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Afghan leaders approved progress around peace talks: Sources
Sources among Afghan negotiators in Doha told Ariana News that Masoom Stanikzai, head of the republic’s negotiating team, and President Ashraf Ghani’s special envoy for peace affairs Abdul Salam Rahimi discussed the latest developments around peace talks with leaders of the Afghan government and got their approval to move forward.
According to the sources Stanikzai has returned to Doha and will announce details of the agreement once the Taliban are ready to do so.
Peace talks were on Tuesday a central point of discussion at the Geneva pledging conference with all donor countries emphasizing the urgency for a peace agreement and ceasefire.
“Peace negotiations are hard work; very time consuming and often very tedious. Eventually the negotiations will need to cover sensitive and complex issues.
“About the country’s political configurations, about a role of Islam in society and a justice system; about human rights including women’s rights and rights of religious and ethnic minorities,” said Deborah Lyons, Special Representative to the Secretary-General for Afghanistan and Head of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA).
The latest development around peace talks comes a day after sources close to the negotiations told Ariana News that there had been a breakthrough after both teams agreed to a procedural plan going forward.
The Taliban also confirmed that progress had been made but said that they will soon finalize the details from their side.
“After that the main issue will be discussed based on the agenda. We hope that the problems will be solved soon,” said Mohammad Naeem Wardak, spokesman for Taliban’s political office in Doha.
On other hand, some sources told Ariana News that four members of the republic’s team have left Kabul to return to Doha.
“People will be optimistic despite the concerns. If they (Taliban) act honestly people will be hopeful for peace,” said Abdul Rauf Inhame, a member of Wolesi Jirga, or lower house of parliament.
The progress in intra-Afghan talks was welcomed by many people in Afghanistan and around the world.
Abdullah Abdullah, head of the High Council for National Reconciliation, said at a meeting with former president Hamid Karzai, that he welcomes the progress and called for a reduction in violence and a ceasefire.
Based on the procedural plan of the peace talks, both sides are expected to discuss issues that could include the reduction in violence, and a ceasefire.
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Pakistan says cross-Durand Line communities seek peace and stability
Pakistan says communities living along the Afghanistan-Pakistan Durand Line want peace and stability, despite ongoing security concerns in the region.
Speaking during a weekly media briefing, Pakistan Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said there are no major issues between the people of Afghanistan and Pakistan, adding that residents on both sides of the Durand Line want peaceful relations and greater regional stability.
However, Andrabi claimed that terrorism originating from Afghan territory continues to undermine peace efforts.
He said Islamabad believes militant activity crossing from Afghanistan remains a significant obstacle to improving regional security and bilateral ties.
The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan has repeatedly rejected such allegations, maintaining that no militant group is allowed to use Afghan soil to threaten neighboring countries.
Andrabi also said Pakistan remains diplomatically engaged on regional matters involving Afghanistan, Iran, India, and Somalia, stressing that dialogue and diplomacy remain Islamabad’s preferred means of resolving disputes.
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Afghanistan-Gambia ties discussed during Doha meeting
Both sides also exchanged views on strengthening diplomatic engagement and exploring future economic cooperation.
Suhail Shaheen, head of the Islamic Emirate’s embassy in Doha, has met with Omar Jah, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of The Gambia to Qatar, to discuss bilateral relations and areas of mutual interest.
According to a statement from the Afghan embassy in Doha, Jah also oversees Gambian diplomatic affairs related to Afghanistan.
The meeting focused on Afghanistan-Gambia relations, the current security situation in Afghanistan, and potential investment opportunities in the country.
Both sides also exchanged views on strengthening diplomatic engagement and exploring future economic cooperation.
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Pakistan’s Achakzai calls for freer movement across disputed Durand Line
Mahmood Khan Achakzai, a member of Pakistan’s National Assembly and head of the Pakhtunkhwa Awami National Party, has said that if capable statesmen had been in power, people living on both sides of the Durand Line could have moved freely across the line.
Speaking during a podcast interview, Achakzai said that countries with histories of major conflict, including Russia, Germany and the United Kingdom, now maintain far more open borders despite past wars. He said that in many such regions, only a “paper line” remains, with limited border restrictions.
Drawing comparisons with the disputed Durand Line boundary between Afghanistan and Pakistan, Achakzai argued that a similar arrangement could have been possible in South Asia.
“What is the problem here? A Punjabi could dance in Kandahar and a Pashtun could come here. Even if we are not formally one country, we could have effectively functioned like one,” he said.
The Pakistani politician also referred to the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan and the later U.S.-led intervention, saying Afghanistan has the right to seek war reparations from those countries to support reconstruction efforts.
Achakzai further criticised the treatment of Pashtuns in Pakistan, alleging that individuals in cities including Lahore and Karachi have faced detention and deportation.
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