There has been no progress to complete the structure of the High Council for National Reconciliation despite assurances by the government and the council’s leader Abdullah Abdullah.
Back in August, President Ghani in a decree appointed 46 members of the High Council for National Reconciliation, a move that was criticized by Abdullah as well as by a number of politicians whose names were on the list.
The council was aimed to provide guidance to the negotiation team through its leadership committee.
But critics said that a lack of progress on the structure of the peace council has been challenging and the issue instead has helped the Taliban to get an advantage in the diplomatic sphere.
Sources on Sunday reported a breakthrough in the Doha talks but added that the agreements on the procedures of the negotiations have faced opposition from President Ashraf Ghani.
Ghani’s opposition to the negotiations have now sparked questions on the effectiveness and role of the High Council for National Reconciliation.
“The High Council for National Reconciliation was in the interest of peace. It was in the interest of democracy because no one is willing to the gains we have made go on vein, but personal agenda has been preferred regarding this issue,” said Rahmatullah Nabi, the former head of the National Directorate of Security (NDS).
Farida Mohmand is one of the personalities who were appointed member of the council based on President Ghani’s decree.
She said that the structure of the body has not been completed.
“The High Council for National Reconciliation as its name implies is the highest decision-making institution for peace and it makes strategy and policy for peace; therefore, it is the necessity of the time that the structure of this council is completed soon in the view of the current circumstances so that its functions are determined,” Mohmand said.
“First he needed to sort out his own home then make trips to the region for attracting help,” said Sediq Mansour Ansari, a civil society activist in Kabul.
Although council’s chief Abdullah Abdullah has persistently promised to complete the structure of the council, but critics have said that Abdullah instead of addressing the issue has preferred to go on regional tours.
Abdullah visited Iran, India, Pakistan, Uzbekistan and Turkey in recent weeks to build regional consensus on Afghan peace process as his office describes.