As the countdown begins for the next round of the peace negotiations, negotiator Abdul Hafiz Mansoor said the talks will focus on the modality of division of power in a future government.

Mansoor said that during three months of talks in Doha, he has found that the Taliban’s ideology has not changed.

“They said that the Taliban has changed. The Taliban is no longer the former Taliban, but my understanding and recognition prove that no change has occurred in the Taliban’s ideology,” said Mansoor.

He said that if peace comes with the departure of one person and the establishment of an interim government in the country, it would be a right move, but added that the achievements such as freedom of expression and human rights should be preserved.

“If the system is protected, if the values remain in their place, if the departure of a person and the coming of a new one helped us to reach to peace, I will support it,” said Mansoor.

He said that main decisions within the Taliban are made by their group’s military wings not their political figures.

The Taliban does not recognize anything under the name of republic or government.

Meanwhile, some other members of the republic team said the gains Afghanistan has made in the past two decades must be preserved.

“There are questions that what ideology and system the Taliban is talking about and what are their perspective about governance?" said Mohammad Natiqi, member of republic team.

“There is a new generation living in Afghanistan. They are educated and have knowledge. This generation is not the generation of whipping and slapping,” said Ghulam Farooq Majroh, member of the republic team.