Taliban may be debating latest peace offer, says EU envoy

Monitoring Desk

KABUL: European Union ambassador to Afghanistan Pierre Mayaudon has said the delay in Taliban’s response to the Afghan government’s latest peace offer is “not a matter of concern” because the insurgency leadership might be debating their response. Pierre Mayaudon expressed these views at a conference “Afghanistan’s Culture Is Peace Culture” here in the presence of government officials, foreign ambassadors and civil society activists.

The EU envoy added the Afghan peace process was a complex matter but the Taliban’s silence on this matter had generated hope for a positive response.

He added the Afghan government’s peace offer was a huge opportunity for the Taliban and it was too early to reach any conclusion on the Taliban response.

Referring to upcoming Wolesi Jirga and districts council’s polls, the ambassador said legitimate and transparent future polls were vital and the EU would dispatch a team to monitor the democratic exercise.

“The EU has allocated 15.5 million Euros for the Wolesi Jirga and District Council’s polls and another 15.5 million for the next year’s presidential election.” Border and Tribal Affairs Minister Shafiq Gul Agha Sherzai said the role of politicians, influential persons, civil society activists and elders was important in advancing the peace process.

He added major problems of Afghanistan had been resolved through jirgas and his ministry planned to organize a mammoth gathering in near future.

Deputy head of the High Peace Council (HPC) said the Taliban were mulling over the Afghan government’s peace offer and the group might come with a positive response because both the sides had tired of fighting.