Afghan government, Taliban disagree on timing of ceasefire

Monitoring Desk

KABUL: With the consultations on Afghan peace ongoing in the Qatari capital of Doha, the Afghan government and the rival Taliban radical group appear to disagree on roadmap to achieving comprehensive peace through ceasefire.

Throughout January so far, multiple unconfirmed statements have been suggesting that the Taliban have committed to reducing violence as an initial step toward coming to an official ceasefire accord with the government. Sputnik’s sources in Qatar said Taliban leader Mullah Habitullah is expected to pledge commitment to reducing violence in writing.

It now appears that the government in Kabul considers such pledge insufficient and wants the group to make a leap straight to the ceasefire agreement.

“The reduction of violence is not clear, we want a ceasefire, which is why we insist on a ceasefire. War is not in the interest of the Taliban and so far didn’t bring or get any achievements,” Afghan presidential spokesman Sediqqi told journalists at the Gove-rnment Media Centre on Sat-urday. He added that now that the Afghan government gets informed about progress of t-he Qatar talks, they can be e-xpected to bring about res-ults. The Taliban, in turn, see the reduction of violence as a step toward comprehensive ceasefire, the group’s Attorney General Jalaluddin Shinwari told Sputnik.

“We expect that the reduction of violence will turn into a ceasefire; the result of the Taliban’s advice on violence has also been passed on to [US Special Representative for Afghanistan Zalmay] Kh-alilzad and the definition of r-eduction of violence has be-en outlined, but for peace [to be achieved] both sides sho-uld be flexible,” Shinwari sa-id. For Kabul, however, ceasefire comes first. Defence Ministry spokesman Rohullah told Sputnik that the Afghan army would continue fighting the Taliban until the group agrees to lay down arms.

“Afghan forces are fighting for peace, we want radical peace and the opposite side does not want basic peace. In some provinces, the Taliban have laid down their arms and have a decent or good life. If the Taliban choose this path, it is for the benefit of all Afghans,” Ahmadzai said.

In pursuit of recognition, the Taliban have been leading insurgency against the Afghan government since the early 2000s. They also seek all foreign troops to withdraw from the country. The group has been accused of providing terrorist organizations such as al-Qaeda and the Islamic State with safe haven in Afghanistan.

Over the past year, the US held a number of peace talks with the Taliban in a bid to encourage the group to cut the ties with terrorists and begin rapprochement with the Afghan government, paving the way for US troops to pull out. No significant results have so far been achieved during these talks. (Sputnik)