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High-stakes talks between Afghan gov’t, Taliban as fighting rages
Negotiators for Afghan gov’t and Taliban meeting in Doha as violence in the country escalates amid US troop exit.
International
A senior delegation of the Afghan government and Taliban representatives have met in Doha for high-stakes negotiations as violence escalates on the ground in Afghanistan.
The two sides have been meeting on and off for months in the Qatari capital but the talks have lost momentum as a string of battlefield gains by the armed group has coincided with foreign forces finalising their withdrawal from Afghanistan.
The government delegation is comprised of several high-ranking officials, including former chief executive Abdullah Abdullah. Its reported aim is to support the government’s negotiating team in terms of speeding up the stalled talks.
“During his visit, Abdullah Abdullah will discuss important and crucial issues with Taliban representatives,” Fraidoon Kwazoon, the Afghan government delegation spokesman, told Al Jazeera.
“The solution to the conflict in Afghanistan lies in negotiations, and peace can be reached through dialogue,” he said.
For his part, Taliban spokesman Mohammad Naeem said the group has “repeatedly confirmed its readiness for dialogue and negotiations”, adding that the problems can “only be solved by dialogue”.
“But the Afghan government needs to also show the same commitment,” Naeem said.
“They need to show the right and sincere determination when it comes to negotiations in order to end these problems.”