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Talks teams to focus on agenda proposals as negotiations resume
Talks between the technical committees of the Afghanistan Republic’s team and the Taliban’s team around agenda-related proposals officially started in Doha on Saturday in what has become known as the “second round” of peace talks.
As the talks started, the leadership of the High Council for National Reconciliation in Kabul approved the guidelines for the second round of talks.
However, if the Afghan Republic’s team needs to make a decision, they will seek the cooperation and guidance of the council’s leadership.
“In this meeting, the country’s political leaders and members of the council committee discussed the latest developments in the peace talks, the visit of the delegation of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan to Doha, the beginning of the second round of talks and the negotiating guidelines for the delegation of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan,” said Mujib Rahimi, senior advisor to the council’s chairman Abdullah Abdullah and director of strategic communications at the HCNR.
“The first issue on the agenda of the Afghan government’s negotiating team is a ceasefire,” Sharifa Zurmati, a member of the negotiating team said.
Sources from the HCNR meanwhile said that US Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation Zalmay Khalilzad also proposed a possible three-month ceasefire during his last visit to Kabul.
Sources said such a ceasefire would be based on the withdrawal of US troops.
“A three-month ceasefire, if agreed, would certainly be a great help to the Afghan people,” said Ishaq Gailani, senior adviser to the HCNR.
The Afghan foreign ministry has also launched a diplomatic campaign to gain global support for the success of the peace process.
“It is a priority of the foreign policy of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan to involve the countries of the region and neighboring countries in strengthening regional consensus, strengthening economic relations and strengthening political and security stability in Afghanistan,” said Gran Hewad, the ministry’s spokesman.
The second round of peace talks in Qatar comes amid ongoing violence in the country – an issue seen by many as an obstacle in the way of peace.
Zalmay Khalilzad, the former US special representative for Afghanistan, has questioned Pakistan’s commitment to the welfare of the Afghan people, citing Islamabad’s policies over the past three decades.
Khalilzad said in a post on X that Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif advocated for the rights of Afghan women during his speech at the UN General Assembly on Friday.
Sharif said: “Fundamental rights of the Afghan people — especially women and girls — must be respected.”
Responding to the remarks, Khalilzad said Pakistan’s policies over the past 30 years raise questions about Sharif’s commitment to Afghan welfare.
He cited Pakistan’s support for militant groups against US forces and what he described as the poor treatment of Afghan refugees as examples.
Khalilzad also said Afghanistan and Pakistan need and should have much better relations, adding that “a reset is necessary.”
India’s Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri met with the UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Afghanistan, Rabab Fatima, on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly.
Indian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said in a post on X that Misri underscored the need to keep addressing the humanitarian needs of the Afghan people as a priority.
Misri also appreciated the role of the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) and reaffirmed India’s continued cooperation with the United Nations on Afghanistan.
The meeting comes as Afghanistan continues to face humanitarian and economic challenges, with international agencies warning of significant needs among the Afghan population.
Kazakhstan’s Foreign Minister Mukhtar Tileuberdi has called for pragmatic and coordinated international engagement with Afghanistan, saying the country’s long-term stability is closely linked to the security and sustainable development of Central Asia.
Speaking during the general debate of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York on Friday, Tileuberdi said humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan remains essential but alone cannot break the cycle of poverty, displacement and dependency.
He said Kazakhstan supports a “pragmatic, coordinated and step-by-step” approach to international engagement with Afghanistan, with the United Nations playing a central role.
Tileuberdi also said Kazakhstan is working with the UN to operationalize the United Nations Regional Centre for the Sustainable Development Goals for Central Asia and Afghanistan in Almaty.
He said the success of the centre should be measured by the results and assistance it delivers to the region.
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