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Afghan leader proposes peace road map in three phases-document
Afghan President Ashraf Ghani will put forward a three-phase peace roadmap for Afghanistan during a proposed meeting in Turkey, seeking an agreement with the Taliban and a ceasefire before elections, a document seen by Reuters shows.
Washington is pushing for a conference to be hosted by Turkey, with U.N. involvement, this month to finalise a peace deal between the government and the Taliban as a May 1 deadline looms for the withdrawal of all foreign troops.
Ghani’s plan will be presented as a counter to proposals put forward by Washington, rejected by the Afghan government, that envisage immediately drawing up a new legal system for an interim administration to include Taliban representatives.
The document shows Ghani’s “Reaching an Endstate” proposal will include, in the first phase, a consensus on a political settlement and an internationally monitored ceasefire.
The second phase will be holding a presidential election and the establishment of a “government of peace” and implementation arrangements for moving towards the new political system.
The third phase will involve building a “constitutional framework, reintegration of refugees and development” for Afghanistan moving forward.
A senior government official said Ghani has already shared his road map with foreign capitals.
A date for the Turkey meeting is yet to be decided, but multiple sources told Reuters it could take place in two weeks’ time.
The Afghan government and a number of politicians said they would have to agree on an agenda with the Taliban before the meeting.
In a statement last month, the Taliban threatened to resume hostilities against foreign troops in Afghanistan if they did not meet the May 1 deadline envisaged in an agreement between the insurgents and the Trump administration last year.
U.S. President Joe Biden said this month it would be “hard” to withdraw the last U.S. troops from Afghanistan by May 1 “just in terms of tactical reasons”, but he said he did not think they still would be there next year.
A senior government official said the Taliban was willing to extend the May 1 dateline and would not resume attacks against foreign forces in exchange for the release of thousands of their prisoners held by the Kabul authorities.
Mohammad Naeem, a Taliban spokesman in Qatar, said no such offer had been made.
Afghan scholars have described the “martyrdom” of Maulana Muhammad Idris, a prominent Pakistani religious scholar, as a major loss and have extended their condolences over his death to all scholars worldwide, particularly to the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Pakistan.
In a condolence message, Afghan scholars stated: “Killing scholars is a grave injustice that brings the wrath and anger of Almighty Allah and is considered an unforgivable crime. We, the scholars of Afghanistan, strongly condemn such actions.”
They also urged the government of Pakistan to take serious measures to prevent the targeting of religious scholars.
Maulana Muhammad Idris was killed on Tuesday in an armed attack in Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.
The Islamic Emirate’s High Commission for Addressing Migrants’ Problems has called on international organizations and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to engage with Pakistan to prevent difficulties for Afghan nationals, ensure they are not subjected to harassment, and facilitate their swift return.
The commission said the issues should be addressed as a matter of urgency.
According to the commission, Afghan returnees entering the country through the Torkham crossing are often held up for days on the Pakistani side for various reasons. It added that women, children, and elderly people are among those affected, many of whom are facing multiple hardships while waiting along roads in uncertain conditions.
“Our request is that Afghan migrants should not be left waiting on the other side of the border,” the commission said.
“We have the necessary capacity to receive and resettle returnees. Regardless of the number arriving each day, we are able to manage them and provide the required services.”
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Afghan activist Matiullah Wesa awarded France’s Freedom Prize 2026
Wesa is the founder of the Pen Path initiative and is widely known for campaigning in support of access to education, particularly for girls in Afghanistan.
Afghan education advocate Matiullah Wesa has been named the recipient of France’s Freedom Prize 2026, in recognition of his efforts to promote education and children’s rights in Afghanistan.
According to French media reports, Wesa was selected through an online vote involving 18,708 young people from 75 countries, highlighting strong international support for his advocacy work.
The award ceremony is scheduled to take place on June 4 in the city of Caen at the Zénith hall, where more than 4,000 young participants are expected to attend alongside several World War II veterans.
Wesa is the founder of the Pen Path initiative and is widely known for campaigning in support of access to education, particularly for girls in Afghanistan.
The Freedom Prize, established in 2019 by the Normandy Region and the International Institute for Human Rights and Peace, honours individuals and organizations that have made significant contributions to the defense of human freedoms.
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