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Intra-Afghan talks in Doha end; no major agreement achieved

Monday, 19 July 2021 4:58 PM [ Last Update: Monday, 19 July 2021 4:58 PM ]

Amin Alemi
Press TV, Kabul

Unlike expectations, the negotiating teams of the Afghan government and the Taliban have not reached a peace agreement despite two days of breathtaking discussions, but they have released a joint statement.

The statement highlights commitments of both sides to issues such as continuing talks, protecting civilians, improving the country’s infrastructures and containing COVID-19 pandemic.

But people’s expectation from the second round of intra-Afghan talks was the approval of a long-term truce or at least a 3-day ceasefire as Afghans mark the Muslim religious holiday of Eid-al-Adha.

This comes as experts here believe that there are numerous unsolved issues regarding a peace agreement, mainly the Taliban’s stress on the release of their prisoners. Therefore, the government is urged to call on the UN and the regional and international players to interfere and put pressure on the militant group to respect the nation’s will, which is the silence of guns.

Reports from Doha suggest that the Taliban negotiating team has refused to accept some of Kabul’s key demands, such as the issue of the election. The militants are not approving the Afghan constitution which is considered a red line for the government as well. Instead, they are seeking to change the constitution according to their own will.

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