiations began in September last year. “What is our goal?” It is about broadening the talks between the Taliban and the (Afghan) government and focusing on achieving tangible results, “adding that Turkey is considered” one of the most important parties to the Afghanistan problem, “and that he intends to name a special envoy to this country.
The two conferences come at a sensitive time for the Kabul government, as Ashraf Ghani faces pressure after US special envoy Zalmay Khalilzad proposed last week to form a transitional government, which the Afghan president rejected with vehemently, saying that only elections can produce a government. In the same direction, Nader Naderi, a member of the government’s negotiating delegation, pointed out that “the Afghans are the only ones who can determine the type of government and the means to achieve peace,” highlighting to “France Press” that ” Our neighbors near and far must respect the sovereign right of our people. ” However, former President Hamid Karzai has another position. He declared, in an interview with the Associated Press, his support for the US draft of the peace agreement between the government and the “Taliban”, considering that the US proposal is “the best opportunity to accelerate the stalled negotiations”, and affirming that the Afghans themselves ” they are in a hurry to (achieve peace), after decades of conflict and war. He considered that “the proposed US plan contains important texts that can help bring peace in Afghanistan with some amendments (made) by both parties.” May. ”Karzai warned, however, that” in the event that US forces withdraw in early May, this will lead to a state of chaos. ”

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