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Doha, Qatar:
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Afghan authorities negotiators converged on Doha Friday forward of what promise to be prolonged and troublesome peace talks with the Taliban after 19 years of struggle.
Afghan 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 change 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.
US President Donald Trump has made ending America’s involvement in Afghanistan a international coverage precedence as he faces unsure prospects within the November three election.
Pompeo arrived in Doha on Friday forward of the opening session of what he mentioned was a “historic” alternative to finish America’s longest struggle.
“I’m mindful of how difficult these conversations will be among the Afghans but it’s theirs for the taking,” he informed reporters onboard his flight to the Qatari capital.
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 may 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 are 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 remaining 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 aircraft 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 an announcement.
Canberra additionally insisted {that a} Taliban terrorist who killed three Australian troopers and who was despatched to Doha also needs to not be launched.
Peace talks have been delayed for six months because the Taliban and Kabul carried out a wider US-brokered prisoner change.
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 employees and is revealed from a syndicated feed.)
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