The US and the Taliban sit down for what could be the highest level of negotiations yet in the Qatari capital, Doha, on Monday.
US state department’s special representative for Afghanistan peace Zalmay Khalilzad said that “this could be a significant moment,” meeting with a more authoritative Taliban delegation.
“Now the work begins in earnest,” Khalilzad twitted. Appreciating Qatar for hosting the meeting and Pakistan that facilitated travel for Taliban delegation.
Mullah Baradar, who was appointed as the head of its political office in Qatar last month, arrived late on Sunday from Pakistan, where he had been detained for years.
According to sources, Mullah Baradar will be part of the peace talks with Zalimay Khalilzad.
Afghanistan, meanwhile, hopes the fifth round of US-Taliban talks will facilitate direct talks between Afghan government and Taliban group.
Briefing reporters on Monday, M. Umar Daudzai President Ashraf Ghani’s special envoy for regional affairs on consensus around peace, said High Peace Council expects that the fifth round of Doha talks between US Special Envoy for Afghanistan Reconciliation Zalmay Khalilzad and Taliban negotiating team, to help facilitate direct talks between Afghan officials and Taliban members.
“I found Mullah Baradar a man with independent mind who can make decision independently. He hoped that Baradar would use maximum of his independent intellectual during talks with US delegation to reach peace.
Pointing toward convening consultative Loya Jirga, he said efforts under way to run the Jirga in 17th – 20th of March. He called on all Afghan figures including those who have political differences with the government, to be part of the Jirga.
Around 2,000 Afghans from across the country will attend the Jirga, and could be extended for another two days if needed, Daudzai said, adding, 900 participants will be from Kabul alone.
“The participants of Jirga, where at least 30 percent of them would be women, would determine red lines in peace talks with Taliban,” he added.