War-weary Afghans are still awaiting progress as negotiators from the both sides of the Afghan peace negotiations try to bridge the gaps and reach an agreement about the procedural rules intended to guide the formal talks.
Members of the negotiating team representing the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan in talks with the Taliban have said that discussions between the two sides will continue to try and find solutions to the preliminary disagreements.
Both the Kabul and Taliban teams formed small groups called “contact groups” on the opening day of the talks on September 12. The contact groups have held five meetings so far to discuss rules and regulations as well as the agenda of the negotiations.
The regulations for the talks initially had 23 articles. They were reduced to 20 after meetings were held between the contact groups, and they still may change.
Talks between the two sides were started in Doha on September 12. So far, contact groups from the two sides have met ten times and held talks for many hours about finalizing the procedural rules. But the Taliban’s insistence on a number of points has prevented the sides from agreeing on a way forward, say sources.
The disputed points:
The Taliban demands recognition of the US-Taliban agreement as the 'mother deal' underlying the Afghan peace negotiations, and Hanafi Figh as the sole religious legal guidelines for the talks.
Reports say that the republic's team has suggested alternatives to the Taliban’s demands.
The republic's team has proposed that if a religious issue arises it can be solved based on Hanafi Figh by default, however, the Shia Personal Status Law must be respected, and the choice of religious jurisprudence should be given to other minority groups as well.
“There is a huge gap in the views between the two sides, therefore gaps and delays are common during the talks,” said Mohammad Rasoul Talib, a member of republic negotiating team.
Reports say that the republic's team has suggested alternatives to the Taliban’s demands.
The republic's team has proposed that if a religious issue arises it can be solved based on Hanafi Figh by default, however, the Shia Personal Status Law must be respected, and the choice of religious jurisprudence should be given to other minority groups as well.
Regarding the US-Taliban agreement, the republic team recommended four options:
First option: The terms of the US-Taliban agreement could be accepted as underlying the talks, however, the terms of the joint declaration between the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, NATO and the US should also be accepted as applicable.
Second option: Neither the US-Taliban agreement nor the declarations of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan with the US and NATO will be recognized as having any authority, and the negotiations will move forward based on the decisions of the consultative Loya Jirga and the Jirga's declarations.
Third option: Both sides start talks "based on the national interest of Afghanistan."
Fourth option: The Quran and Hadith are the main authority for the talks, replacing all others.
There are no confirmed reports about when the two sides will resume their discussions on the disputed points.
“If this one of (the Taliban’s) excuses is resolved, perhaps they can come up with more excuses to create problems for the Afghan government,” said Abdul Hai Sahar, an Afghan writer and journalist.
“If the Taliban aren’t truly fighting for power, then the continuation of war has no justification,” added Mohammad Rasoul Talib, a member of the republic’s negotiating team.
The talks in Doha are considered by many to be a historic opportunity to end the 40 years of conflict in Afghanistan.
The Afghans expect that the two sides during the talks will demonstrate their real intentions for finding a diplomatic settlement to the war.