Negotiations with the Taliban under the Supervision of the UN
Though economic diplomacy is President Ashraf Ghani’s first element in foreign policy, the peace negotiations and the security of the country is also in the priority of his foreign policy. After Ghani’s leadership the negotiations process, which was completely stopped, resumed. Many experts believe that President Ghani’s visits to Saudi Arabia, China, and Pakistan resumed the negotiations process, and it is believed that Ashraf Ghani has a new policy for peace.
But there seems to be indications that President Ashraf Ghani is following Karzai’s footsteps, and he has started secret negotiation with Taliban. A Pakistani news agency Express Tribune mentioned in a report that the negotiations is under the supervision of the UN, and it’s aiming to give share to Taliban in political power.
It is in such a condition that in last two weeks there were 9 deathly attacks only in Kabul City, because of which General Zahir Azimi felt obliged to resign. The analysts believe that if the secret negotiations with the Taliban is true, it is visible in the attempts of President Ashraf Ghani, and he has boosted his efforts for peace.
Secret Peace Negotiations
Pakistani news agency “Express Tribune” exposed the negotiations of Afghan President Ashraf Ghani with the Taliban under the supervision of the UN; yet UN has not showed its stance about it. Neither is there enough details provided either the negotiations is directly between the Afghan Officials and the Taliban, or there is a mediation between them? And where is the negotiations taking place?
Before this, while Taliban hanged the flag of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan in their office in Qatar, and former President Hamid Karzai reacted against it, the negotiations process stopped. Once again, currently, some sources that are close to Taliban, stated that President Ashraf Ghani will not only officially accept the Taliban’s office in Qatar, but will also let them hang their flag on their office; but they will not hang the board of “the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan” on their office.
According to Pakistani news agency, Pakistani officials promised President Ashraf Ghani in Islamabad, that they will cooperate for the peace talk between Afghan government and Taliban. According to the source, President Ashraf Ghani is more interested to negotiations with the Taliban compared to ex-president Karzai, and he has prepared Taliban to negotiate with the Afghan Government under the supervision of the UN.
In addition, some mediators like Qayoom Kochai, Ashraf Ghani’s uncle, are known for mediation between the Talban and the Afghan Government in Kabul. According to some mediators, Qayoom Kochai has relations with the Taliban since a long time, he had many visits to Qatar’s office, and he has shared his share of views with Taliban.
It is said that Ashraf Ghani asked his uncle to proceed with peace talks, therefore Qayoom Kochai has met with a Taliban leader in the U.A.E. before President Ghani’s entrance to the Presidential Palace and after the declaration of the result of the presidential election, and two weeks ago the same Taliban leader reached Kabul too. But the mediators believe that the mentioned Taliban leader met Qayoom Kochai by his own decision, then he spoke to the Taliban and rejected his visit to Kabul. If his visit to Kabul has taken place without the decision of the Taliban leaders, it does not seem to be hope arising. These attempts would be successful while the reliable officials of both the parties participated in the negotiations, and establish a trust between themselves.
It is not yet confirmed either Express Tribune pointed to the mentioned meeting of Qayoom Kochai with the Taliban leader, or to any other negotiations between the Afghan Governmental Officials and the Taliban leaders? Earlier there were rumours that the U.S. negotiated with some fake Taliban, and currently there are once again doubt that the new Afghan Government may also be in contact with the fake Taliban, either those Taliban may not be influential in the leadership of the Taliban, or they may be former Taliban.
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