The contact groups from both sides of the Afghan peace negotiations have resumed their talks on Sunday after three days of delays.
On Sunday evening, the contact groups from both two sides held meetings for several hours; however, they did not manage to agree on two important points in the procedural rules, said a member of the republic's team.
17 days have passed since negotiators from both sides of the Afghan peace negotiations began attempts to reach an agreement about the procedural rules intended to guide the formal talks.
“We are holding discussions to move the talks forward. What we need is to decide on the two basic points that I informed you about, which are a collection of the values that makes the framework of today’s Afghanistan and future Afghanistan, which are quite important in terms of identity,” said Nader Nadery, a member of the republic’s negotiating team.
Negotiators have said that no one can predict when these disagreements will come to an end.
“I, as a member of the peace negotiating team of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, believe that we cannot restrict ourselves to a specific timeline for bringing peace to Afghanistan and ending the war and bloodshed,” said Mohammad Rasoul Talib, a member of the republic’s negotiating team.
“There is hope. Still formal meetings have not started, but arrangements are in place. It will be good to clarify all these issues around the procedural rules and move forward within the framework of this. Everyone has hope and no one is disappointed about this,”said Mullah Khairullah Khairkhaw, a member of the Taliban negotiating team.
The Taliban insist that without recognizing the US-Taliban deal as a main foundation of the peace process in Afghanistan, the continuation of current talks between both sides of the Afghan peace negotiations will have "no meaning."
Mullah Khairullah Kharikhaw, a member of the Taliban peace negotiating team, in answer to a question regarding the inclusion of Hanafi and Jaffari Figh jurisprudence, said that the Taliban respect the rights of all citizens of Afghanistan, but the rights of the Shias of Afghanistan will be discussed during the talks about the Constitution of Afghanistan.
Talks between the contact groups of the two sides had stopped for four days before resuming on Sunday.
The disputed points:
The Taliban demand 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 difference in the views between the two sides, therefore gaps and delays are common during the talks,” said Mohammad Rasoul Talib, a member of the republic's 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's 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.
The Taliban insist that talking about the Jaffari Figh at this juncture is not logical, but said that this can be discussed during the talks about the Constitution of the country.