Afghanistan: Massoud, Taliban Agree to Not Fight Until Next Round of Talks
New Delhi: The representatives of the Taliban and Ahmad Shah Massoud group met for three hours wherein both sides agreed to not attack each other until the second round of negotiations is held. Supporters of Ahmad Massoud, the leader of the resistance front against the Taliban, and Taliban representatives held their first meeting on Wednesday afternoon in the center of Parwan province to seek an alternative to fighting.
A representative of the resistance front, Mohammad Alam Ezedyar, wrote on his Facebook page that both sides agreed to not attack each other until the second round of negotiations is held.
“After three hours of discussion, it was decided that both delegations will share the message with their leadership and resume the negotiations to reach a durable peace in the country. It was also decided that the parties should not attack each other until the second round of negotiations,” wrote Ezedyar.
A member of the Taliban delegation, meanwhile, said that the Taliban wanted to discuss the issue of Panjshir, but Massoud’s supporters wanted to discuss the structure of the future government. Thus the negotiations had no tangible outcome, he said.
“The Panjshir delegation was more focused on the overall structure of the governance system. Since there were big differences between the two sides’ demands, both sides decided to take the messages to their leaders,” said Anamullah Samangani, a member of the cultural commission of the Taliban.
Ahmad Massoud in a recent interview with the media said that “if an inclusive and acceptable government for all is not established, Afghanistan will be isolated both politically and economically. We are negotiating with the Taliban. So far, several countries – like Canada – have said they will not recognize an exclusive government. If that happens, the people will continue to suffer”.
The Taliban has said they will form an inclusive government, but the terms have still not been clearly defined.
According to Afghanistan-based political experts are believe that presence of unofficial troops or the presence of terrorist organizations may increase in the upcoming days. Some countries may try to use the situation of Afghanistan for their own interests.
