CWC19 report card: Afghanistan

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Gulbadin Naib

Gulbadin Naib

ICC:  The Gulbadin Naib-led side came into the tournament carrying a lot of promise, but fizzled away after failing to come to grips with the seam-friendly surfaces of England. Afghanistan came into the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2019 with much promise, but ended up winless after nine matches. It was far from what was expected of them, especially after the manner in which they competed in the 2018 Asia Cup, where they beat Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, almost beat Pakistan, and held India to a tie. The difference this time were the surfaces in England, which haven’t favoured spin bowling all tournament. As a team heavily dependent on their trio of spinners, Afghanistan paid the price for failing to adapt to the conditions on offer. Click here to read more (external link).

British Museum to return precious artefacts looted from Iraq and Afghanistan

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buddha_looted_return_british_july2019The Independent (UK): Ancient Buddhist clay heads and other precious artefacts looted from Iraq and Afghanistan and illegally exported to the UK will soon be returned to their country of origin. The British Museum is working with the UK Border Force and other agencies to help to return the items seized during recent conflicts. Click here to read more (external link).

 

Taliban, Afghan Delegates Agree On Road Map To Peace — But Texts Differ

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Members of the Taliban delegation are seen at the Sheraton Doha, before the start of the intra-Afghan dialogue, in Doha, Qatar, July 7, 2019.

Members of the Taliban delegation are seen at the Sheraton Doha, before the start of the intra-Afghan dialogue, in Doha, Qatar, July 7, 2019.

By RFE/RL’s Radio Free Afghanistan
July 9, 2019

KABUL — The Taliban and a delegation representing Afghan society have agreed at talks in Qatar upon a road map for a future political settlement in what is seen as a major step toward ending Afghanistan’s nearly 18-year war.

However, there are major discrepancies between different versions of the resolution released in the Pashto, Dari, and English languages that highlight where difficulties in the negotiations remain.

The English version, released on July 9 by U.S. envoy Zalmay Khalilzad as an “unofficial translation,” declares that the Taliban and intra-Afghan delegates had agreed to assure Afghan women their fundamental rights in “political, social, economic, educational, [and] cultural affairs” in a way that is “in accordance with the values of Islam.”

That is a key demand from Afghanistan’s internationally backed government in Kabul.

The English translation also did not contain any reference to one of the key issues for the Taliban — their demand for the withdrawal of all foreign military forces from Afghanistan.

Women’s Rights

In Pashto, the main language of most Taliban, the text included references to the withdrawal of foreign troops as part of the road map. But it did not include any reference to guarantees for women’s rights.

Like the English text, the Dari version of the resolution included references to guaranteeing women’s rights but did not mention the withdrawal of foreign troops from Afghanistan.

In all versions of the joint declaration, the Taliban and intra-Afghan delegates said they agreed to reduce “civilian casualties to zero” with pledges not to attack hospitals and schools or critical infrastructure such as hydroelectric dams.

They also said they agree to the unconditional release of old, disabled, and sick prisoners, and to be more diplomatic in their public statements about each other.

The document is nonbinding and is seen as a basic framework for future talks on a final peace agreement between the Taliban and Afghan government representatives.

The road map comes as the United States and the Taliban continue negotiations on the withdrawal of foreign troops from Afghanistan in return for a commitment from the militants that Afghan territory will never again be used to launch terrorist attacks against the United States and its allies.

The latest round of the U.S.-Taliban negotiations began on July 1 but was paused on July 7-8 for two days of intra-Afghan dialogue.

U.S. and Taliban negotiators resumed their talks in Qatar on July 9.

The Taliban has refused to hold direct negotiations with the Afghan government until the United States announces a timetable for the withdrawal.

Khalilzad has said the United States is seeking an agreement on a cease-fire and on direct talks between the Taliban and the Afghan government before the finalization of any peace deal.

Khalilzad on July 9 tweeted congratulations to the participants of the intra-Afghan dialogue: “Afghan society representatives across generations, senior government officials, Taliban – for finding common ground.”

‘Most Productive’ Talks Ever

A joint statement on July 9 by Germany and Qatar, the co-organizers of the intra-Afghan dialogue, said their joint declaration was the “first step to finding an understanding between the conflicting parties.”

“They engaged in substantive discussion over the course of two days covering a wide range of issues of common concern to the Afghan people, including rights of women and minorities, a cease-fire, the withdrawal of foreign troops and combatants, and the political future of Afghanistan,” Germany and Qatar said.

“We are very pleased today to reach a joint statement as a first step to peace,” said Mutlaq bin Majid al-Qahtan, the Qatari Foreign Ministry’s special envoy for conflict mediation, on July 9.

The Afghan-Taliban road map is seen as critical in moving forward toward an overall peace deal.

Khalilzad described the latest round of U.S.-Taliban talks as the “most productive” ever, telling RFE/RL that “a lot of progress” has been made.

In a Twitter message on July 9, Khalilzad said he finished meeting with Taliban negotiators in the morning before he left Qatar for China.

One sign of progress was the agreement of Taliban representatives to meet for the first time with Afghan government officials for face-to-face talks under the format of the intra-Afghan dialogue, although Kabul officials participated in a personal rather than official capacity.

The intra-Afghan delegation also included opposition politicians, women, and members of Afghan nongovernmental organizations.

The Taliban had previously refused to meet directly with any members of Afghanistan’s government, calling them “Western puppets.”

Fawzia Koofi, a female lawmaker among the intra-Afghan delegates in Qatar, told RFE/RL that their joint declaration with the Taliban “addresses many of the issues and concerns of the [Afghan] people.”

Koofi said the sides agreed to the wording of the document on July 8 after about 14 hours of “long and exhaustive” talks.

But Koofi said the Taliban delegates refused to recognize and respect the country’s international commitments, especially related to women’s rights.

Nader Nadery, the head of the Afghan government civil service commission and one of the participants, said on Twitter that the intra-Afghan meetings were “an important platform” for Afghans to “voice their grievances, concerns and aspirations.”

“The Taliban heard many stories of pains & destruction, echoed by majority of the participants,” he said.

But he said the Taliban delegates did not respond positively to calls for an immediate cease-fire and did not agree to denounce and oust foreign militants from Afghanistan.

Copyright (c) 2019. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave NW, Ste 400, Washington DC 20036.

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Renovation of Darul Aman Palace Almost Complete

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Darul Aman palace

Darul Aman palace

Ariana:  The reconstruction of Darul Aman Palace has [been] completed 90 percent and will be ready to host the celebration of Afghanistan’s Independence Day in another two months. Darul Aman Palace was built during the era of King Amanullah Khan who ruled Afghanistan from 1919 to 1929. Engineers say they have used materials produced in Afghanistan to rebuild this historical palace including marble from Herat province and wood from Kunar province. Click here to read more (external link).

U.S. Envoy Declares ‘A Lot Of Progress’ In Taliban Peace Talks

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Zalmay Khalilzad

Zalmay Khalilzad

By Zarif Nazar
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty
July 8, 2019

DOHA — U.S. envoy Zalmay Khalilzad has described the latest round of U.S.-Taliban peace talks as the “most productive” ever, telling RFE/RL that “a lot of progress” has been made.

Khalilzad made the remarks in an interview with RFE/RL’s Radio Free Afghanistan on July 7 at the conclusion of the first day of an intra-Afghan dialogue in Qatar.

The two-day intra-Afghan dialogue marks the first time Afghan government officials have met for face-to-face talks with Taliban representatives — although the Kabul officials traveled to the Doha gathering in a personal rather than official capacity.

The Taliban previously refused to meet directly with any members of Afghanistan’s government, calling them “Western puppets.”

But the Taliban agreed to meet with individuals in the Afghan government who are part of an intra-Afghan delegation that also includes opposition politicians, women, and members of Afghan nongovernmental organizations.

Khalilzad told RFE/RL’s Radio Free Afghanistan after the conclusion of the July 7 meeting that U.S. and Taliban negotiators were now closer to reaching an agreement on four key issues.

Those issues include the withdrawal of foreign troops from Afghanistan, a permanent cease-fire, a Taliban guarantee that Afghanistan will not be used as a base for attacks in other countries, and an intra-Afghan dialogue that leads to a political settlement.

The July 7-8 intra-Afghan dialogue, organized by Qatar and Germany, is seen as an icebreaker that could lead to direct negotiations between the Afghan government and Taliban leaders.

The latest round of U.S.-Taliban talks began on July 1 and these discussions have been paused while the intra-Afghan dialogue gets under way.

U.S.-Taliban negotiations are scheduled to resume on July 9 without any Afghan government representatives.

‘Progress On Cease-Fire Deal’ 

The Taliban has said it is “happy with the progress.”

Khalilzad, a former U.S. ambassador to Afghanistan, told RFE/RL that both sides agreed that “in a short time” there would be direct negotiations between the Taliban and the Afghan government.

He said a political settlement required a deal that satisfied both the Afghan government and the Taliban.

“The past 40 years of war in Afghanistan has shown that attempts by groups to force their ideas on others only result in further conflict,” Khalilzad said.

Khalilzad said U.S. and Taliban negotiators have also made progress on a cease-fire deal and discussed the conditions in which foreign forces will be reduced and eventually withdrawn from the country.

U.S. President Donald Trump recently described Afghanistan as a “lab for terrorists,” saying on July 1 that, if the United States withdraws its military forces from the country, he would still leave a “very strong intelligence” presence behind.

Khalilzad said that issue had been discussed with the Taliban but added that he could not comment further.

The veteran U.S. diplomat has also been touring the region in an attempt to gain support for the peace process in Afghanistan.

Khalilzad said the policy of Pakistan, which Kabul and Washington have long accused of backing the Taliban, has changed “little-by-little in a positive direction.”

Pakistan has helped facilitate peace talks between Washington and the Taliban.

Khalilzad conceded there is a danger that escalating tensions between the United States and Iran could impact the Afghan peace process.

“We have told Iran that we don’t want the issues we have with them to have a negative impact on peace in Afghanistan,” Khalilzad said. “But the threat of this remains.”

Copyright (c) 2019. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave NW, Ste 400, Washington DC 20036.

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