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US Asks Afghans to Swiftly Begin Peace Talks to Deter Spoilers

16th August, 2020 · admin 12 Comments

Khalilzad

Ayaz Gul
VOA News
August 16, 2020

ISLAMABAD – The United States has called on Afghanistan’s warring sides to start negotiations without further delay to deter “those who seek to disrupt the peace process.”

U.S. special envoy to the war-torn country Zalmay issued the call in response to Friday’s attempt on the life of a prominent female member of the Afghan national team designated to negotiate peace with the Taliban insurgency.

“We condemn the attempt on @FawziaKoofi77’s life…; a cowardly and criminal act by those who seek to delay and disrupt the #AfghanPeaceProcess,” Khalilzad said in a series of tweets.

Afghan officials said Fawzia Koofi, a 45-year-old former parliamentarian and advocate of women’s rights, was returning to Kabul from northern Parwan province Friday evening when unknown gunmen attacked her vehicle near the capital city. She escaped without serious injury.

No one has claimed responsibility for what senior Afghan officials denounced as an assassination attempt on Koofi. The Taliban denied involvement in the attack, fueling suspicions militants linked to the Islamic State group could be behind it.

“I call on all sides who seek peace to not only condemn the attack but to accelerate the peace process and start intra-Afghan negotiations ASAP [as soon as possible],” Khalilzad stressed.

The negotiations, known as intra-Afghan talks, are a product of a deal the U.S. sealed with the Taliban in February to extricate American troops from the nearly 19-year Afghan war.

A series of high-profile unclaimed deadly attacks in and round Kabul in recent weeks have targeted religious leaders, human rights defenders and legal experts associated with the U.S.-brokered peace process, prompting concerns anti-peace forces are trying to derail the Afghan talks.

Critics say that despite its public pledges to investigate and expose perpetrators of these attacks, the Ghani government has not reported any progress so far.

Khalilzad, who negotiated and signed the pact with the Taliban, has since repeatedly urged Afghan rivals to promptly launch the long-hoped-for direct talks, warning “spoilers”, including Islamic State militants, could try to disrupt the peace effort.

But the peace talks are linked to the completion of a controversy-marred prisoner swap between the Taliban and the Afghan government.

The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) after a meeting with Qatar-based Taliban leaders on Saturday indicated that peace talks may take place this week.

“UNAMA officials met the Taliban Political Commission in Doha today, expressing support for direct intra-Afghan talks starting this week. Reduced violence is required to improve atmosphere for negotiations,” said the mission in a post-meeting tweet.

On Friday, Kabul released the first 80 of a last group of 400 “hard-core” Taliban prisoners to move a step closer towards the intra-Afghan negotiations expected to take place in Doha, Qatar, where the U.S.-Taliban deal was inked. The insurgents maintain their political office in Doha.

The months-long prisoner swap has seen the release of up to 4,700 insurgents by Kabul from a Taliban list of 5,000 inmates. In return, the militants have freed 1,000 government security personnel as stipulated in the deal with the U.S.

The move, however, has prompted France to ask the Afghan government not to proceed with the release of several Taliban inmates convicted of killing French soldiers and citizens in Afghanistan.

“France is particularly concerned by the presence, among the individuals liable to be released, of several terrorists convicted of killing French citizens in Afghanistan,” the French foreign ministry said on Saturday.

“It firmly opposes the liberation of individuals convicted of crimes against French nationals, in particular soldiers and humanitarian workers,” it said.

Australia also has made a similar demand earlier this month.

The Taliban has rejected allegations against its remaining prisoners and denounced recent public remarks by Afghan President Ashraf Ghani that the detainees are a threat to both Afghanistan and international community.

“Such irresponsible remarks on the verge of intra-Afghan negotiations show that the Kabul administration is still trying to create hurdles for the peace process and seeks to arouse global emotions through propaganda,” the insurgent group said in a statement on Saturday.

Related

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  • Prisoner Release Delayed by Western Allies
Posted in Peace Talks, Political News, Security, Taliban, US-Afghanistan Relations | Tags: Taliban prisoner release, Zalmay Khalilzad |
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12 thoughts on “US Asks Afghans to Swiftly Begin Peace Talks to Deter Spoilers”

  1. Samarqandi says:
    August 16, 2020 at 9:16 pm

    Since when; you, (goof balls), have
    taken yourself
    out of the
    list
    of
    the
    super spoilers- goofy talk !!!!!
    *

  2. Samarqandi says:
    August 17, 2020 at 5:43 am

    FOREIGN IMPOSITIONS:
    ==========

    The invaders intend to ignite
    a
    political storm that then could easily turned
    into
    much more deadly impacts, inside Afghanistan- in other words; a desperate resort
    to
    another experimental form
    of
    subjugation plan
    for
    Afghanistan !

  3. Samarqandi says:
    August 17, 2020 at 5:49 am

    Just look at the arrogance
    of
    the team of stationed foreigners who basically already polarizing the government
    of
    Afghanistan to its most deadly form since the grand invasion of 2001.

    What I am trying to say is that, before even the beginning of any meaningful dialogue, the foreign overlords are forcing the puppet government
    to
    reserve high military and top civilian executive positions
    for
    the
    ex-communists who have no meaningful support whatsoever amongst the
    Afghan populous anymore.

    • Samarqandi says:
      August 17, 2020 at 6:00 am

      What I am trying to say is that, before even the beginning of any meaningful dialogue, the foreign overlords are forcing the puppet government
      to
      reserve high military and top civilian executive positions
      for
      the
      ex-communists who have no meaningful support, of whatsoever amongst the
      Afghan populous anymore.
      =====
      ======
      .
      My question is whether how could you possibly reconcile
      Taliban religious movement with such a
      irrelevant block within it; even if the intention
      is
      to
      please, the Russians ,

    • Samarqandi says:
      August 17, 2020 at 5:20 pm

      The communists;
      take and serve orders much more
      efficiently than others- top it off; they would also facilitate communications the the ex-Sloviet communists for the
      Anglo/US
      the
      rogue commanders; supervisors and profiteers just like
      Mr Khalilzad
      ((who has had been used, all along as a
      knowledgeable ex-afghan
      native-comrade on
      certain aspects of local cultural and political sensitivities- I admit; that,
      the coward invaders has been quite savvy
      on
      those critical regards)).

  4. Samarqandi says:
    August 17, 2020 at 8:13 am

    Come on guys; it is already doomed before it has even begun- AFGHANISTAN IS
    AN ISLAMIC COUNTRY; OVERWHELMINGLY
    .
    Obviously; it is impossible for a true religious movement
    to
    sit and talk on one table
    to
    resolve those extremely complicated matters
    of
    an
    around 35 millions of people- they are
    suppose to determine and steer the
    political and social
    lives
    of
    their own country.
    .
    It is ((%100 )), clear, from the
    goofy
    ((direct and indirectly))
    actions
    of
    the
    foreign controlling teams((invaders; their allies and camp-followers)).
    *

  5. Samarqandi says:
    August 17, 2020 at 8:22 am

    They want to either impose
    an
    absolutely
    puppet government and/or a strict
    Taliban style of governing body with
    strong, ((secret and open)),
    ties and presence
    of
    the
    Military,secret, enslaved organs
    of
    already enslaved Pakistani
    to
    (directly and/or indirectly))
    run those various affairs of Afghanistan.
    .
    .
    Of coarse;!all would be accompanied with
    ample PARTICIPATIONS and blessings
    of
    international war criminals.

  6. Samarqandi says:
    August 17, 2020 at 8:31 am

    Even then; it won’t be able
    to
    divide the country; but,
    it would definitely run down the high risks
    of economic dependencies to neighboring countries and EXPLOITATIONS of the young energies of the people of Afghanistan at the service
    of
    goofy people
    inside and outside Afghanistan !
    ***
    **
    *
    NEVERTHELESS; JUST
    PRAY
    FOR
    A
    PEACEFUL
    AFGHANISTAN !!!!
    *

  7. Samarqandi says:
    August 17, 2020 at 8:38 am

    Let us hope that they
    won’t plunge
    Afghanistan
    to
    its
    deepest
    nightmares once again !!!!!
    *

  8. Samarqandi says:
    August 17, 2020 at 8:46 am

    AN
    IMPARTIAL
    .========
    International Peace Conference
    .========
    on
    Afghanistan
    is
    the only route- all other paths are blocked
    and/or
    controlled by
    SAVAGE FOREIGN TEAM
    OF
    SICK MENTALITY !
    *

  9. Samarqandi says:
    August 17, 2020 at 8:54 am

    *It
    would be
    binding through
    hinter-nationally- recognized
    honest brokers ,

  10. Samarqandi says:
    August 17, 2020 at 5:27 pm

    *Dear
    Brothers and Sisters :
    ===============

    Obviously; the
    savages are actively
    deliberating and experimenting
    on
    creation
    of
    new phases
    of
    blood sheds and destructions- right;
    in
    front
    of
    your own eyes !!!!!
    *

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