The Afghan government on Tuesday said Kabul will send a peace delegation as US and Taliban representatives prepare to attend the fourth round of peace talks in Jeddah. 

Although the Taliban previously rejected to talk with the Afghan government delegation during the meetings in Abdu Dhabi, but Afghan government says they are keen to send a peace delegation to Jeddah. 

“Whenever there is a need for it, we will send our delegation and will express our intention,” said Fraidoon Khazon, deputy spokesman for Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah. 

So far, representatives of US, Russia, Qatar, UAE and Pakistan have held a series of talks with the Taliban, but Kabul has been pushing for its regional and international allies to convince the Taliban to engage in direct talks with it, something the Taliban has said will never happen.

“We should show it to the world and the people that we are begging for peace and trying for it despite we are running the system here and that our struggle is to bring and maintain peace for our nation,” said Fazl Hadi Muslimyar, the Meshrano Jirga, Senate, Speaker.  

The High Peace Council (HPC) meanwhile reiterated the call on the Taliban to hold direct talks with the Afghan government. 

“We hope that the armed Taliban endorse direct peace talks with the Afghan government,” said HPC deputy spokesman Stanekizai.

The HPC is has undertaken some reshuffling in its provincial offices to speed up the peace process as it announced on Tuesday that it has suspended all provincial committees of the council to ensure reforms in the institutions. 

“Unfortunately those individuals who have influence and who are trusted by the people weren’t taken into consideration in the peace process,” said MP Daud Kalakani.

“Achievement of the High Peace Council is very weak than the budget it spent and in compare with the expectations government had from the body,” said MP Mohammad Abdoh. 

Just few weeks back, the Afghan government announced the appointment of a 12-member peace delegation consisting of officials from government, members of the Ulema Council and MPs. 

But, government has also said that besides the political efforts, it is also trying to use the military option against the Taliban to endorse direct talks with the Afghan government.