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AFGHANISTAN-TALIBAN-PEACE-POLITICS
Talks in trouble as Taliban slam Afghan guest list
KABUL, April 17, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – An upcoming conference between Afghan
representatives and the Taliban appeared Wednesday to be floundering even
before it begins, with the militants deriding Kabul’s plan to send 250
delegates.
President Ashraf Ghani’s administration announced Tuesday a list of people
from all walks of Afghan life, including some from the government, that it
wants to send to the so-called intra-Afghan dialogue in Doha this weekend.
But the Taliban poured scorn on the lengthy list, saying it was not
“normal” and that they had “no plans” to meet with so many people.
“The creators of (the) Kabul list must realise that this is an orderly and
prearranged conference in a far-away Khaleeji (Gulf) country and not an
invitation to some wedding or other party at a hotel in Kabul,” Taliban
spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said in a statement.
The Taliban — who see Ghani as a US stooge and his government as a puppet
regime — also continue to insist they will not be negotiating with Kabul at
the conference, and any administration officials are involved merely in a
“personal capacity”.
Further doubts came when some of those Ghani said would attend the
conference announced they would not be going.
For instance, Atta Mohammad Noor, a key opposition figure and former
governor of Balkh province, had been included on the list, which was meant as
an inclusive representation of Afghan society.
But Noor said he would not go, slamming the delegation as politically
biased toward Ghani.
“We won’t be attending the talks with this running order,” Noor tweeted
Wednesday, adding he viewed the list as Ghani’s “intentional act to sabotage
the peace efforts”.
A senior Taliban commander based in Pakistan told AFP that the mammoth
delegation showed that the “Americans and their puppet Afghan government are
not serious about the peaceful settlement of the issue”.
The US has been holding separate bilateral peace negotiations with the
Taliban in Doha as part of a months-long peace push led by Washington.
The intra-Afghan dialogue comes as part of the push, but the US is not
believed to be attending.
Taliban expert Rahimullah Yusufzai told AFP that while the Afghan
government needs to be inclusive in who it sends to Doha, “this is not
realistic”.
“I have seen in the list people who have no influence. You have to pick and
chose, 250 is not manageable,” Yusufzai said.
“The Afghan government is under pressure. With the elections coming, they
don’t want to make anyone angry. There are alliances to keep in mind,” he
added, referring to presidential elections set for September.
Yusufzai predicted the conference would be postponed, and that finding a
new date might be tough before Ramadan begins next month.
The developments come as fresh violence rips across Afghanistan with the
Taliban launching their so-called spring offensive.
The militants now control or influence about half the country, and last
year was the deadliest yet for civilians.
BSS/AFP/SSS/1718 hrs