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Peace talks between the Taliban and the Afghan authorities opened in Qatar on Saturday, marking what US secretary of state Mike Pompeo heralded as a “truly momentous” breakthrough in practically 20 years of relentless battle.
Negotiations shall be arduous, delegates acknowledged at a gap ceremony in Doha, and are beginning whilst violence continues to grip Afghanistan.
Also learn: Taliban, Afghan authorities to restart peace talks: All you might want to know
“We will undoubtedly encounter many challenges in the talks over the coming days, weeks and months,” Pompeo stated as he known as for the warring sides to “seize this opportunity” to safe peace. “Remember you are acting not only for this generation of Afghans, but for future generations as well.”
Nineteen years because the US-led invasion that toppled the Taliban, Afghanistan’s struggle nonetheless kills dozens of individuals every day and the nation’s economic system has been devastated, pushing tens of millions into poverty.
Abdullah Abdullah, who was beforehand Afghanistan’s chief government and is heading the peace course of for Kabul, stated 12,000 civilians have been killed and one other 15,000 wounded simply because the US signed a withdrawal settlement with the Taliban on February 29.
Abdullah known as for a humanitarian ceasefire – however his plea went unanswered by Taliban co-founder Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, who made no point out of a truce in opening remarks.
The Taliban have lengthy anxious that lowering violence might reduce their leverage. Instead, Baradar repeated the insurgents’ message that Afghanistan must be run in line with Islamic legislation.
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