The US and the Taliban will seek to thrash out elements of adeal to bring a close to Afghanistan’s 18-year conflict in the second day ofrenewed talks in Doha on Sunday.
The US, which invaded Afghanistan and toppled the Taliban in2001, wants to withdraw thousands of troops and turn the page on its longestever war.
But it would first seek assurances from the insurgents thatthey would renounce Al-Qaeda and stop other militants like the Islamic Stategroup using the country as a haven.
The talks, now in their eighth round, began on Saturday andwere due to resume Sunday morning after pausing overnight, US and Talibansources told AFP.
A Taliban source also said efforts were underway to organisea direct meeting between US envoy for Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad and Talibanco-founder Mullah Baradar, who heads the movement’s political wing.
A coalition led by Washington ousted the Taliban in late2001 accusing it of harbouring Al-Qaeda jihadists who claimed the September 11attacks against the US that killed almost 3,000 people.
But despite a rapid conclusion to the conventional phase ofthe war, the Taliban have proved formidable insurgents, bogging down US troopsfor years.
Washington is hoping to strike a peace deal with the Talibanby September 1 — ahead of Afghan polls due the same month, and US presidentialelections due in 2020.
US President Donald Trump told reporters at the White Houseon Friday that “we’ve made a lot of progress. We’re talking”.
“We are pursuing a peace agreement not a withdrawalagreement, a peace agreement that enables withdrawal,” Khalilzad tweetedon Friday as he arrived in Doha after talks with Pakistani Prime Minister ImranKhan in Islamabad.
“Our presence in Afghanistan is conditions-based, andany withdrawal will be conditions-based.” In another sign of progress, theAfghan government has formed a negotiating team for separate peace talks withthe Taliban that diplomats hope could be held as early as later this month.
The Washington Post reported Thursday that an initial dealto end the war would see the US force in Afghanistan reduced to as low as 8,000from the current level of around 14,000.
In exchange, the Taliban would abide by a ceasefire,renounce Al-Qaeda, and talk to the Kabul administration.
An Afghan official hinted last week that the government ofPresident Ashraf Ghani was preparing for direct talks with the Taliban, thedetails of which have yet to be announced.
“We have no preconditions to begin talks, but the peaceagreement is not without conditions,” Ghani wrote in Pashto on hisFacebook page on Friday ahead of the talks.
“We want a republic government not an emirate,” hesaid, a challenge to the Taliban which has insisted on reverting to the”Islamic Emirate” name Afghanistan bore under its rule.
“The negotiations will be tough, and the Taliban shouldknow that no Afghan is inferior in religion or courage to them.” Thethorny issues of power-sharing with the Taliban, the role of regional powersincluding Pakistan and India, and the fate of Ghani’s administration alsoremain unresolved.
The latest US-Taliban encounter follows last month’s talksbetween influential Afghans and the Taliban which agreed a “roadmap forpeace” — but stopped short of calling for a ceasefire.
Kabul resident Somaya Mustafa, 20, said her countrydesperately needed a peace deal, but only one in which the Taliban “acceptwomen and their achievements”.
“It is a total mess in our country right now. And if itcontinues, women will suffer more than anyone else.”
The United Nations has said that civilian casualty ratesacross Afghanistan matched record levels last month, following a dip earlier inthe year.