With talks between the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan and the Taliban gathering momentum in Doha, Qatar, Tahir Qadiry – the Chargé d’ Affaires of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan to India – shares his thoughts on the most pivotal issues surrounding the historic discussions that could pave the way for a new era in Afghanistan.
Could you contextualise the significance of the Qatar talks and what has preceded it?
Afghanistan has been grappling and suffering from meaningless war for more than four decades. You can hardly find an Afghan family which has not lost a dear one in the fighting. It is literally killing everyone – indiscriminately. A dignified peace which will ensure the security of every single Afghan.
A couple of months ago, the Afghan government started the first steps by holding a consultative Loya Jirga – it’s a grand assembly in Afghanistan. More than 3000 people were invited from across Afghanistan. They came together from different walks of society to discuss what they want from the peace talks. As a result, they came up with a roadmap. Also, as a goodwill gesture, they approved the release of 5500 Taliban insurgents who were in the captivity of the Afghan government.
Then, the Afghan government formed a 21-member negotiating team, which is very inclusive, to represent the diverse society of Afghanistan. In addition to that, the Afghan government built up a consensus at the national, regional, and international levels. We had the support of 20 regional, neighbouring countries and 20 international partners who supported the peace talks. More than ever everyone is on the same page for bringing peace to Afghanistan.
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