The High Council for National Reconciliation on Thursday said there is progress in the peace negotiations in Doha, but a recent decision made by the negotiating teams has not been approved by the two sides’ leaders—the Afghan government and the Taliban leadership.
Sources this week reported a breakthrough in the talks and said both sides had agreed to include the US-Taliban agreement and UN endorsements for the Afghan peace process along with commitments made by the negotiating teams and the will of the Afghan people as the basis for the upcoming negotiations.
The deputy head of the council, Asadullah Saadati, said the agreements made by the Afghan Republic team “had some problems,” and added that the negotiating teams in Doha “are not interested” in achieving a political solution.
“There (in Doha) agreements were made on a draft--but upon condition of approval by decision-makers of both the Taliban and of Afghanistan,” Saadati said. “Unfortunately, this has not happened.”
“(The negotiating teams') real intentions are not for a political solution or for real peace; the two sides seek to create problems and (self-interested) opportunities,” said Saadati.
But the State Ministry for Peace Affairs stated that efforts are underway to achieve an agreement.
“There has been some progress and efforts are underway to address the issue and announcements will be made after it is finalized,” said Najia Anwari, spokesperson for the State Ministry for Peace Affairs.
Some politicians said Afghanistan lacks the required consensus for peace.
“One side is trying to remain in power for years to come while another says that an interim government should be established in which both sides are included. In this case, where is the coordination?” said Ahmad Wali Massoud, head of the Ahmad Shah Massoud Foundation.
The Presidential Palace on Wednesday said the deadlock in the Doha talks has still not ended.
Presidential spokesman Sediq Sediqqi said on Wednesday that the Taliban’s demand is “against the Afghan Constitution,” but he reiterated that the Afghan Republic’s team will continue its efforts to break the deadlock and keep the Taliban at the negotiation table.