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Kabul:
Afghan authorities negotiators left for Doha on Friday to start what promise to be prolonged and troublesome peace talks with the Taliban after practically 20 years of grinding conflict which have left tens of hundreds useless.
Negotiations set to start Saturday have been initially slated to start out in March however have been repeatedly pushed again amid disputes over a prisoner alternate that included the discharge of tons of of battle-hardened Taliban fighters.
“After continuous efforts of the government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan to start direct talks with the Taliban, the peace negotiating team of the IRA left Kabul for Doha,” Nader Naderi, a member of the negotiating workforce, mentioned on Twitter minutes earlier than their airplane took off.
US President Donald Trump has made ending America’s involvement in Afghanistan a overseas coverage precedence as he faces unsure prospects within the November three election.
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo can be attending the opening session of what he mentioned was a “historic” alternative to finish America’s longest conflict.
“I’m mindful of how difficult these conversations will be among the Afghans but it’s theirs for the taking,” he advised reporters onboard his flight to Doha.
Abdul Hafiz Mansour, a member of Kabul’s delegation, mentioned his message to the Taliban can be that they “cannot succeed by force”.
“The time is ready for reconciliation now, we can resolve our problems by talking to each other,” Mansour mentioned.
– ‘Desperate for peace’ –
Negotiations have raised hope throughout Afghanistan that the battle would possibly come to a halt.
“We are desperate for peace. The killing of Afghans should be stopped,” mentioned Kabul shopkeeper Abdullah, who misplaced a relative in a bomb assault that focused Vice President Amrullah Saleh this week.
“I’m not very optimistic about the future, but peace talks is a good first step to at least reduce the violence.”
The announcement of the beginning of peace talks got here Thursday simply hours after a last hurdle — the destiny of a gaggle of Taliban prisoners together with those that murdered French and Australian civilians and troops — appeared to have been resolved.
Two Taliban prisoners who murdered Frenchwoman Bettina Goislard, a UN refugee employee, have been launched within the province of Wardak.
Six different terrorists together with two who killed French and Australian troopers have been transferred to Doha on a particular airplane reportedly to be held in detention there.
Paris and Canberra expressed ongoing opposition to the transfer.
“France reaffirms its firmest opposition to the release of individuals sentenced for committing crimes against French nationals, in particular soldiers and humanitarian workers,” Paris mentioned in a press release.
Canberra additionally insisted {that a} Taliban terrorist who killed three Australian troopers and who was despatched to Doha must also not be launched.
Peace talks have been delayed for six months because the Taliban and Kabul carried out a US-brokered general prisoner alternate.
The Taliban launched 1,000 Afghan troops, whereas Kabul freed 5,000 insurgents.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV workers and is revealed from a syndicated feed.)
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