19.07.2021 – 08:39
Representatives of the Afghan government and the Taliban have failed to make much progress in the final round of talks in Doha, but have agreed to meet again next week.
In a joint statement on July 18, after two days of talks in the Qatari capital, both delegations said “the parties are committed to continuing negotiations at the highest level until an agreement is reached.”
Neither side has mentioned a ceasefire for the Eid al-Adha holiday, which is celebrated this year on July 20th.
Several times in the past, the Kabul Government and the Taliban have agreed on short ceasefires during Islamic holidays, raising hopes for longer-term ceasefires.
The government delegation is led by Abdullah Abdullah, the second highest-ranking official in the High Council for National Reconciliation.
The Taliban team is led by senior figure, Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar.
Peace talks in Doha have been stalled for several months.
Meanwhile, the militant group has launched an offensive, occupying a large part of the territory in Afghanistan, as international troops leave the country.
US-led forces ousted the Taliban from power in October 2001.
The Taliban have been harboring Osama bin Laden and other al-Qaeda operatives since the September 11 attacks in the United States.
US President Joe Biden has said the US withdrawal is now reasonable, as US forces are assured that Afghanistan will no longer be a base for foreign jihadists to carry out plots against the West.
