Taliban delegation arrives in Islamabad to discuss Afghan reconciliation process

[Devil Soul]

Taliban delegation arrives in Islamabad to discuss Afghan reconciliation process
By Tahir Khan
Published: April 25, 2016

A file photo of the Taliban political office in Qatar. PHOTO: REUTERS

ISLAMABAD: A three-member delegation of the Afghan Taliban has arrived in Islamabad to discuss possibility of negotiations with the Afghan government, sources privy to the development said on Monday.

The source, however, did not confirm if the three-member team of the Qatar-based Taliban political office will be meeting with representatives of the Afghan government.

The delegation includes Maulvi Shahabuddin Dilawar, a former diplomat in Islamabad and Jan Muhammad Madni, who has served as Afghan ambassador to UAE during the Taliban.

Pakistan had hosted the first face-to-face meeting between the Taliban and the Afghan government in July last year near Islamabad. The talks – dubbed as Murree Peace Process – broke down after the death of Mullah Omar was confirmed in late July.

Will no longer seek Pakistan’s help in peace talks: Afghan president

The Afghan Taliban have not officially said anything about the visit.

The arrival of Taliban’s political representatives coincide with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani’s remarks in which he urged the Pakistani government to take military action against the Taliban and hand them over to Kabul so that they may be tried in Sharia courts.

The Afghan president on Monday said Kabul no more wants Islamabad to bring the Taliban to the negotiation table.

The Taliban had refused to take part in the negotiations last month under the quadrilateral group of Pakistan, Afghanistan, China and the United States.

Pakistan hopes to broker Taliban-Kabul talks this month

Sources said Taliban and other friendly countries kept on continuing efforts to encourage the Taliban to join the peace talks. “It is a major development that the Taliban have arrived in Islamabad to discuss options for the negotiations,” a source said.

Some sources earlier stated a meeting of the Taliban and Afghan government was scheduled to be held in Islamabad on April 27.

 

[IceCold]

Didn't their president or should I say mayor of Kabul just said we will not ask for Pakistani role In peace process and bringing Taliban to table.

 

[Green Angel]

Excellent........

 

[Muhammad Omar]

Oh That's why The Afghans are having Burns in their Bottoms?? And they are Accusing that Pakistan is Sponsoring Terrorism ....

 

[Taimoor Khan]

So the fate of Indian sponsored Kabul regime of northern alliance will be decided, with our without their participation/consent? Interesting times ahead.

 

[Azadkashmir]

what taliban have a representation? they actually conduct poltics etc. wtf war on terror is about. mayor of kabul is empty pocket they need roti.

 

[Taimoor Khan]

This actually goes to show what the Indian sponsored northern alliance regime in Kabul has been reduced to. Talk are done with the real players, in this case Afghan Talibans. It seems Afghan Taliban, Pakistan and China will decide the future course of action for peace and stability in Afghanistan, with yanks and kabul regime given the boot. Hence the noises from kabul and Washington.

 

[shah1398]

Kabul said they dnt want Pakistan's role in any peace process and the very same day Taliban's delegation arrives in Islamabad to mock Kabul. A back hand slap on Kabul's face. It wud be irony if future of Afghanistan is decided sans Kabul's involvement.

 

[waleed3601]

we refuse negotiations with taliban here yet encourage negotiations there. why such hypocrisy? why pa and ana dont agree for a joint military ops to wipe out taliban everywhere? they have made our lives miserable for 30 years. pa should clean up the mess it created.

 

[Path-Finder]

The history of Afghanistan states that the Afghans will not listen to anyone from the outside thus they will settle accounts on their own accord and time. We can only push them to have a dialogue but cannot put dialogues in their mouths of our choosing that is the nature of Afghans. so lets push for dialogue and nothing more let them fight or make fragile peace for how ever long they want to without trying to dictate it.

 

[shah1398]

we refuse negotiations with taliban here yet encourage negotiations there. why such hypocrisy?

Am seriously quite disappointed to see this question appearing here again and again. There are a number of groups who have indulged in talks and have even thrown away arms. Operation was initiated against those who neither recognized the Constitution nor the state of the Pakistan. It was due to talks that many commanders alongwith their follower threw their arm even during Ops Zarb-e-Azb, It was/is due to talks that large number of Baloch rebels are shunning violence. It was due to talks the Sipah tribe abandoned Mangal Bagh, It was due to talks that Wana is one of the most peaceful and advanced towns in Waziristan, It was due to talks the Gomal-Zam Dam became reality and so on. Hope U got the point.