Some ex-Taliban leaders on Thursday said that if the Taliban representatives continue to deny direct peace negotiation talks with the Afghan government, the upcoming peace talks in Jeddah would not bring positive results.
 
Consensus on the withdrawal of US forces from Afghanistan is needed to broker purposeful peace talks, said ex-Taliban leader, Sayed Akbar Agha.
 
Although, the Taliban, a few weeks ago, refused to talk with the Afghan government peace delegation in Abu Dhabi, the government on Tuesday said Kabul was still keen to send a peace delegation, as US and Taliban representatives prepare to attend the fourth round of peace talks in Jeddah.
 
“I think if there is an agreement about the withdrawal of foreign forces from the country, then we can be optimistic about the outcome of the Jeddah talks; if it does not happen, the fate of the Jeddah talks will be similar to Abu Dhabi,” said Sayed Akbar Agha.
 
“The foreigners are not here to bring peace, they are here in pursuit of their own interests, don’t be deceived by their words,” said Abdul Wadoud Sediqqi,” a member of Council for the Protection and Stability of Afghanistan.
 
“We hope the efforts at a regional level will help us towards reaching peace,” said Omid Maisam, deputy spokesman to CEO Abdullah Abdullah.
 
But, officials from the High Peace Council (HPC) have urged the need for participation of members of the political parties and Afghanistan influential political leaders.
 
“I don’t know why the political parties and movements were not invited to the meeting, but I can say that if members of the parties participate, then it is a good move, on condition that a delegation from the government is also there and Taliban also meets them,” said Qazi Mohammad Amin Weqad, a member of HPC.
 
A few weeks ago, 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 trying to use the military option against the Taliban to endorse direct talks with the Afghan government.
 
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.