Afghan rivals set to discuss post-2014 scenario at Paris conference

Arch Afghan rivals are heading to France to hold a three-day discussions  on the future of Afghanistan, Afghan sources said Monday.

Taliban will attend the Paris process of intra-Afghan talks for the first time to explain their policies about solution to end war in Afghanistan.

Besides Taliban and the second armed resastanec movement “Hizb-e-Islami” Afghanistan led by former Prime Minister Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, members of the Afghan political opposition the Northern Alliance and members of the Government-backed High Peace Council.

The Taliban says they will send a two-member delegation to the conference scheduled to be held in Paris on December 19-21.

Foundation for Strategic Research Paris is organizing the moot to seek opinion of the Taliban and their about the transformation from military to political posture, the post-2014 situation and the presidential elections. Proceedings will not be opened to the media, sources privy to the Afghan grous told News Pakistan.

Taliban spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid, says that Taliban had received invitation to participate in this conference and the invitation was accepted.

“As the conference will discuss the situation in Afghanistan, the Islamic Emirate is sending their representatives to convey their stance to the international community and the participants of the conference directly,” a recent Taliban statement.

“Our representatives will only address the conference and as this conference is a research and scientific conference, therefore no agreements would be made with anybody and no talks would be held with occupying forces or the Kabul administration,” the statement said.

Taliban had previously attended a conference in Japan earlier this year.

Taliban leadership has nominted their senior negotiator, Maulvi Shahabuddin Dilawar, to lead the Taliban delegation, however, no final decision has yet been taken as his name is still on the UN sanctions list, which also ban his travelling abroad.

Taliban have sought temporary waiver for Dilawar, who has served as senior diplomats in Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, is part of the Taliban negotiation team in Qatar, who has held series of talks with the American officials there.

The France meeting will be the first interaction between the Taliban and the Afghan opposition since 2001, when the U.S. airstrikes dislodged the Taliban government in Kabul, that had also paved the way for the Northern Alliance to return to Kabul.

Senior leaders of the Afghan political opposition, Younas Qanooni and Dr. Abdullah Abdullah will also attend the conference.

Hizb-e-Islami, led by former Prime Minister Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, will send a three-member delegation to the conference, the Hizb leader, Dr Ghairat Baheer, said. Baheer, also the main Hizb negotiator, will lead the delegation.

The Afghan government has also welcomed the France meet. The Afghan Foreign Ministry said that it support all initiatives that can pave the way for peace in Afghanistan.

Masoom Stanekzai, a senior official of the Afghan High Peace Council and Haji Din Mohammad, adviser to President Hamid Karzai will also attend the conference.

Short URL: https://www.newspakistan.pk/?p=36274

Posted by Tahir Khan on Dec 17 2012. Filed under Latest News, South Asia, World. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.