Kabul (Kavian Press)- After months of delay to start the intra-Afghan peace negotiation in Qatar both sides started the talks last week, only to stop it again two days ago as both parties left Qatar for Christmas holidays, a holiday neither celebrated by the Afghan government nor respected or recognized by the Taliban.
The talks are said to be resumed January 5th next year. A day after the talks stalled, Afghan National Security Advisor, Hamdullah Mohib announced in series of tweets that the Afghan government is ready to hold the next round of peace talks in Kabul giving the Taliban the option of choosing the place of their choice.
On Monday the issues was discussed in details in the Afghan cabinet meeting and the presidential palace also announced the president has welcomed the move.
Soon after the tweets, Zalamai Khalilzad indirectly emphasized the talks will resume on January five in Doha and today the Chairman of the National Reconciliation Council showing a more explicit reaction said, “ Deciding on a venue for the next round of talks is the sole prerogative of the negotiating teams.”
The very public disputes display a deep difference between the Presidential Palace, the National Reconciliation Council and Zalmai Khalilzad.
It appears Abdullah Abdullah’s closeness to Khalilzad is urging President Ghani to bring the peace talks inside Afghanistan in order to maintain the control of the intra-Afghan peace talks.
The Taliban, as a party to the talks, are not expected to accept the proposal of the Afghan government.
It’s almost certain that President Ghani, given the experience of Bonn I, wants to avoid the negative consequences of this agreement, but perhaps his main goal is to disrupt the process in his favor.
Whether the Afghan government is in a position to sabotage the process is a question that will be clarified later, but experience has shown that Americans still have the upper hand in the peace talks, and whatever they decide will be implemented.
