Peace Hopes Suffer Setback As Taliban-Afghan Talks Derailed
Mohammad Ali (@ChaudhryMAli88) Published April 19, 2019 | 10:11 PM
Hopes for a breakthrough in a push to end Afghanistan's gruelling conflict suffered a major setback Friday after a key summit between the Taliban and Afghan officials was indefinitely postponed
The so-called intra-Afghan dialogue, due to take place in Doha this weekend, fell apart at the last minute in a row over the large number of delegates Kabul wanted to send.
The collapse comes at a critical time and amid continued bloodshed. The Taliban now control or influence about half of Afghanistan and 3,804 civilians were killed there last year, according to a UN tally.
Washington, which is leading an effort to end the war, signalled its disappointment and urged both sides to return to the table, though organisers gave no hint about when the conference might be rescheduled.
Sultan Barakat, who heads the group that was to host the event, said in a statement the postponement was "necessary to build further consensus as to who should participate".
"Clearly the moment is not yet right," added Barakat, the director of the Center for Conflict and Humanitarian Studies.
President Ashraf Ghani's administration had on Tuesday announced a list of 250 people from all walks of Afghan life, including government figures, who it wanted to send to Doha.
But the Taliban poured scorn on the lengthy list, saying the conference is "not an invitation to some wedding or other party at a hotel in Kabul".
Though the insurgents insisted they would only talk to Ghani's government in a "personal capacity", any contact between the two parties in Doha would have been hugely significant, especially at a time when Afghanistan is being ripped by fresh violence after the Taliban announced their annual spring offensive.
Related Topics
Recent Stories
Currency Rate In Pakistan - Dollar, Euro, Pound, Riyal Rates On 19 April 2024
Today Gold Rate in Pakistan 19 April 2024
Rock-solid Ruud racks up season-leading win in Barcelona
At UN, Iran says it will make Israel 'regret' reprisals
G7 hears calls for 'critical' Ukraine aid
EU seeks to leverage might to confront China, US challenge
5 Customs officials martyred as their vehicle ambushed by terrorists in D I Khan
Pak-New Zealand match called off due to rain
NHA restores traffic on roads affected by recent rains in Balochistan
China to fully support Pakistan's efforts against terrorism: Ambassador Jiang
U.S. envoy calls on Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar
Poland arrests man over suspected plan to kill Zelensky
More Stories From World
-
Biden steps up campaign with Trump 'busy' in court
16 minutes ago -
US 'swatting' pranks stoke alarm in election year
16 minutes ago -
US veto sinks Palestinian UN membership bid in Security Council
36 minutes ago -
Duplantis to unleash 'inner' pole vault contest as Olympics beckon
56 minutes ago -
Australia tells citizens to depart Israel, Palestinian territories if 'safe to do so'
1 hour ago -
Netflix beats expectations on profit and subscribers
1 hour ago
-
US vetoes Palestinian request for full UN membership
1 hour ago -
Defending champion Swiatek motors into Stuttgart quarter-finals
2 hours ago -
Netflix beats expectations on profit and subscribers
2 hours ago -
Ecuador hit by power cuts of up to 13 hours amid drought
2 hours ago -
Israel launches strike against Iran: US media
2 hours ago -
Kenya military chopper crash kills defence chief
2 hours ago