Breakthrough in Doha Talks reported

KABUL: A breakthrough was reported from Doha as the two negotiating teams have agreed to include the US-Taliban deal, UN endorsements for Afghan peace process, commitments of the negotiating teams and will of the Afghan people as the base for upcoming negotiations.

Sources said Afghan chief negotiator Mohammad Massoom Stanikzai and presidential peace adviser Salam Rahimi are on a secret trip to Kabul the past three days, seeking President Ghani’s approval for the agreed formulation. 

The Islamic Republic and the Taliban’s negotiators in Doha are tight-lipped and have not made any comments on recent progress. This happened as negotiators from both sides met with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in Doha on Saturday.

The Afghan Republic negotiators said in their meeting with Pompeo they insisted on an end to violence and called for preserving Afghanistan’s achievements. “Concerns of members of the peace delegation about the increase in violence and the US support to the Afghan peace negotiations, which is a common goal, were discussed,” said Habiba Sarabi, a peace negotiator from the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan. US special envoy Zalmay Khalilzad was also present in the talks.

The Taliban said that in their meeting with Pompeo, they insisted on the implementation of the Doha agreement, the removal of names of Taliban members from the UN blacklist, the release of their prisoners, and the peace negotiations.

“The release of remaining prisoners of the Islamic emirate of Afghanistan and ending the blacklists and also issues around intra-Afghan negotiations were discussed,” Taliban spokesman Mohammad Naeem said. The US State Department in a statement on Pompeo’s trip said Qatar has been an important partner in fostering peace in Afghanistan and has played an invaluable role as host for Afghanistan peace negotiations.