China hosts talks between Afghanistan-Taliban

China has offered to host peace talks between Afghanistan government and Taliban.

China has taken the unusual step of a hosting a delegation of Taliban officials, creating a potential new avenue for peace negotiations between the insurgents and the Afghan government.

While reports about China’s hosting peace talks between Afghanistan-Taliban publish that director of US defense intelligence agency said Taliban’s efforts has increased to influence in provinces especially Kabul after the withdrawal of foreign troops.

Vincent Stewart, director of US defense intelligence agency said, “At least, Taliban is able to do activities up to the year 2018 in Afghanistan cities and villages which most of its attacks will be focused on Kabul.”

Pakistan’s Foreign Affairs adviser, Sartaj Aziz has recently said that Pakistan is also ready to play the role of a facilitator in the Afghan peace process.

“I think there is no possibility of the Taliban rule in Afghanistan again and Pakistan wants they should be politically onboard. Taliban should take part in next elections,” Sartaj Azizi said.

He said Pakistan is ready to facilitate peace dialogue between the Afghan government and the Taliban but Kabul will have to take the initiative as the process is Afghan-led.

“The first stage of reconciliation is that let the negotiations start first. Let theme first identify those people (Taliban) who are ready to talk. Our only advantage is that we know who their leaders are so we can advise them that you can talk to those people who represent leadership of the Taliban,” the Pakistani adviser said.

Sartaj Aziz said Pakistan has improved border management with Afghanistan and now both have also started coordinating security operations on their side of the border.

In the meantime, Afghanistan High Peace Council praised China’s preparations for peace talks, because China is one of the strongest countries which can convince Pakistan to try to bring peace in Afghanistan.

Muhammad Ismael Qasemyar, international relations consultant of High Peace Council said, “China can play effective role in bringing peace to Afghanistan. Earlier, two Taliban representatives traveled to China for peace talks.”

Beijing didn’t establish diplomatic ties with the Taliban government that ruled there from 1996 to 2001, but maintained unofficial channels of communication, according to foreign diplomats.
Reported by Ahmad Farshad Saleh