High Peace Council to remove names of Taliban leaders from UN sanction list

Afghan High Peace Council (AHPC) will remove the names of those Taliban members who are willing to cooperate on peace-talks from the United Nations Security Council black list, AHPC international relations advisor said.

A one-year cooling off period in Qatar for five senior Taliban leaders exchanged for American Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl expired and possibly the Obama administration may decide to extend the period for another one year.

Mohammad Ismail Qasimyar, AHPC international relations advisor in an interview with Ariana News, said: “Temporarily, we will remove their names from the UN black list to prepare their documents to be able to travel to a place where we can negotiate; otherwise, any attempt by any friend country that will leave them free to return to the fight in Afghanistan is unacceptable and we call it a move toward hostility.”

Military experts criticize the achievements of the Afghan High Peace Council during the last three years.

Attiqullah Amarkhail, a military expert said,” We have the Afghan High Peace Council since three years with no achievements, and even if there is an achievement, it is non-tangible”.

But a number of tribal elders believe that Taliban do not have major crimes to keep them in prisons.

Mullah Abdul Salam Rocketi, a former Taliban military commander said,” they are experiencing injustice and oppression, once they spent eleven years in Guantanamo with lots of difficulties, and they are not that much guilty, they are from Afghanistan”.

In a new initiative, Afghan ministry of border and tribal affairs has launch a new program to work with tribal elders on important issues in the country such us peace and reintegration.

“Ministry of Borders has decided to form a coordination and solidarity center from tribal councils, so they could provide consultation on the countries important issues, they can decide on important issues and we will share these decisions with the government,” Mohammad Qulab Mangal, minister of border and tribal affairs said.

According to the officials in ministry of border and tribal affairs they have already signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the aforementioned tribal councils.

Reported by: Hameed Sediqi